Presentation of the song Poor King by Jeff Maheux
Composed in the wake of the Y2K bug, Poor King reemerges from the JM Musique archives in a new bilingual production by Jeff Maheux. A musical report blending humor, pop-folk energy, and turn-of-the-millennium nostalgia.
Hello rockers,
At the turn of the millennium, the world held its breath before the so-called Y2K bug. Between rumors of massive system failures and a general sense of uncertainty, the atmosphere was filled with anxiety.
It was in that context Poor King was composed on January 2, 2000, armed with an acoustic guitar and a few pages from a journal.
Twenty-five years later, the song comes back to life, revisited, remastered, and translated into French under the title Pauvre Roi. Between humor, social reflection, and a bright pop-folk vibe, the piece finds a second wind through a fresh production and a strong visual identity by W+M.
A JM Musique Production.
Presenting Poor King
From its very first bars, Poor King sets a luminous pop-folk mood. The medium tempo, supported by light drums and a steady bass line, recalls the simple and effective grooves of the late ’90s. The acoustic guitar takes center stage, rhythmic, warm, and driving.
It serves as the backbone for a clear chord progression — A, Bm, Em, G, D — enriched with subtle harmonic colors (Bm9, E variants) that bring depth and freshness.
Then comes the harmonica, giving the song a playful, almost naïve accent that perfectly matches the ironic tone of the lyrics.
The whole track breathes with the spontaneity of a jam session caught on the fly, wrapped in clean and accessible pop arrangements. The result: a lively, cheeky piece full of character.
Author’s Notes
Through its lyrics, the song contrasts the simplicity of a marginal character with society’s obsession for success and appearances. Behind the humor and irony lies a universal reflection: are we missing the essential while chasing greener grass elsewhere?
Poor King
Words and Music Jeff Maheux. Productions ©JM2000-25.
I’ve got simple pleasures, I’m a Poor King
Living in a box in the golden city
My neighbors look so pretty but so wary
I like to stare at their blinded theories.
Am I the only one here missing something ?
And that’s the reason why some men live.
Afraid of jugements, they do all the same
The famous competition of the greener grass
Biting each other on their back to take their place
Next summer I’ll be the one with a brand new car!
Am I the only one here missing something ?
And that’s the reason why some men live.
And that the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
I’ve got simple pleasures, I’m a Poor King
Living in a box in the golden city
The reason why you feel better with a Poor King
When you like to play the game of attractions in a golden city.
And that the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
The reason why some men hapelly live.
Jan 2, 2000.
The story behind the song and the melody
Poor King was born from a quiet day off with an acoustic guitar. The melody came first, followed by lyrics inspired by Jeff’s journal entries about the famous Y2K bug. At the time, he was working at Ticketmaster, immersed in an anxious atmosphere fueled by the media and office chatter about potential system crashes — that, in the end, never happened.
The lyrics, first written in English rhyme, became a light, witty song that’s easy to sing and full of humor.
In 2025, the idea of creating a French adaptation came up. Why not offer both languages when preparing the chord sheets and tabs for publication? That’s how Pauvre Roi was born: faithful to the original spirit, yet open to a broader bilingual audience.
With its catchy melodies and playful tone, Poor King is easy to learn, fun to sing, and has the potential to shine both in English and French, even on the radio.
Studio experience and recording process
Poor King was recorded around the year 2000 in Angelo’s home studio in Saint-Léonard. Guitar in hand, Jeff would bring his ideas and hum melodies, which Angelo skillfully reproduced by ear; a seasoned studio guitarist’s instinct. With no written scores, the work relied directly on tablatures and vocal cues — a handmade yet efficient approach.
The sessions took place over several one-hour recordings, week after week during the first half of 2000. Acoustic guitar tracks came first, recorded in series for several songs. Then came the MIDI rhythm sections — drums and bass — followed by light electric guitar touches and even a harmonica solo (actually played on a keyboard). This fragmented but consistent process built a full instrumental structure that has been waiting ever since for its final vocal takes.
Listening to the instrumental version today reveals a joyful, lively atmosphere with an upbeat rhythm. The acoustic chords create a warm base, while the drum and bass add a clean pop-folk groove.
The harmonica-keyboard brings a quirky, playful touch that amplifies the song’s cheeky character.
Altogether, it’s a bright, spontaneous piece that instantly lifts the mood.
Mixing and vocal production
Once the guitars and instrumental bases were recorded, the mixing process began. At that time, the vocals hadn’t yet been finalized, I (Jeff) had recorded a few guide tracks to outline the structure, but the plan was always to return to the studio for stronger takes. That’s why Poor King remained dormant in the JM Musique archives for years.
The original mix focused mainly on acoustic guitars and rhythm sections. Working entirely by ear, Angelo balanced volumes and textures to give the song a light, clear, and spontaneous pop-folk tone. The absence of final vocals actually makes the instrumental version particularly expressive — the chords and rhythm alone define much of the song’s identity.
Today, with the renewed energy brought by the French version Pauvre Roi, the goal is to revive the project. With its simple, catchy melody, Poor King lends itself perfectly to live performance, whether in an intimate guitar-voice setting or with full arrangements. Its playful and engaging nature makes it easy to connect with audiences and create a warm, participatory vibe.
Conclusion
With Poor King, JM Musique continues to showcase original creations, working closely with W+M’s visual and promotional services. From image production to graphic editing and digital marketing, every detail has been designed to give the song a strong identity, both musically and visually.
Listen to the original English version, its French adaptation Pauvre Roi, and the instrumental track.
Jeff
Cr Images: jeffMaheux
Tab Yourself in A Majeur
Poor King — Lyrics with Chords
Words and Music by Jeff Maheux. ©JM2000-25.
4X4
[Intro]
A A Bm Bm9 A A Em Emaj7(13)
A A Bm Bm9 A A Em G
[Verse 1]
A A Bm Bm9
I’ve got simple pleasures, I’m a Poor King
A A Em Emaj7(13)
Living in a box in the golden city
A A Bm Bm9
My neighbors look so pretty but so wary
A A Em A
I like to stare at their blinded theories.
[Chorus]
G G G G A A A A
Am I the only one here missing something?
G G Em Stop A A Bm Bm9
And that’s the reason why some men live.
[Verse 2]
A A Bm Bm9
Afraid of judgments, they do all the same
A A Em Emaj7(13)
The famous competition of the greener grass
A A Bm Bm9
Biting each other on their back to take their place
A A Em A
Next summer I’ll be the one with a brand new car!
[Chorus]
G G G G A A A A
Am I the only one here missing something?
G G Em Stop A A Bm Bm9
And that’s the reason why some men live.
[Bridge]
A A D D
And that’s the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
A A D D
And that’s the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
A A D D Em Em G G
And that’s the reason… Oh Why?
[Dance time Solo :)]
A A D D A A D D
A A D D Em Em G G
A A Bm Bm9
I’ve got simple pleasures, I’m a Poor King
A A Em Emaj7(13)
Living in a box in the golden city
A A Bm Bm9
The reason why you feel better with a Poor King
A A Em Em Em Em G G G G
When you like to play the game of attractions in a golden city.
A A D D
And that’s the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
A A D D
And that’s the reason…
And that’s the reason why…
A A D D Em Em G G
The reason why some men hapelly live
A A D D A A D D
A A D D Em Em G G
…A
Me : Emaj7(13) 002023
JM Musique On Socials
Discover Poor King, a pop-folk song by Jeff Maheux. A JM Music 2025 revival with W+M! Catchy, witty and full of acoustic energy.