[see Jacques Offenbach for the French classical composer]

Offenbach… Read Full Bio ↴[see Jacques Offenbach for the French classical composer]

Offenbach is a Canadian blues rock band formed in Quebec in 1969 by Gerry Boulet, Michael Lamonthe, Jr., and Wezo. The band signed with the independent Barclay label in 1972 and released the French album Offenbach Soap Opera. Four years later, A&M provided a record deal and released the band's self-titled album in 1977. Also released that year was Never Too Tender and another self-titled LP. Lamonthe and Wezo left around that time and were replaced by Pierre Lavoie and Norman Kerr (though Kerr left soon after). In 1979, Offenbach recorded Traversion and added more new members, Breen LeBoeuf and John McVale. Four more studio albums followed — En Fusion (1980), Tonnedebrick (1983), Live a Fond D'Train (1984) and Rockorama (1985) — before the band split up in 1986. Recorded live in Montreal, the Offenbach album, Le Dernier Show, appeared in 1986. Gerry Boulet recorded two solo albums, Presque 40s in 1984 and Rendezvous Doux in 1988.

n 1996, McGale, Gravel and Leboeuf reunited as Offenbach Inc. for a reunion tour. Due to Boulet's death, they selected Martin Deschamps, who had recently won Quebec's L'Empire des futures stars competition, as the band's new vocalist. They toured extensively for two years, and released a greatest hits compilation in 1999. A second volume of hits followed in 2002.

In 2005, the band released Nature, which consisted of acoustic versions of their classic hits. It also includes one new song "L'amour est cruel" (Love is cruel). The music was written by Gravel in the 1980s and the words were later added by Deschamps. A concert at Montrteal's Bell Center on April 1, 2005, marked the 25th anniversary of Offenbach's first Forum show.

In 2018, Offenbach released Renaissance the first disc of new material in 33 years.

Je L'sais Ben
Offenbach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je l'sais ben que t'as eu d'la mis? Re
T'as tout fait c'qu'y? Tait possible de faire
Tu t'prot? Ges, t'as les yeux comme des pierres
Tu m'are? P? Tes que des larmes ten a plus....
Tu caches ton coeur dans ton poing referm?
Tu donnes des coups pis c'est toi qu'y est bless?
Laisse donc les autres te desserrer les doigts
La main et l'coeur vont s'ouvrir? La fois...

Je l'sais ben qu'on t'a fait des promesses
T'as connu les amours? Cr? Dit

Tu donnes plus comme avant ta tendresse
Tu L'? Changes tu veux des garanties...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Offenbach's song "Je L'sais Ben" depict a person who seems to have gone through tough times and has closed themselves off from the world. The singer acknowledges that the person has suffered from hardships and has done everything possible to cope with it. The use of the colloquial language, such as the use of "ben" instead of "bien," adds to the authenticity of the message; it suggests that the singer is trying to reach out to the person on a personal level by speaking the way they would.

The person being addressed is emotionally resistant and seems to have built up walls around them. They have become defensive to the point that they appear to be stoic, and their eyes reflect their somber disposition. The singer recognizes that this person is hurting, and their heart is hidden inside their tightly clenched fist. The person has been throwing punches out of frustration, but they are the ones being hurt the most. The singer suggests that the person needs to let others help them loosen their grip and open up.

The song also touches on how difficult it can be to trust again after being hurt. The person has been given promises before, but those promises have not been kept. As a result, the person has become jaded and does not give affection as freely as they used to. The person has become wary, asking for guarantees; this is a sign that they are afraid of being hurt again. The singer recognizes this fear and suggests that the person needs to give love a chance and not be so guarded.

Line by Line Meaning

Je l'sais ben que t'as eu d'la misère
I know very well that you have been through hardship

T'as tout fait c'qu'y'était possible de faire
You have done everything that was possible to do

Tu t'proteges, t'as les yeux comme des pierres
You protect yourself, your eyes are as hard as stones

Tu m'ares, pis tes yeux n'ont plus de larmes...
You look at me and your eyes have no more tears

Tu caches ton coeur dans ton poing refermé
You hide your heart in your closed fist

Tu donnes des coups pis c'est toi qu'y est blessé
You hit back, but you are the one getting hurt

Laisse donc les autres te desserrer les doigts
Let others help you open your fingers

La main et l'coeur vont s'ouvrir à la fois...
Your hand and heart will open at the same time

Je l'sais bien qu'on t'a fait des promesses
I know very well that promises were made to you

T'as connu les amours éphémères
You have known short-lived loves

Tu donnes plus comme avant ta tendresse
You don't give your tenderness like before