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".
P'tite Fleur Fanée
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Le p'tit bouquet que vous la donne à moin
Na longtemps que li l'est fané
Vi souviens bien, com' ça l'est loin
Vi souviens Nénère adorée
Le p'tit bouquet que vous la donne à moin
Na longtemps que li l'est fané
{Refrain:}
Petit' fleurs fânées
Petit' fleurs aimées
Di à moin toujours
Couc' c'est qu'l'amour
Ni marché dans la forêt
Y faisait bon y faisait frais
Dan'z'herbes l'avait la rosée
Dan' le ciel z'oiseaux y chantaient
Depuis ça le temps l'a passé
Y reste plus qu'un souvenir
Quand mi pense mon cœur l'est brisé
Tout ici, com' ça doit finir
The song "P'tite Fleur Fanée" by Graeme Allwright speaks to the theme of love, heartbreak, and memories. The singer of the song, addressed as "Nénère adorée," is reminded of a small bouquet given to them long ago that has since wilted away. The refrain speaks to the concept of love and how it can decay like the flowers. The memories of the past are bittersweet for the singer and provoke feelings of sadness when reflecting on them. The singer remembers walking in the woods with Nénère and the idyllic beauty of the moment, with the coolness of the forest and the singing of birds adding to the magic.
The song's simple language and minimal arrangement serve to emphasize the emotional content of the lyrics. There is a sense of longing for the past and for what was lost, as the singer pines for a time before the flowers wilted and before the relationship between them and Nénère dissolved. The song evokes a sense of nostalgia, highlighting the fleeting nature of beauty and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Vi souviens Nénère adorée
I remember my beloved Nénère
Le p'tit bouquet que vous la donne à moin
The little bouquet you gave me
Na longtemps que li l'est fané
It has been a long time since it withered
Vi souviens bien, com' ça l'est loin
I remember it well, how distant it is
{Refrain:} Petit' fleurs fânées Petit' fleurs aimées Di à moin toujours Couc' c'est qu'l'amour
Chorus: Little faded flowers, little loved flowers, tell me always that love is a cuckoo
Ni marché dans la forêt Y faisait bon y faisait frais Dan'z'herbes l'avait la rosée Dan' le ciel z'oiseaux y chantaient
We walked in the forest, it was good, it was cool. In the grass, there was dew. In the sky, birds were singing
Depuis ça le temps l'a passé Y reste plus qu'un souvenir
Since then, time has passed, and all that remains is a memory
Quand mi pense mon cœur l'est brisé Tout ici, com' ça doit finir
When I think of it, my heart breaks. Everything here, as it must end
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.