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A diary of a nobody, but on the turf and under it all men are equal, so I'll carry on regardless!
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About Me
- PhilipH
- Jack of all trades, master of none. Left school at age 14. RAF at age 18. Back to civvy Street in 1956. Went to work as a trainee settler in Sth London credit office, then onto betting shop management in early 1960s. Left to join Customs&Excise in 1972, mainly London, Wales and Southend on Sea. Took early retirement. Moved to the Scottish Borders in 1995 and have loved it!
7 comments:
I've loved this song for years.
Jacques Brel was a very heavy smoker and died much earlier in life than deserved.
You are a hopeless romantic, Phil.
I enjoyed the song, and recall hearing it somewhere in the distant past .... again, quite possibly, in a film. Listening to it now, I understand why there is no woman romantically involved in my life.
Hopeless, helpless ... whatever, eh Fram.
Hope all goes well with you at the moment.
Yes, it is pretty. Are there, perhaps, different English words to go with the same tune?
Yes, Snowy, Rod McKuen wrote an "English" version of Jacques Brel poem/song.
It is called "If You Go Away" and it was hugely popular. My favourite version of this version is by Dusty Springfield; she sings it perfectly and includes a verse in French. Neil Diamond does a creditable cover too, and there are many vocalists who recorded this, Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Rod McKuen himself et al.
However, Jacques Brel wrote it and it is HIS most famous song. He once said that he was quite tired of singing Ne Me Quitte Pas as it was the song he was always being asked to sing. He passed away in 1978. His lungs were badly damaged owing to his heavy smoking. He is buried on the island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas islands, close to the grave of Paul Gauguin - two great artists in their time.
Its a very beautiful song Philip!
Philip it is a song that is timeless, 'cept I fear the young would never hear the beauty of moving forward. Too easy it is these days to give up and quit.
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