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".
Demain Sera Bien
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De rêver au passé
Nous avons juré
Eternelle fidelité
Tu continuais à m'aimer
Je commençais à jeûner
Maintenant je suis trop maigre
Ton amour m'a dépassé
Mais je vois dans tes yeux
Et je vois ton sourire
Et je sais que demain
Que demain, que demain
Que demain sera bien
Je choisis les chambres
Où je vis avec soin
Les fenêtres sont petites
Sur les mûrs il n'y a rien
Il n'y a qu'un seul lit
Et une seule prière
Et j'attends toutes les nuits
Que tu m'apportes la lumière
Mais je vois dans tes yeux
Et je vois ton sourire
Et je sais que demain
Que demain, que demain
Que demain sera bien
Quelque fois je la vois
Se déshabillant pour moi
Elle est douce comme l'amour
A voulu qu'elle soit
Elle est libre comme le vent
Qui caresse l'eau
Il faut pas que j'oublie
Un souvenir si beau
Mais je vois dans tes yeux
Et je vois ton sourire
Et je sais que demain
Que demain, que demain
Que demain sera bien
In Graeme Allwright's song "Demain Sera Bien," the singer dreams about the past, where he and his partner had promised eternal fidelity. He, however, was growing thin from fasting, while she continued to love him deeply. Now, he is overwhelmed by her love, but he sees in her eyes and smile that tomorrow will be a better day.
He carefully chooses his living space, with small windows and nothing on the walls, and he waits every night for her to bring him light. Through all this, he remembers how beautiful she once was when she undressed for him, and he knows he must not forget such a lovely memory. But even as he recalls and yearns for the past, he looks to the future with hope and sees that tomorrow, tomorrow will be well.
The song speaks to the power of memories and hope, how even as we long for what we had in the past, we must keep moving forward and believe that things will get better. The singer's love for his partner is both overwhelming and seemingly unattainable, but he finds solace in knowing that tomorrow may hold something better. It's a poignant message that reminds us to not get stuck in the past but to look forward to the future with hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Il m'arrive quelque fois
Sometimes it happens to me
De rêver au passé
To dream of the past
Nous avons juré
We swore
Eternelle fidélité
Eternal fidelity
Tu continuais à m'aimer
You continued to love me
Je commençais à jeûner
I started to fast
Maintenant je suis trop maigre
Now I am too thin
Ton amour m'a dépassé
Your love has overwhelmed me
Mais je vois dans tes yeux
But I see in your eyes
Et je vois ton sourire
And I see your smile
Et je sais que demain
And I know that tomorrow
Que demain, que demain
That tomorrow, that tomorrow
Que demain sera bien
That tomorrow will be good
Je choisis les chambres
I choose the rooms
Où je vis avec soin
Where I live carefully
Les fenêtres sont petites
The windows are small
Sur les mûrs il n'y a rien
There is nothing on the walls
Il n'y a qu'un seul lit
There is only one bed
Et une seule prière
And one prayer
Et j'attends toutes les nuits
And I wait every night
Que tu m'apportes la lumière
That you bring me the light
Quelque fois je la vois
Sometimes I see her
Se déshabillant pour moi
Undressing for me
Elle est douce comme l'amour
She is sweet like love
A voulu qu'elle soit
Wanted her to be
Elle est libre comme le vent
She is free like the wind
Qui caresse l'eau
That caresses the water
Il faut pas que j'oublie
I must not forget
Un souvenir si beau
A memory so beautiful
Contributed by Anthony J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.