There’s a good reason “Seasons in the Sun” was a one-timer. It was a ripoff of Jacques Brel’s “Le Moribond.”
Here’s my rough translation of the latter:
Goodbye Emile, I liked you very well
Goodbye Emile, I liked you very well, you know
We sang about the same wine
We sang about the same women
We sang about the same disappointments
Goodbye Emile I’m going to die
It’s hard to die in the springtime, you know
But I go to the flowers with peace in my heart
Because you were good as white bread
I know you’ll look after my wife.
I want them to laugh, to dance, to carry on like fools
...when they bury me.
Goodbye, priest, I liked you a lot
Goodbye, priest, I liked you a lot you know
We weren’t always on the same side
We weren’t always on the same road
But we sought the same harbor
Goodbye priest! I’m going to die
It’s hard to die in the spring you know
But I go to the flowers with peace in my heart
Since you were her confessor
I know you’ll look after my wife...
(refrain)
So long Antoine! I didn’t like you much
So long Antoine, I didn’t like you much, you know
It kills me to be dying today, when you’re living so well.
You even overcame boredom.
Goodbye Antoine, I’m going to die
It’s hard to die in the spring you know
But I go to the flowers with peace in my heart
Since you were her lover
I know you’ll take care of my wife.
(refrain)
Goodbye my wife, I loved you a lot
Goodbye my wife, I loved you a lot you know
I’m taking that train to the Lord
Taking the train before yours
But we all take the train we can...
Goodbye my wife, I’m going to die
It’s hard to die in the spring, you know
But I go to the flowers with my eyes closed, my dear
Because I closed them so often for you!
I know you’ll look after my soul.
I want them to laugh, to dance, to carry on,
When they plant me in the hole...
Brel put some thought into it. He died at the age of 49; next Saturday would have been his 88th birthday.
He also gave us “Ne Me Quitte Pas,” another song much better in the original than the translation “If You Go Away.”