[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.

Victoire D'Amour
Offenbach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Il est écrit dans le livre de l'amour
Que le vrai ne dure pas qu'un jour
Chaque page est un jour de notre bonheur
Et le nombre en est infini

Comme l'affection dans nos deux cœurs
Ce livre pour nous ne se fermera jamais
Il nous gardera ensemble

Dans le temps, l'espace et l'éternité

Ensemble dans le temps, l'espace et l'éternité

J'ai attendu assez longtemps que l'amour vienne
Comme un sauvage que tout enrage la peur m'a rendu violent
Mais l'amour est venu se battre avec moi
Il m'a vaincu, il a arraché de mon cœur les jours du malheur

Et j'ai connu la douceur de partager la vie

Dans le temps, l'espace et l'éternité
L'éternité, l'éternité, l'éternité

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Offenbach's song Victoire d'amour speak of the power and endurance of true love. The opening lines, "Il est écrit dans le livre de l'amour / Que le vrai ne dure pas qu'un jour" (It is written in the book of love / That true love does not last only one day) suggest that while some love may be fleeting, true love endures. The following lines, "Chaque page est un jour de notre bonheur / Et le nombre en est infini" (Each page is a day of our happiness / And their number is infinite) reinforce the idea that true love is enduring and infinite.

The second verse speaks of the personal struggle and growth that comes with finding true love. The lines, "J'ai attendu assez longtemps que l'amour vienne / Comme un sauvage que tout enrage la peur m'a rendu violent" (I waited long enough for love to come / And like a savage, fear turned me violent) suggest that the singer struggled with fear and frustration before finding love. However, the power of love ultimately conquered these negative emotions: "Mais l'amour est venu se battre avec moi / Il m'a vaincu, il a arraché de mon cœur les jours du malheur" (But love came to fight with me / It conquered me and pulled the days of unhappiness from my heart).

Overall, Victoire d'amour expresses the idea that true love endures, both through time and through personal struggles. The lyrics suggest that love is a powerful force that can overcome even the strongest negative emotions, and that once it is found, it lasts forever.

Line by Line Meaning

Il est écrit dans le livre de l'amour
It is written in the book of love

Que le vrai ne dure pas qu'un jour
That true love does not last just one day

Chaque page est un jour de notre bonheur
Each page is a day of our happiness

Et le nombre en est infini
And the number of pages is infinite

Comme l'affection dans nos deux cœurs
Like the affection in our two hearts

Ce livre pour nous ne se fermera jamais
This book for us will never close

Il nous gardera ensemble
It will keep us together

Dans le temps, l'espace et l'éternité
In time, space, and eternity

Ensemble dans le temps, l'espace et l'éternité
Together in time, space, and eternity

J'ai attendu assez longtemps que l'amour vienne
I waited long enough for love to come

Comme un sauvage que tout enrage la peur m'a rendu violent
Like a wild animal, fear made me violent