[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.

Zimbabwe
Offenbach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'ai ram'né du fond du Zimbabwe
des souv'nirs impossibles d'oublier
J'ai ram'né une p'tite fille ben bronzée
pour remplacer mon chum qu'y ont mangé

Y'a des papous
qui mangent de tout

V'là deux s'maines que j'étais arrivé
ils m'ont posé un gros anneaux dans l'nez
j'ai mangé du crocodile salé
du serpent, du tigre d'la mouche tsé-tsé

Y'a des papous
qu'y ont peur d'la boue

C'est comme ça qu'sa passe dans le Zimbabwe

J'ai appris une chanson que j'vas t'montrer
tu vas voir c'est pas ben compliqué
c'est houm ba loum bam ba loum boum boué
houm ba loum bam ba Zimbabwe
houm ba loum bam ba loum boum boué
houm ba loum bam ba Zimbabwe

Y'a des papous
qui sont pas fous

Zimbabwe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Offenbach's song Zimbabwe speak of the singer's experience in Zimbabwe, where he was met with unforgettable memories and a little tanned girl who became his companion. He says that he brought back impossible memories from Zimbabwe that cannot be forgotten, implying that the country had a profound impact on him. He then mentions that he brought back a little girl to replace his "chum" (Canadian slang for a friend or buddy) who was eaten by the locals.

The singer then talks about the papous who eat anything, and how he was given a nose ring upon arrival. He also mentions the different exotic meats he ate, such as crocodile, snake, tiger, and tsetse fly, showing the contrast between his Canadian lifestyle and the lifestyle in Zimbabwe. He further talks about how some papous fear mud, highlighting the cultural differences.

Towards the end of the song, the singer teaches the listener a song that he learned in Zimbabwe, whose lyrics consist of the repeated phrase "houm ba loum bam ba Zimbabwe." The song seems to celebrate the country in some way, with the singer pointing out that not all papous are foolish. Overall, the song seems to be a lighthearted account of the singer's experience in Zimbabwe, showcasing the stark cultural contrast he faced.

Line by Line Meaning

J'ai ram'né du fond du Zimbabwe
I brought back souvenirs from deep in Zimbabwe

des souv'nirs impossibles d'oublier
memories impossible to forget

J'ai ram'né une p'tite fille ben bronzée
I brought back a little girl well-tanned

pour remplacer mon chum qu'y ont mangé
to replace my friend who was eaten by them

Y'a des papous qui mangent de tout
There are papuans who eat anything

V'là deux s'maines que j'étais arrivé
Two weeks had passed since I arrived

ils m'ont posé un gros anneaux dans l'nez
they put a big ring in my nose

j'ai mangé du crocodile salé
I ate salty crocodile

du serpent, du tigre d'la mouche tsé-tsé
snake, tiger, and tsetse fly

Y'a des papous qu'y ont peur d'la boue
There are papuans who are afraid of mud

C'est comme ça qu'sa passe dans le Zimbabwe
That's how it goes in Zimbabwe