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".
sacrée bouteille 'bottle of wine'
Graeme Allwright Lyrics
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Singin' for nickels and dimes
Times getting rough I ain't got enough
To buy me a bottle of wine
Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine
When you gonna let me get sober
Leave me along, let me go home
Little hotel, older than Hell
Cold and as dark as a mine
Blanket so thin, I lie there and grin
Buy me little bottle of wine
Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine
When you gonna let me get sober
Leave me along, let me go home
I wann'a go back and start over
Aches in my head, bugs in my bed
Pants so old that they shine
Out on the street, tell the people I meet
Won'ch buy me a bottle of wine
Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine
When you gonna let me get sober
Leave me along, let me go home
I wann'a go back and start over
Teacher must teach, and the preacher must preach
Miner must dig in the mine
I ride the rods, trusting in God
And hugging my bottle of wine
Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine
When you gonna let me get sober
Leave me along, let me go home
I wann'a go back and start over
The singer of Graeme Allwright's song "Sacrée Bouteille" is a down-on-his-luck musician, wandering through a dirty old town, singing for small change. He longs for a bottle of wine, which he romanticizes as "fruit of the vine." The wine represents an escape from his present difficulties and the harsh realities of his everyday life. The singer is exhausted, sleeping in a damp and dingy hotel room on a thin blanket, with aches in his head and bugs in his bed. He considers himself an outcast from society, unable to fit in or achieve the same level of success as the teachers, preachers and miners he encounters. Despite knowing that he must move forward, he clings to his bottle of wine as a comfort and a friend.
The song portrays a sense of loneliness and isolation, with the singer feeling disconnected from the world around him. It also highlights the allure and dangers of addiction, with the singer seeking solace in something that may ultimately do him more harm than good. The song is a reminder that the struggles of humanity are universal and that many people face difficult situations that they cannot easily escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Ramblin' around this dirty old town
Wandering aimlessly around this unclean and unpleasant place
Singin' for nickels and dimes
Singing for very little money
Times getting rough I ain't got enough
Difficulties are increasing and I don't have sufficient funds
To buy me a bottle of wine
To purchase a bottle of alcoholic drink
Bottle of wine, fruit of the vine
Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes
When you gonna let me get sober
When will I be allowed to become clear-headed
Leave me along, let me go home
Stop harassing me, I want to return to my dwelling
I wann'a go back and start over
I desire to return to the beginning and restart
Little hotel, older than Hell
A small lodging place that is extremely old
Cold and as dark as a mine
A chilly and unlit place similar to a mine shaft
Blanket so thin, I lie there and grin
The bedding is so insubstantial that I lie there and laugh
Buy me little bottle of wine
Please purchase a small bottle of alcohol for me
Aches in my head, bugs in my bed
I'm experiencing pain in my head and insects are in my sleeping quarters
Pants so old that they shine
Trousers that are extremely aged and lustrous from wear
Out on the street, tell the people I meet
On the road, inform anyone I encounter
Won'ch buy me a bottle of wine
Will you not purchase an alcoholic drink for me
Teacher must teach, and the preacher must preach
Educators must instruct, and religious leaders must deliver sermons
Miner must dig in the mine
Miners must work in a coal mine
I ride the rods, trusting in God
I'm traveling on a freight train with faith in God
And hugging my bottle of wine
While holding on tightly to my alcoholic drink
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS R PAXTON, TOM PAXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind