Jacques Brel - Le Moribond (English Translation) Lyrics

Goodbye Emilio I like you very much
Goodbye Emilio I like you very much you know
We have sung about the same wine
We have sung of the same women
We have sung about the same miseries


Goodbye Emile I am going to die
It is hard to die in the springtime you know
But I leave the flowers and peace in my soul
And because I know you are as good as white bread
I know that you will take care of my wife

Chorus:
I want them to laugh, I want them to dance
I want them to have fun like crazy people
I want them to laugh I want them to dance
To amuse themselves like crazy when they put me in the hole

Goodbye priest I like you very much
Goodbye priest I like you very well you know
We did not always agree about views and we were not on the same path
But we were searching for the same port
Goodbye priest I am going to die
It is hard to die in the spring you know
I leave the flowers and the beauty, peace in my soul
And knowing that you are her confidant
I know that you will take care of my wife
Goodbye Antoine I did not like you very much
Goodbye Antwon I do not like you very much you know
And it’s killing me to die today knowing that you are still so alive
And yet still as solid as boredom
Goodbye Antoine I’m going to die
It’s hard to die in the spring you know
I leave the flowers and the beautiful peace in my soul
And because I know that you were her lover
I know that you will take care of my wife

Chorus

Goodbye my wife I love you very much
Goodbye my wife I love you very much you know
I must take the train for the good God
I’m taking the train that leaves before yours
But we all must take the trains that we can
Goodbye my wife I’m going to die
It is hard to die in the springtime you know
But I’m leaving flowers and my eyes are shut, my wife
And because I realize that they were shut often
I know that you will take care of my soul

Chorus

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About

Genius Annotation

Contributor Brytt has translated Brel’s lyrics into English. It shows the wry humour of the original, not reflected in Terry Jack’s Seasons In The Sun.

This song is classically French.
One cannot fully appreciate it without knowing what Jacques Brel is saying.
It is the original which inspired Terry Jacks' Seasons in the Sun but the lyrics are much different.
Here is my translation to English, keeping in mind that something is always lost in translation.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Is it based on a true story?
Genius Answer

No, Brel died 17 years after that in 1978. He died from a cancer, but known only in 1974. It’s just pure poetry about death and life.

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Jacques Brel - Le Moribond (English Translation) Covers
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