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".
jour de clarté
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
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Et tous les opprimés
Entendront tous l'appel
Le cri de liberté
Toutes les chaînes brisées
Tomberont pour l'éternité
On peut chanter tous les poèmes des sages
Mais il faut s'unir pour abolir injustice et pauvreté
Les hommes sont tous pareils
Ils ont tous le même soleil
Il faut, mes frères, préparer
Le jour de clarté
Quand tous les affamés
Et tous les opprimés
Entendront tous l'appel
Le cri de liberté
Toutes les chaînes brisées
Tomberont pour l'éternité
On peut discuter sur les droits de l'homme
Et on peut parler de fraternité
Mais qu'les hommes soient jaunes ou blancs ou noirs
Ils ont la même destinée
Laissez vos préjugés
Rejetez vos vieilles idées
Apprenez seulement l'amitié
Quand tous les affamés
Et tous les opprimés
Entendront tous l'appel
Le cri de liberté
Toutes les chaînes brisées
Tomberont pour l'éternité
On ne veut plus parler de toutes vos guerres
Et on n'veut plus parler d'vos champs d'honneur
Et on n'veut plus rester les bras croisés
Comme de pauvres spectateurs
Dans ce monde divisé
Il faut des révoltés
Qui n'auront pas peur de crier
Quand tous les affamés
Et tous les opprimés
Entendront tous l'appel
Le cri de liberté
Toutes les chaînes brisées
Tomberont pour l'éternité
The song "Le Jour De Clarté" by Graeme Allwright is a call to unite against injustice and poverty. The lyrics evoke a future day when all those who are hungry and oppressed will hear the call for freedom, and all chains will be broken for eternity. Allwright sings that while we can recite the poems of the wise and speak of humility, it is only through unity that we can abolish injustice and poverty. He proclaims that all men are equal, sharing the same sun and the same destiny, urging his brothers to prepare for the Day of Clarity.
Allwright speaks of the need to reject prejudice and old ideas, and to learn only friendship. He calls for an end to wars and honors fields, and a rejection of passivity. Instead, he urges his listeners to become the rebels who will not be afraid to cry out, to bring about a world that is no longer divided. The song ends on a note of hope, with an assurance that when all the hungry and oppressed hear the call, the cry for freedom, all chains will be broken for eternity.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand tous les affamés
When all the starving
Et tous les opprimés
And all the oppressed ones
Entendront tous l'appel
Hear the call
Le cri de liberté
The cry for freedom
Toutes les chaînes brisées
All chains broken
Tomberont pour l'éternité
Will fall for eternity
On peut chanter tous les poèmes des sages
We can sing all the poems of the wise
Et on peut parler de l'humilité
And we can talk about humility
Mais il faut s'unir pour abolir injustice et pauvreté
But we must unite to abolish injustice and poverty
Les hommes sont tous pareils
Men are all the same
Ils ont tous le même soleil
They all have the same sun
Il faut, mes frères, préparer
We must, my brothers, prepare
Le jour de clarté
The day of clarity
On peut discuter sur les droits de l'homme
We can discuss human rights
Et on peut parler de fraternité
And we can talk about brotherhood
Mais qu'les hommes soient jaunes ou blancs ou noirs
But whether the men are yellow or white or black
Ils ont la même destinée
They have the same destiny
Laissez vos préjugés
Leave your prejudices
Rejetez vos vieilles idées
Reject your old ideas
Apprenez seulement l'amitié
Learn only friendship
On ne veut plus parler de toutes vos guerres
We don't want to talk about all your wars anymore
Et on n'veut plus parler d'vos champs d'honneur
And we don't want to talk about your fields of honor anymore
Et on n'veut plus rester les bras croisés
And we don't want to remain arms crossed anymore
Comme de pauvres spectateurs
Like poor spectators
Dans ce monde divisé
In this divided world
Il faut des révoltés
We need rebels
Qui n'auront pas peur de crier
Who will not be afraid to scream
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NOEL PAUL STOOKEY, PETER YARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind