The Princess and the Troubadour

from Bad Reputation Volume 1 by Bad Reputation

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lyrics

Long before a garden stood on this site
This was the district that thrives in the night
A hidden hovel of vice and deceit
These ruins would never be a landmark
And all the creatures that dwelled in its dark
They were the finest flower, they were the elite

Flower and elite of the underground
Hustlers and losers and roustabouts
Beggars united in damage and strife
Broken down racehorses, deviants galore
Not to mention a cut-rate troubadour
A shipwreck clinging onto his guitar for dear life

Adopted by this tender underworld
There flourished a precious pixie of a girl
Tucked in the heart of this unholy mess
Since she’d been found by a dry riverbed
Cradled in finest silks and left for dead
Soon she was known all around by the name of “princess”

One fine night, so help us, oh holy Ghost
She slinks in his room and she takes off her coat
She crawls on his lap after closing the door
Blushing a little she says with a sigh
“It’s you that I love and you may if you like
Kiss me on the mouth and then do even more.”

“Hold it there, Princess, that’s not my style
I don’t have the makings of a pedophile
You’re only thirteen, and I’m almost thirty years old
That’s a big difference and I don’t see the point
Of spending the rest of my days in the joint
"She answers “It’s OK, I will not tell a soul.”

“Don’t push it, girl” comes his mocking reply
“First off you’re not my type and besides
My heart already belongs to a woman.”
So Princess burst into tears as she fled
So Princess ran as she bitterly wept
Feeling the burning sting of her first rejection

Corruption of a minor did not take place
The singer, at dawn, without leaving a trace
Made his escape in the broken down cart
Of an old farmhand, while strumming a tune.
Twenty years later, passing by the same room
He feels a twinge of regret deep down in his heart

credits

from Bad Reputation Volume 1, released November 23, 2013
Recorded and mixed by Daniel Weintraub and Quentin Jennings at Hell's Kitchen Recording and Sous-Sol Re Sol, Brooklyn, New York.

Pierre de Gaillande – translations, vocals, guitar
Christian Bongers – bass
Tony Jarvis – bass clarinet, electric and acoustic guitars
Quentin Jennings – charango, xylophone, piano, wurlitzer, autoharp, shaker
David Spinley – clarinet, tenor saxophone

Additional musicians:
Keren Ann – vocals on To Die For Your Ideas and Ninety-five Percent
Dan Menke – drums on Penelope
Quentin Jennings, Daniel Weintraub, and Lucas van Lenten – backing vocals on Don Juan

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Bad Reputation New York

Pierre de Gaillande was born in Paris, France, raised in California, and lives in New York.

Currently, Pierre writes songs for and plays guitar in New York bands Open Kimono and Bad Reputation and composes music for film and television. ... more

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