Dead In The Streets was the very first song I wrote on my own for JELA at the time. It started out as a punk song but we ended up leaving it aside and it came back in my solo sets later on in a very folky outlook.
I was 17 when I wrote it, just finished college, it was a hot summer in the south of France and these "dead town's streets" felt like they were closing in. We had been lent a flat in town that we happily squatted for two weeks. We were dying to leave for Manchester and live our rock n' roll dreams but in the meantime were trapped in this same old place. It truly was written out of boredom.
It's a song about youth, friendship, escapism and promises. It might not be my strongest work at all but I like it for its simplicity and naivety. Let me know your thoughts on it! 
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Written, performed, recorded and mixed/mastered at home by Lucas Bernard.
Artwork by Sam Artigau.

Dead In The Streets

Here's my version of "Water Is Wide", which is an old celtic traditional. I fell in love with the main melody as a child listening to french singer Renaud's "Ballade Nord Irlandaise". 
I stumbled upon John Gorka's version on the incredible "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" which compiles songs sung by Pete Seeger and I was quite frankly mesmerized. My version is very much inspired by his.
It was recorded very spontaneously (with some Irish whiskey on St Paddy's day 2018) at my family's home in the south of France with the help of my two sisters, Marie and Elise, on backing vocals.
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Produced, mixed and arranged by Lucas Bernard in Uzès, FRANCE.

Lucas Bernard: vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, piano.
Elise Bernard & Marie Bernard: backing vocals.

Photo credit: Sam Artiga

Water Is Wide

As I was going through the extensive list of demos and drafts I have on my phone, one of the earliest ones was a recording of the opening chords and the first verse that my friend and long-time lyricist Dave had written. 
When in Cyprus I got some kind of blues feeling like the enjoyment of my life travelling abroad had reached its limit for a while. I continued the song with that theme in mind, talking through the voice of a "seasick sailor". It was mostly written in one night after my shift. Hope you dig it. x

Photo by Sam Artigau. CHECK OUT HIS UNBELIEVABLE PHOTOS AND GIVE HIM A LIKE > https://www.facebook.com/SamArtigauphotography/

Ballad of the Seasick Sailor

I do not own this song. I could afford a better haircut if I would.

Not much to say apart that this is the best song in the universe. X

Lucas Bernard

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