Graeme Allwright (born in Wellington, New Zealand on 7 November 1926; died … Read Full Bio ↴Graeme Allwright (born in Wellington, New Zealand on 7 November 1926; died 16 February 2020) was a New Zealand-born French singer and songwriter. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s as a French language interpreter of the songs of American and Canadian songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Pete Seeger, and remained active into his nineties.

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".

Emmène-Moi 'Take Me Home'
Graeme Allwright Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Jack Clement/Allen Reynolds) adaptation française Graeme Allwright

J'ai voyagé de Brest à Besançon, depuis La Rochelle jusqu'en Avignon
De Nantes jusqu'à Monaco, en passant par Metz et St-Malo et Paris
Et j'ai vendu des marrons à la foire de Dijon, et la barbe à papa.

Emmène-moi! Mon cœur est triste et j'ai mal aux pieds.
Emmène-moi! Je ne veux plus voyager.

J'ai dormi toute une nuit dans un abreuvoir.
J'ai attrapé la grippe et des idées noires.
J'ai eu mal aux dents et la rougeole.
J'ai attrapé des rhumes et des petites bestioles qui piquent
Sans parler de toutes les fois que j'ai coupé mes doigts
Sur une bonite à sardines.

Emmène-moi! Mon cœur est triste et j'ai mal aux pieds.
Emmène-moi! Je ne veux plus voyager.

Je les vois tous les deux comme si c'était hier.
Au coucher du soleil, Maman mettant le couvert
Et mon vieux papa, avec sa cuillère
Remplissant son assiette de pommes de terre bien cuites
Et les dimanches, Maman coupant une tranche de tarte aux pommes.

Emmène-moi! Mon cœur est triste et j'ai mal aux pieds.
Emmène-moi! Je ne veux plus voyager.

Overall Meaning

In Graeme Allwright's adaptation of "Emmène-Moi," the singer recounts their tiring journey of traveling across France from Brest to Besançon, La Rochelle to Avignon, Nantes to Monaco, and everywhere in between. They describe selling chestnuts and cotton candy at the Dijon fair and sleeping one night in a horse trough. The singer also shares the various ailments and injuries they've suffered throughout their travels, including the flu, toothaches, and cuts from opening sardine cans. Despite having many experiences, the singer longs for the comforts of home, recalling fond memories of their parents at mealtime, eating potatoes and apple pie.

The lyrics in "Emmène-Moi" express a sense of weariness, both physically and emotionally. The singer's constant travel has taken a toll on them, and they yearn for the familiar and comforting. The repetition of the phrase "emmène-moi" or "take me home" throughout the song emphasizes this desire to return to something known and safe. The nostalgic memories of home further underscore the singer's longing for stability and a sense of place.

Line by Line Meaning

J'ai voyagé de Brest à Besançon, depuis La Rochelle jusqu'en Avignon
I traveled from Brest to Besançon, from La Rochelle to Avignon

De Nantes jusqu'à Monaco, en passant par Metz et St-Malo et Paris
From Nantes to Monaco, passing through Metz and St-Malo and Paris

Et j'ai vendu des marrons à la foire de Dijon, et la barbe à papa.
And I sold chestnuts at the Dijon fair, and cotton candy.

Emmène-moi! Mon cœur est triste et j'ai mal aux pieds.
Take me home! My heart is sad and my feet hurt.

Je ne veux plus voyager.
I don't want to travel anymore.

J'ai dormi toute une nuit dans un abreuvoir.
I slept an entire night in a livestock watering trough.

J'ai attrapé la grippe et des idées noires.
I caught the flu and dark thoughts.

J'ai eu mal aux dents et la rougeole.
I had toothaches and measles.

J'ai attrapé des rhumes et des petites bestioles qui piquent
I caught colds and little biting bugs

Sans parler de toutes les fois que j'ai coupé mes doigts sur une bonite à sardines.
Not to mention all the times I cut my fingers on a sardine can.

Je les vois tous les deux comme si c'était hier.
I see them both as if it was yesterday.

Au coucher du soleil, Maman mettant le couvert
At sunset, Mom setting the table

Et mon vieux papa, avec sa cuillère remplissant son assiette de pommes de terre bien cuites
And my old man, with his spoon filling his plate with well-cooked potatoes

Et les dimanches, Maman coupant une tranche de tarte aux pommes.
And on Sundays, Mom cutting a slice of apple pie.

Emmène-moi! Mon cœur est triste et j'ai mal aux pieds.
Take me home! My heart is sad and my feet hurt.

Je ne veux plus voyager.
I don't want to travel anymore.

Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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