je perds ou je gagne (Blues run the game)

[Jean Pierre]

i had known this song by Graeme Allwright; in the 70's
 GRAEME ALLWRIGHT is an extraordinary person He was one of the great figure of folk movement in France in 70's with STEVE WARING (an other expat, american)

Graeme Allwright (born 7 November 1926) is a singer-songwriter. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, he moved to France in 1948. He began to perform and write folk songs a few years later, he translated into French a number of songs written by Leonard Cohen, Tom Paxton and Pete Seeger
Together with Sylvie Dien, he wrote new lyrics to the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise", making it a song of peace rather than a song of war.The French government has not adopted these new lyrics, although a movement is afoot in France to get the government to do just that.
He is also well known for his French lyrics adaptation "Petit Garçon" for the Christmas song "Old Toy Trains" by Roger Miller

He wrote also the adapatation of this song of Jakson C Franck "Blues Run the Game"


Just for fun one take of guitar and singing

[Hilary]

Lovely 

[Jean Pierre]

...except the first stanza which are similarin english and french:

french:
Prends le train pour l'Angleterre ou bien l'Espagne
Partout où je voyage {3x}
Je perds ou bien je gagne.

english;

Catch a boat to England baby Maybe to Spain
Wherever I have gone (3x)
The blues are all the same


the others stanza are freely adapted in french

french:

Donnez-moi des boissons fortes et des liqueurs
Je fermerai ma porte {3x}
Mais je n'fermerai pas mon coeur
.
Je savais bien que ce jour allait venir
Je n'voulais pas le croire {3x}
Mais il faut bientôt finir
.
Depuis longtemps je rêvais, d'un autre monde
D'une autre tombe je rêvais d'une autre ronde je rêvais
Très longtemps je rêvais dans un autre monde.

Toujours le soleil tourne, tourne le soleil
Maintenant je me réveille {3x}
Allez il faut manger,

english:

Send out for whiskey baby Send out for gin
Me and room service honey (3x)
Well we're living a life of sin

When I'm not drinkin' baby You are on my mind
When I'm not sleepin' honey
You know you'll find me crying

Try another city baby Another town
Wherever I have gone
The blues come followin' down

Livin' is a gamble baby Lovin's much the same
Wherever I have played
The blues have run the game

the english version has been covered by  Simon and Garlfunken, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, John Renbourn,  Bert Jansch, Counting Crows, John Mayer, Colin Meloy, Robin Pecknold, Soulsavers, Jack Steadman, Hidden Highways, Headless Heroes, Mark Lanegan, and Laura Marling.

................................;and nobody in songcrafters community?

[Hilary]

It's funny because the French is nothing like the English - the French version is better. much more lyrical and dramatic.

[danieldesete]

The original lyrics are bolder IMO, that G Allright is a romantic soul.. Great cover My Idol, I realy dig the picking and thanks for the story,
daniel

[kenny mac]

great picking there and the French additions do sound great on this.
nice one.

[Groundy]

Great version Jean-Pierre..
Nice vox and as always excellent guitar picking.....

Alex

[bruno]

This is lovely, great overall sound, playing and singing. Loved the depth in the vocals. Wonderful.
B

[Jean Pierre]

thank you all the guys (and one girl )

you encourage me to do the next time an other song of Graeme Allwright: "emmene moi" with an authantic old ukulélé banjo "the Gibson" and dobro ....

[Oldrottenhead]

oh this is beautiful.