Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in Belgium and France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French, he became a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. Read Full BioJacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in Belgium and France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French, he became a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many top performers in the United States, including Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, and Andy Williams. In French-speaking countries, Brel was also a successful actor, appearing in ten films. He also directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Jacques Brel has sold over 25 million records worldwide, and is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time.
Brel was born on 8th April 1929 in Schaarbeek, a district of Brussels, and lived half of his life in Paris. He died of lung cancer on 9th October 1978 in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.
Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originating from Zandvoorde, near Ieper. Brel's father was co-owner of a cardboard factory and Brel started his professional life at that firm, apparently destined to follow in his father's footsteps. However he had no interest in it, showing instead an interest in the arts, having joined the Catholic-humanist youth organisation Franche Cordée, where he did some singing and acting. At Franche Cordée he met Thérèse Michielsen ('Miche'), and they married in 1950.
In the early 1950s Brel achieved some minor success in Belgium, singing his own songs. A 78rpm record ("La foire"/"Il y a") was released as a result. From 1954 Brel seriously pursued a singing career. He quit his job and moved to Paris, writing music and singing in the city's cabarets and music-halls.. In January 1955 he supported in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen. After some success his wife and daughters joined him from Belgium. By 1956 he was touring Europe and he recorded the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour", which brought him his first major recognition. He appeared in a show with Maurice Chevalier and Michel Legrand.
By the end of the 1950s Miche and Brel's three daughters moved to Brussels. He and his family led separate lives from then on. Under the influence of his friend Georges Pasquier ('Jojo') and pianists Gérard Jouannest and François Rauber, Brel's style changed. He was no longer a Catholic-humanist troubadour, but sang grimmer songs about love, death, and the struggle that is life. The music became more complex and his themes more diverse, exploring love ("Je t'aime", "Litanies pour un retour"), society ("Les singes", "Les bourgeois", "Jaurès") and spiritual concerns ("Le bon Dieu", "Dites, si c'était vrai", "Fernand"). His work is not limited to one style. He was as proficient in comic compositions ("Le lion", "Comment tuer l'amant de sa femme...") as in more emotional ones ("Voir un ami pleurer", "Fils de...", "Jojo"). He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, and is widely recognised in French-speaking countries as one of the best French-language composers of all time.
Brel himself occasionally included parts of his songs in Flemish (Dutch), one of the three official languages of Belgium, as in Marieke. He also recorded eight other Flemish versions of songs, such as Mijn vlakke land (Le plat Pays), Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne me quitte pas), Rosa, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois), and De Nuttelozen van de Nacht (Les paumés du petit matin). Since his own command of the language was poor, these were translated by Ernst van Altena, renowned translator of French song. Although France was Brel's "spiritual home" and he expressed contradictory statements about his native Belgium, some of his best compositions pay tribute to Belgium.
A very successful theatrical review of his songs, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris," was launched in 1968. It featured English translations of his songs, and it was late made into a film.
To English-speaking listeners, Brel's best-known song is probably "Seasons in the Sun," a hit for Terry Jacks in 1973. Its English lyrics are a translation by Rod McKuen of Brel's "Le Moribond."
For twenty years he was a major star gaining recognition beyond French audiences. In 1973 he retreated to French Polynesia, remaining there until 1977 when he returned to Paris and recorded his well-received final album.
A heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. He died in 1978 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia only a few yards away from painter Paul Gauguin.
Brel was born on 8th April 1929 in Schaarbeek, a district of Brussels, and lived half of his life in Paris. He died of lung cancer on 9th October 1978 in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.
Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originating from Zandvoorde, near Ieper. Brel's father was co-owner of a cardboard factory and Brel started his professional life at that firm, apparently destined to follow in his father's footsteps. However he had no interest in it, showing instead an interest in the arts, having joined the Catholic-humanist youth organisation Franche Cordée, where he did some singing and acting. At Franche Cordée he met Thérèse Michielsen ('Miche'), and they married in 1950.
