Ne Me Quitte Pas

I used to be madly in love with this song - If You Go Away - Sung beautifully here by Dusty Springfield. (Dusty's life story was turned into a musical in 2000, "If You Go Away" was chosen for the climax of the show).

The lyrics (French version by Jacques Brel and English by Rod McKuen) are deep and meaningful.

The song brings to fore a heart-wrenching desperation, and hope...( the poignant "But if you stay..." passage comes from Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3.)





If you go away 
On this summer day 
Then you might as well 
Take the sun away 

All the birds that flew 
In the summer sky 
When our love was new 
And our hearts were high 

When the day was young 
And the night was long 
And the moon stood still 
For the night bird song 

If you go away 


But if you stay
I'll make you a day
Like no day has been
Or will be again

We'll ride on the rain
We'll sail on the sun
We'll talk to the trees
And worship the wind

Then if you go
I'll understand
Leave me just enough love
To hold in my hand

If you go away 


But if you stay
I'll make you a night 
Like no night has been
Or will be again

I'll ride on you smile
I'll sail on your touch
I'll talk to your eyes
That I love so much

But if you go
I'll understand
Leave me just enough love
To hold in my hand

If you go away 


If you go away
As I know you must
There'll be nothing left
In the world to trust

Just an empty room
Full of empty space
Like the empty look
I see on your face

Oh, I'd have been the
Shadow of your shadow
If I thought it might
Have kept me by your side

If you go away 


Please...don't go