French Toast (A la recherche du pain perdu)

Story Behind The Song

"Pain perdu" is the French name for French toast. Which is strange, because "lost bread" isn't the English name for English toast. Stranger still, what the French call "lost bread", the Dutch call "won bread." The lyrics of French Toast are included in Mimes, Chimes and Rhymes, a book of light verse with illustrations by Emilie Vercruysse. Details at www.ianodes.com A French Toast video clip featuring drawings by Emilie is online at http://vimeo.com/60840484

Song Length 2:27 Genre Unique - Comedy
Lead Vocal Male Vocal Language Multi-Language

Lyrics

Du pain perdu-du-du
Du pain perdu-du-du ...

You wake up in the morning,
Breakfast on your mind.
You reach into the cupboard.
Stale bread and eggs are all you can find.
Don't throw a fit
Or a plate or a bomblet
Cos you can break eggs
Without making an omelette.

And here's what you do.

French toast
It's the toast with the most.
French toast
It's the Frenchman's boast.
French toast
From coast to coast.
Whatever you do, do do du pain perdu-du-du.

Beat up those eggs.
Dunk the bread - no waste.
Add pepper and salt
And a little cognac to taste.
Keep doing that stuff
Even when strength is lacking
Cos when the eggshells get tough
The tough get cracking.

You know that it's true.

French toast
It's the toast with the most.
French toast
From coast to coast.
French toast
It's the Frenchman's boast.
Whatever you do, do do du pain perdu-du-du.

Du pain perdu-du-du
Du pain perdu-du-du ...

Words and music © Ian Graham 2007

French Toast from coast to coast

Definitely original, and you've got excellent recording skills. The somewhat muted background vocals work beautifully with the narrator's vocal. I think Frank Zappa would have appreciated this. It's an interesting take on something mundane.

This is really different. I like when people think out of the box. I like it.

This was not what I was expecting from a musical standpoint, I did find myself laughing however. I was expecting something a bit more melodic, but I think the minimalist approach gave it the appeal. I could see a radio station using something like this on a morning show or something similar. Good luck with this.

Not pretty, but very witty. In its own way it is really quite awful. often out of tune and off key, and I love it. The musical instruments are voices, simply human throats keeping up the beat in the background while the soloist sings praise to French toast. I don't think the song will get wildly popular, but for those with my kind of taste for the silly and absurd it is quite wonderful.

Well you get high marks for creativity in subject matter. Who woulda thunk you could write a "song" about French Toast? I like the background vocals....although I don't know what they were saying. My favorite line: When the eggshells get tough, the tough get cracking. That was funny.


I feel like I'm watching the opening scene of Scary Movie 2 or 3(you know the part when everyone's at the piano singing "shake it fast" LOL)

It's original and that's what I dig the most, Nice work!

Lyrics Ian Graham ©2007 Music Ian Graham ©2007
Producer Jos Nijs (2012) Performance Ian Graham. Backing vocals: Jul Cortoos, Anne Dondeyne, Genny Dussein, Jos Nijs, Marianne Saenen, Ariane Sotiaux, Maaike Vandeweerdt and Nena Vandeweerdt.
This track is on 2 Member Playlists
Playlist Creator Playlist Name Date Added
John Walradt How about some clever and funny 9/25/2020
Ionut Mirel Udrea Best Unique 4/5/2015

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