If You Go Away

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for the New Kids on the Block song, see If You Go Away (New Kids on the Block song)

"If You Go Away" is a song in English based upon the French song "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (1959), written by Jacques Brel. The English lyrics were written by Rod McKuen as part of a larger project to translate Brel's work. "If You Go Away" is considered a pop standard and has been recorded by many artists, including Greta Keller, for whom some say McKuen wrote the lyrics [1]. Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Marc Almond, Emilíana Torrini, Neil Diamond, Scott Walker, Dusty Springfield and Cyndi Lauper have also recorded versions of it, with several of the numerous versions becoming hits and achieving success on the charts.

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

Basically a sad but hopeful song (in the most common English version, at least), the lyrics are told from the perspective of someone telling their lover how much they'd be missed if they left. This is described in vivid, hyperbolic terms, such as "there'll be nothing left in the world to trust". If the lover stays, the narrator promises them both devotion and good times ("I'll make you a day / Like no day has been, or will be again"). Some lines hint that the narrator is speaking to the lover as they already are leaving, or considering doing so ("Can I tell you now, as you turn to go..."). The lines "If you go, as I know you will" and later "...as I know you must" suggest that despite the narrator's protests, the lover's leaving is inevitable.

Nick Currie, better known as Momus, returned to the original song and translated it as "Don't Leave" in 1986, released initially on the Jacques EP and then on an expanded reissue of the album Circus Maximus.

[edit] Comparing the English and French lyrics of the song

[edit] McKuen lyrics

As regards to the original version, this translation presents significant differences. The English version is based on the alternance of what the singer prophesies would happen "if you go away" and what could happen "if you stay".

In the original French version, the singer begs for his lover not to leave him and is more supplicant and almost self-humiliating (the title "Ne me quitte pas" translates "Do not leave me"). Significant is the last image of the French version; although the McKuen version has lyrics that come close to the original sentiment, the French lyrics are far bleaker (as is the song in general):"Let me become the shadow of your shadow, the shadow of your hand, the shadow of your dog" (lit. translation of the original) as opposed to "I'd have been the shadow of your shadow if I thought it might have kept me by your side" (English lyrics).

Also, The English version does not include an interesting section of the original version in which the singer begs his lover to give their relationship a second chance, using examples derived from the natural world: "I will tell you of those lovers who saw their hearts catch fire twice"; "Fire has often been seen gushing out of an ancient volcano we thought too old"; "There are, people say, burnt lands that produce more wheat than the best of Aprils".

[edit] Momus lyrics

The lyrics of this version are closer to what Brel originally wrote.

Note: In the fourth verse, "the black and the red" (in French: "Le rouge et le noir" - "the red and the black") is usually thought to refer to the novel by Stendhal. Both the French line, which translates, roughly, as "the black and the red wed, don't they?", and the Momus version "the red and the black don't touch as they die", could be seen as allusions to the novel's plot and themes.

[edit] Cover versions

  • In 1967, The Seekers recorded a version for their album, Seen in Green.
  • Singer Shirley Bassey, known for her theme songs for the James Bond movie series, released a version as a single in 1967, which also appeared on the album And We Were Lovers. McKuen was very fond of Bassey's version and wrote to her saying he enjoyed it and thanking her.
  • Lana Cantrell did a version in 1967 for her album And Then There Was Lana. While mainly in English, this version retains one line of the original French: "Ne me quitte pas."
  • In 1967, singer Dusty Springfield included a version on her album The Look of Love. When Dusty's life story was turned into a musical in 2000, "If You Go Away" was chosen for the climax of the show. The stage Dusty was portrayed by singer/actress Mari Wilson.
  • Tom Jones sang a version for his 1968 Decca hit album Help Yourself. Jones' version was not a single.
  • Country/pop singer Brenda Lee recorded a version in Nashville in 1968. It appears on her album Johnny One Time.
  • Neil Diamond included a version on his 1971 album Stones. In 2002, it was also included on Diamond's compilation album Love Songs.
  • Scott Walker, who covered many Brel songs in his solo career, recorded a version on his 1969 album Scott 3. It was also included on the compilation album Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel.
  • Sugiman Jahuri, a Singapore Malay Crooner recorded a version in the early 1970s.
  • In 1974, Canadian musician Terry Jacks, after a suggestion by Brel, recorded a version of "If You Go Away" which was released as a single. Jacks had his biggest hit with another Brel cover, "Seasons in the Sun".
  • Ray Charles included a rendition of "If You Go Away" in his 1974 album Come Live with Me.
  • Julio Iglesias recorded a version for his 1990 album Starry Night. It was also included on Iglesias' 2004 Love Songs compilation.
  • Former Soft Cell singer Marc Almond covered the song during his solo career, on Jaques, an album of Jaques Brel covers. He also performed the track live several times, perhaps most memorably at a Royal Albert Hall performance on the live album Twelve Years of Tears in a very emotional rendition, with Almond sounding close to tears himself by the climax of the song. Also on Untitled an Album of Marc and the Mambas released 1982
  • Eartha Kitt has also recorded a live version of "If You Go Away" and includes this song as part of her set when touring.
  • In 2000, English group Moloko remixed and reworked Shirley Bassey's version. The new track was released on Bassey's The Remix Album... Diamonds Are Forever and was properly titled the "DJ Skymoo mix". DJ Skymoo is a pseudonym for Moloko's Mark Brydon.
  • Patricia Kaas's 2002 "Piano Bar by Patricia Kaas" concept album, that grew out of her performance in the film And now... Ladies and Gentlemen with Jeremy Irons, contains her interpretation of the song, pushing the album to the Top Ten list in France and Germany.
  • Cyndi Lauper's 2003 standards album At Last includes her version of the song. It was not released as one of the album's singles. The album, however, was a hit, with more than 4 million copies sold.
  • Vietnamese singer Tran Thai Hoa sang the English version of the song in the 81st Paris by Night program.
  • Lesley Garrett performed a version on his 2007 album When I Fall in Love. In her performance Garrett sang both in English and French (exception).
  • Dax Riggs has been performing this song on his recent U.S. tour.
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