Allwright traveled to France in the early 1950's and married Catherine Dasté. His son Christophe Allwright, is a French comedian.
In the early '60s, Allwright sang at a number of clubs in Paris, folk music that was very big in the 60s. He wrote his own music, and created the French language versions of many songs by US and Canadian artists like Tom Paxton ("Sacrée Bouteille" "Qu'as tu appris à l'école?"), Leonard Cohen ("Suzanne") and Pete Seeger ("Jusqu' à la ceinture").
His earlier music focused more on social protest songs. As he matured as an artist, his songs became more personal, and his choice in material included more funny songs, songs with a mystical bent ("Garder le Souvenir", "Lumière"), and songs about the complexities of relationships ("No Man's Land"). Some of his songs are in English, but the vast majority are in French.
He has travelled extensively, to the Himalayas, Réunion Island, and Madascar, among other places. He was strongly influenced by the Indian master and teacher Sri Aurobino, which is reflected in the mystical qualities of some of his songs.
In 2005, he wrote new lyrics for the French National Anthem, "La Marseillaise".
Comme un vrai gamin
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I cant wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way, is on the road again
Just cant wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I cant wait to get on the road again
Graeme Allwright's song "Comme un vrai gamin" is a beautiful, nostalgic tribute to the innocence of childhood. Interestingly, the song borrows its melody from Harry Belafonte's "On the Road Again". Although the lyrics of "Comme un vrai gamin" are in French, they evoke the same carefree, adventurous spirit of Belafonte's original.
In the song, the singer takes us on a journey back to the days when life was simple, and adventure was just a bike ride away. He sings of how he and his friends used to ride and play together with reckless abandon, without a care in the world. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and playful nostalgia, with lines like "Dans les champs, c'était l'roi soleil" (In the fields, the sun was king) painting a picture of a simpler, happier time.
Line by Line Meaning
On the road again
Starting a new journey
Just can't wait to get on the road again
Excited to be traveling once more
The life I love is making music with my friends
Enjoying my passion for music with my closest companions
And I can't wait to get on the road again
Looking forward to embarking on this adventure
Goin' places that I've never been
Exploring new and unfamiliar territories
Seein' things that I may never see again
Encountering unique experiences that may never happen again
And I can't wait to get on the road again
Eager to continue traveling further and exploring more
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
Moving along the road like a wandering troupe
We're the best of friends
We have an unbreakable bond forged by adventure
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
Determined to live our lives on our own terms
And our way, is on the road again
Our path leads us to continue traveling
Just cant wait to get on the road again
Still eagerly anticipating the next adventure
The life I love is making music with my friends
Continuing to savor the joy of creating music with my closest companions
And I cant wait to get on the road again
Ready and willing to hit the road once more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind