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".

How Can I Possibly Sing To You
Graeme Allwright Lyrics

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Faut que je, que j′trouve ma guitare

How can I possibly sing to you
How can I possibly sing to you
How can I possibly sing to you
The song that's on my mind
The song that′s on my mind

All the words would never do
All the words would never do
All the words would never do
To tell you what's on my mind
To tell you what's on my mind

We don′t want a chosen few
We don′t want a chosen few
We don't want a chosen few
Nobody left behind
Nobody left behind

I could paint you pictures too
I could paint you pictures too
I could paint you pictures too
Every colour and kind
Every colour and kind

Love is just a tone I mean
Love is just a tone I mean
Love is just a tone I mean

Joy is the melody
Joy is the melody

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Graeme Allwright's song "How Can I Possibly Sing To You" convey a sense of frustration and limitation in trying to express a deep emotion or message. The opening line, "Faut que je, que j′trouve ma guitare," which translates to "I need to find my guitar," sets the tone for the song, suggesting that the singer is searching for the right means to communicate.

The repetition of the question "How can I possibly sing to you" throughout the song emphasizes the difficulty in finding adequate words or ways to express what is in the singer's mind. The words, however, are not enough to convey the depth of the emotion, as shown in the line "All the words would never do." The singer acknowledges that even if they could find the right words, it would still not capture the essence of what they want to say.

The lyrics also suggest inclusivity and a desire for everyone to be included in this expression. The line "We don't want a chosen few, nobody left behind" implies a longing for unity and a rejection of exclusivity.

The song also suggests that love and joy cannot be fully captured in words alone. The line "Love is just a tone I mean, Joy is the melody" implies that these emotions transcend language and are better expressed through music and melody.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of frustration and yearning to express a deep emotion or sentiment that goes beyond words, and perhaps can only be truly conveyed through music.

Line by Line Meaning

Faut que je, que j′trouve ma guitare
I need to find my guitar

How can I possibly sing to you
In what way can I express my feelings through song for you

The song that's on my mind
The tune that occupies my thoughts

All the words would never do
Using words alone would not suffice

To tell you what's on my mind
To convey what occupies my thoughts

We don′t want a chosen few
We desire inclusivity, not exclusivity

Nobody left behind
No person should be left out

I could paint you pictures too
I have the ability to depict images for you as well

Every colour and kind
In every hue and form

Love is just a tone I mean
Love is simply a harmonic expression

Joy is the melody
Happiness is the main musical motif