In the early 1950s Brel achieved some minor success in Belgium, singing his own songs. A 78rpm record ("La foire"/"Il y a") was released as a result. From 1954 Brel seriously pursued a singing career. He quit his job and moved to Paris, writing music and singing in the city's cabarets and music-halls.. In January 1955 he supported in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen. After some success his wife and daughters joined him from Belgium. By 1956 he was touring Europe and he recorded the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour", which brought him his first major recognition. He appeared in a show with Maurice Chevalier and Michel Legrand.
By the end of the 1950s Miche and Brel's three daughters moved to Brussels. He and his family led separate lives from then on. Under the influence of his friend Georges Pasquier ('Jojo') and pianists Gérard Jouannest and François Rauber, Brel's style changed. He was no longer a Catholic-humanist troubadour, but sang grimmer songs about love, death, and the struggle that is life. The music became more complex and his themes more diverse, exploring love ("Je t'aime", "Litanies pour un retour"), society ("Les singes", "Les bourgeois", "Jaurès") and spiritual concerns ("Le bon Dieu", "Dites, si c'était vrai", "Fernand"). His work is not limited to one style. He was as proficient in comic compositions ("Le lion", "Comment tuer l'amant de sa femme...") as in more emotional ones ("Voir un ami pleurer", "Fils de...", "Jojo"). He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, and is widely recognised in French-speaking countries as one of the best French-language composers of all time.
Brel himself occasionally included parts of his songs in Flemish (Dutch), one of the three official languages of Belgium, as in Marieke. He also recorded eight other Flemish versions of songs, such as Mijn vlakke land (Le plat Pays), Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne me quitte pas), Rosa, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois), and De Nuttelozen van de Nacht (Les paumés du petit matin). Since his own command of the language was poor, these were translated by Ernst van Altena, renowned translator of French song. Although France was Brel's "spiritual home" and he expressed contradictory statements about his native Belgium, some of his best compositions pay tribute to Belgium.
A very successful theatrical review of his songs, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris," was launched in 1968. It featured English translations of his songs, and it was late made into a film.
To English-speaking listeners, Brel's best-known song is probably "Seasons in the Sun," a hit for Terry Jacks in 1973. Its English lyrics are a translation by Rod McKuen of Brel's "Le Moribond."
For twenty years he was a major star gaining recognition beyond French audiences. In 1973 he retreated to French Polynesia, remaining there until 1977 when he returned to Paris and recorded his well-received final album.
A heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. He died in 1978 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia only a few yards away from painter Paul Gauguin.
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Ne me quitte pas
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Ne me quitte pas
Il faut oublier
Tout peut s'oublier
Qui s'enfuit déjà
Oublier le temps
Des malentendus
Et le temps perdu
À savoir comment
Oublier ces heures
Qui tuaient parfois
À coups de pourquoi
Le cœur du bonheur
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Moi, je t'offrirai
Des perles de pluie
Venues de pays
Où il ne pleut pas
Je creuserai la terre
Jusqu'après ma mort
Pour couvrir ton corps
D'or et de lumière
Je ferai un domaine
Où l'amour sera roi
Où l'amour sera loi
Où tu seras reine
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Je t'inventerai
Des mots insensés
Que tu comprendras
Je te parlerai
De ces amants-là
Qui ont vu deux fois
Leurs cœurs s'embraser
Je te raconterai
L'histoire de ce roi
Mort de n'avoir pas
Pu te rencontrer
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
On a vu souvent
Rejaillir le feu
De l'ancien volcan
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
Il est, paraît-il
Des terres brûlées
Donnant plus de blé
Qu'un meilleur avril
Et quand vient le soir
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie
Le rouge et le noir
Ne s'épousent-ils pas?
