When knowitall.ch was recently contacted by American Geneva-based songwriter/composer, Malcolm Lucard, we were intrigued by one title in particular: Aux Bains des Pâquis (listen to the song at this link — full lyrics below).
Asked why he decided to jump over the language barrier, Malcolm replied, “At the time the song was conceived I was immersing myself in learning French, including music from France and Francophone Africa. I would learn some funny expression in French class and it would somehow resonate with what I was going through. At the same time I would imagine how cool it would be to write songs in French. I found out it wasn’t so easy! I struggled and struggled and it took about ten years, but finally, with the help of some very patient friends, I managed my first full song in French.
“The story behind the song is kind of funny. We moved here because my wife found a job in Geneva and so, for the first two years, I didn't have a day job. I set up the apartment, did the shopping, took French lessons, looked after the kids when they were not in school... you know, a typical trailing spouse/stay-at-home dad type. After school I would often take my boys, and sometimes a pack of their school pals, to les Bains des Paquis. I got a reputation for being a kind of social organizer in our little pack, gathering the kids and the parents down there for picnic dinners. Usually I would have my mandolin with me and I'd practice as the kids played. For all the other parents, it gave the impression all I did was hang out at Bains des Paquis. The grandmother of two of their friends started to refer to Bains des Paquis as my 'office'. She'd say, So Malcolm, are you going to the office today? That was code for Are you going to the beach today?
Some of Malcolm's favorite lines from the song include:
a l'entrée, je flash mon badge
mon boulot est un jolie plage!
He explained, “I like that one because it's very specific to BdP but also to any job where you have to show a badge to get in to the office.”
ma cravate, me sert de serviette,
mon costume, c'est un maillot du bain!
He justifies this one, “I like that one because of the double entrendre with 'costume' and because it uses physical objects to reveal the true nature of this grand patron.”
dans ma vie, je fait du surplace,
une formation constante, n'est pas la classe?
He is proud of the last quote in particular, “It came to me only a few months after arriving in Geneva. I was spending a lot of time at Bains des Paquis and in French classes and this expression came up one day. At the time, I was without work, kind of treading water in life, but also I used to love swimming out to the safety barriers and just tread water, looking out at the mountains and the jet d'eau. It's a nice double entendre and I think it also may describe a lot of people at Bains des Paquis who are in some kind of transition or formation.”
Malcolm Lucard's plethora of songs
His album, Vagamundo, features a mix of styles, from bluegrass, folk, blues, funk and rock that he grew up with in the US to the afro-Brazilian rhythms and other musical genres that have influenced him. The CD was recorded in a former Cold War era bunker in downtown Geneva with a small band of musicians from the United States, Switzerland, France, Kenya, and Brazil. His first CD, a self-titled 2001 release, is more folksy and a purely acoustic recording with funky and jazzy overtones. Both this earlier CD and Vagamundo are available through all major, online distribution platforms.
Other intriguing titles include: Tourist of the mind, I love you worse, Back Country, To do, Train ride away, I don't need a tatoo.
One of his listeners described, “A fine guitarist and sometimes wacky singer, local favorite Malcolm Lucard delivers a nice dose of down-home folk music. Keeping in stride with singer-songwriters both new and old, Malcolm's repertoire includes a nice balance of honesty, criticism and humor.”
It is unusual for an expat to integrate so well into the music scene in French. His French teacher must be so proud of him!
How to stay in touch with Malcolm
Malcolm and his group Vagamundo will be making a video for the Bains des Pâquis song and playing at various locations around Bains des Pâquis during the weekend of 29-30 September 2018. He would love to hear from enthusiastic listeners and you can sign up to his mailing list and stay in touch about his concerts, releases, and events. Malcom is available for hire for events, cocktails, parties, and more. Find more information at www.malcolmlucard.com as well as about tracks from his albums and concerts.
Lyrics for Aux Bains des Pâquis, © Malcolm Lucard 2017
G (D/G C/G G7) G
Chaque jour je me lève
Les grands patrons
Connaissent pas de grève
Gueule de bois, n’importe pas
Suis obligé d’faire le papa
Dans ma vie
Je suis responsable
D’une entreprise
Respectable
Mon centre business
C’est bien connu
‘Faut qu’ j’arrive à l’heure
Sinon je suis foutu
Chorus : C / B/ G / / / /
Donc…
Je ne me rase pas
Je ne me douche même pas
Je n’ai pas de temps pour tout ça
Juste un renversé à l’emportée
Donc,
Je noue ma cravate
Je mets mon costume
J’enfile mes chaussures noires
Et je me retrouve sur le trottoir
Verse :
Partant sur la rue des Pâquis
Mon trajet est tout tracé
Tourner à gauche vers la rue du léman
En revant d’un ciel clement…
Tout droit vers le quai
Un grand bouchon, mais qu’est-ce que c’est ?
J’ai la musique dans mon baladeur
La circulation m’fait meme pas peur
Chorus : C / B/ G / / / /
Donc,
A l’entrée je flash mon badge
Mon bureau est une jolie plage
Tu penses que c’est une blague mais
le sens de ma journée dépend des vagues
Alors, ma cravate
Me sert de serviette
Mon costume
C’est mon maillot-d’-bain
Aux pieds, je porte
Des flips flops
Toutes prêtes à plonger dans l’bain
Aux Bains de Pâquis
Oh ! Bains de Pâquis
(Instrumental : 2x verse)
Chorus : C / B/ G / / / /
Donc, mon gratte-ciel
C’est le jet d’eau
La nappe de plage
Devient mon bureau
Je travaille couché sur le dos
Vous parlez bien de mon boulot
Mes collègues
Les grands charmeurs
Les mouettes, les cygnes
Les pro-chômeurs
lls viennent car ils ont faim
Font le rivage pour gagner
leur pain
(Aux Bains de Pâquis )
Verse :
dans ma carrière
Je fais du sur place
en formation constante
n’est-ce pas la classe?
Parmi mes collègues plein de canards
Au mon bureau, nous sommes tous paquisards
Mais enfin c’est pas mal du tout
Moi, j’aime bien tous ces rendez vous
On discute de tous nos reves
Cet syndicate connaissent pas de grève
(Aux Bains des Pâquis….)
Alors, faisons nous jaillir nos rêves
(Oh ! Bains des Pâquis…)
je gagne assez liquide…
on s’occupes des affaires internationale…
tout le monde faisent la crepe…
Il vaut mieux vivre nos rêves
