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.
Quand Les Hommes Vivront D'amour
Offenbach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Et commenceront les beaux jours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Ce sera la paix sur la Terre
Les soldats seront troubadours
Dans la grande chaîne de la vie
Où il fallait que nous passions
Où il fallait que nous soyons
Nous aurons eu la mauvaise partie
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Peut-être song'ront-ils un jour
A nous qui serons morts mon frère
Mais quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Qu'il n'y aura plus de misère
Peut-être song'ront-ils un jour
A nous qui serons morts mon frère
Nous qui aurons aux mauvais jours
Dans la haine et puis dans la guerre
Cherché la paix, cherché l'amour
Qu'ils connaîtront alors mon frère
Dans la grand' chaîne de la vie
Pour qu'il y ait un meilleur temps
Il faut toujours quelques perdants
De la sagesse ici-bas c'est le prix
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Et commenceront les beaux jours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Ce sera la paix sur la terre
Les soldats seront troubadours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère
"Quand les hommes vivront d'amour" is a song by Offenbach that speaks to human hope for a time when there is no poverty or war, and people will live in peace and love. The song starts with the statement that once people start to live in love, the world will be free of poverty, and good days will begin. The song continues to state that even in this ideal world, there is still a poignancy for those of us who have passed, as the lyrics repeat, "But we will be dead, my brother." The sense of loss expressed in these lyrics is universal, as the singer asserts that even with a world without war and poverty, we will always mourn those who have passed on.
The song's verses point out that the world is a chain of being, where one person's struggle is connected to others, and that some must suffer for others to enjoy a better life. While imagining a world of peace, love, and joy, the lyrics assert that this will only be possible when we learn to love and care for all, regardless of race, religion, or country. The final verse is one of resolution - the singer is urging us all to work for a world where everyone lives in harmony and respect for one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
When men live with love
Il n'y aura plus de misère
There will be no more misery
Et commenceront les beaux jours
And the beautiful days will begin
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère
But we, my brother, will be dead
Ce sera la paix sur la Terre
There will be peace on earth
Les soldats seront troubadours
Soldiers will be troubadours
Dans la grande chaîne de la vie
In the great chain of life
Où il fallait que nous passions
Where we had to pass through
Où il fallait que nous soyons
Where we had to be
Nous aurons eu la mauvaise partie
We will have had the bad part
Peut-être song'ront-ils un jour
Perhaps they will think one day
A nous qui serons morts mon frère
Of us who will be dead, my brother
Nous qui aurons aux mauvais jours
We who in bad days
Dans la haine et puis dans la guerre
In hatred and then in war
Cherché la paix, cherché l'amour
Sought peace, sought love
Qu'ils connaîtront alors mon frère
That they will then know, my brother
Pour qu'il y ait un meilleur temps
So that there may be a better time
Il faut toujours quelques perdants
There must always be some losers
De la sagesse ici-bas c'est le prix
Wisdom on this earth has its price
Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ivo Chagas
Je suis brésilien, mais j'aime cette chanson québécois, sourtout dans la voix de Gerry.
Joao Paulo Rabelo
Ivo Chagas Je suis brésilien aussi et chaque jour j'aime plus la musique québécoise.
Jean-Pierre Ousset
Un superbe Mec, certaines de ses chansons te tournent les trippes !
Francine Labrosse
tellement belle cette chanson....merci jerry
Lynn Nickerson
J'adore cette chanson!
capouette
un vrai Québécois. RIP Gerry
Renaud Guénette
Merri Gerry. Tu auras su faire revivre ce classique. J'ai connu la première version avec Raymond.
Silver Back
Trop fort Gerry !
danny barriault
repose en paix....
Peter bossé
Merci mon Gerry ont t'aimera toujours mon rocker