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".
Jeanne D'Arc
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quand elle chevauchait dans la nuit,
Pas de lune pour l'éclairer,
Ni personne pour la guider.
Je suis si lasse de la guerre,
J'ai tant envie des travaux de naguère,
D'une longue robe de mariée
Ah, quel plaisir de te l'entendre dire,
Je te guettais avec tant d'ardeur,
Tu sais bien que je désire,
Jeanne, ta solitude, ta froideur.
Et qui es-tu demanda t'elle
À cette voix dans la fumée,
Je suis le feu, voyons, ma belle,
Et ton orgueil de glace me fait rêver.
Alors, feu, tiédis ton corps,
Je te donne le mien, sois fort.
Sur ces mots, Jeanne s'est lancée
Pour l'épouser à jamais.
Le cœur de braise avait gardé
Ta place, Jeanne, de mariée,
Et la noce fut couronnée
De la robe tout noire et brûlée.
Le cœur de braise avait gardé
Ta place, Jeanne, de mariée,
Elle a compris, c'était son lot,
Que pour qu'il brille, elle devait être fagot.
J'ai vu ses cris, vu sa douleur,
J'ai vu la gloire dans ses pleurs.
Je ne sais comment peuvent s'allier
Tant de lumière, tant de cruauté.
The song "Jeanne D'Arc" by Graeme Allwright is a poetic tribute to the legendary figure of Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1431. The lyrics describe Joan riding through the night with flames following her, and feeling tired of war and longing for her former life. She dreams of wearing a long wedding dress, but is interrupted by a voice from the smoke that asks who she is. The voice reveals itself to be fire, and claims that Joan's coldness and pride inspire its dreams. Joan then gives herself to the fire, marrying it forever.
The lyrics are a powerful metaphor for Joan's intense, fiery spirit and her tragic fate. The use of fire throughout the song symbolizes both Joan's passion and her destruction at the hands of her enemies. The references to Joan's desire for a simple, domestic life underscore the tragedy of her death at a young age, and the heart-wrenching image of her wearing a black, burnt wedding dress serves as a poignant reminder of all that was lost. The final lines, which speak of the beauty and cruelty of Joan's story, capture the complexity and power of her legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeanne, les flammes l'ont suivie
The flames followed her as she rode through the dark night, with no moon to light her way and no one to guide her.
Je suis si lasse de la guerre
I am so tired of war, and I long for the peaceful tasks of the past, such as wearing a long wedding gown to satisfy my crude desires.
Ah, quel plaisir de te l'entendre dire
Oh, how delightful it is for me to hear you say that! I have been eagerly waiting for you, and you know that I desire your solitude and coldness, Jeanne.
Et qui es-tu demanda-t'elle
Jeanne asked who was speaking to her in the smoke, and the voice replied that it was the fire and her icy pride made him dream.
Alors, feu, tiédis ton corps
Jeanne asked the fire to warm her body, and in exchange, she offered her own body to make him stronger.
Le cœur de braise avait gardé ta place, Jeanne, de mariée
The fiery heart had reserved a place for Jeanne as a bride, and their wedding was celebrated with a black, burnt wedding gown.
Elle a compris, c'était son lot, que pour qu'il brille, elle devait être fagot.
Jeanne realised that to make the fire shine, she had to be the kindling, and she suffered greatly in this role.
J'ai vu ses cris, vu sa douleur, j'ai vu la gloire dans ses pleurs.
I witnessed her screams, her pain, and the glory in her tears. It is difficult to understand how so much light and so much cruelty could coexist.
Contributed by Alexandra R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.