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Je ne vais plus pleurer
Je ne vais plus parler
Je me cacherai là
À te regarder
Danser et sourire
Et à t'écouter
Chanter et puis rire
Laisse-moi devenir
L'ombre de ton ombre
L'ombre de ta main
L'ombre de ton chien
Mais
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Lyrics © Tratore, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Brel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
EpicWhiteBread
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Moramo samo zaboraviti
Da, možemo zaboraviti
Sve što odletješe
Zaboravimo vrijeme nesporazuma
I izgubljeno vrijeme.
Da bi saznao kako
Zaboraviti ove sate
Koji ponekad ubijaju
Vjetri izglasuju "zašto",
Srce puno radosti.
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nudim ti bisere kiše
Dolazeći iz zemalja
Gdje ne pada kiša
Preći ću svijet
Sve do moje smrti
Da pokrijem tvoj njedra
Sa zlatom i svjetlom
Napravit ću kraljevstvo
Gdje će ljubav biti kralj
Gdje će ljubav biti zakon
Gdje ćeš biti kraljica
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti,
Izmislit ću za tebe
Lude riječi
Razumijet ćeš
I ispričat ću ti
Od ovih ljubavnika koji
Viđeni bili dva put
Srca u plamenu
Ispričat ću detaljnu priču o ovom kralju
Mrtav, jer nije upoznao tebe.
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Često se prisjećamo
Plamen iznova svijetli
Sa starog vulkana
Smatralo se da je prestar.
Čini se da
Opečena polja
Mogu dati više kukuruza
Nego najbolji jeseni.
A kad dođe večer
Na ovom žarkom nebu
Crvena i noć
Nikad više ne sresti.
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Neću više plakati
Neću više govoriti
Nekako ću se sakriti
Samo da te vidim
Kako plešeš s osmjehom
Da te čujem
Kako pjevaš s osmjehom
Pusti da ti budem
Sjena tvoje sjene
Sjena tvoje ruke
Sjena tvog psa
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
Nemoj me sada ostaviti
s3lfFish
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Il faut oublier / it has to be forgotten
Tout peut s'oublier / everything can be forgotten
Qui s'enfuit déjà / that which runs away already
Oublier le temps / forgetting time
Des malentendus / the misunderstandings
Et le temps perdu / and the lost time
A savoir comment / to know how
Oublier ces heures / forgetting those hours
Qui tuaient parfois / that were killing sometimes
A coups de pourquoi / stabbing whys
Le coeur du bonheur / the heart of happiness
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Moi je t'offrirai / Me, I would offer you
Des perles de pluie / pearls of rain
Venues de pays / coming from my country
Où il ne pleut pas / where it doesn’t rain
Je creuserai la terre / I would dig the earth
Jusqu'apres ma mort / until after my death
Pour couvrir ton corps / to cover your body
D'or et de lumière / with gold and light
Je ferai un domaine / I would create a realm
Où l'amour sera roi / where love would be king
Où l'amour sera loi / where love would law
Où tu seras reine / where you would be queen
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Je t'inventerai / I would invent
Des mots insensés / insane words
Que tu comprendras / that you would understand
Je te parlerai / I would talk to you
De ces amants là / about those lovers there
Qui ont vu deux fois / that saw twice
Leurs coeurs s'embraser / their heart ignite
Je te racont'rai / I would tell you
L'histoire de ce roi / the story of that king
Mort de n'avoir pas / dead for not
Pu te rencontrer / being able to meet you
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
On a vu souvent / we’ve often seen
Rejaillir le feu / fire reflow
De l'ancien volcan / from an ancient volcano
Qu'on croyait trop vieux / that we thought older
Il est paraît-il / than it seemed
Des terres brûlées / burned land
Donnant plus de blé / giving more corn
Qu'un meilleur avril / than the best april
Et quand vient le soir / and when the evening comes
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie / for that the flaming sky
Le rouge et le noir / the red and the black
Ne s'épousent-ils pas / doesn’t marry
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Je ne vais plus pleurer / I’m not gonna cry anymore
Je ne vais plus parler / I’m not gonna speak
Je me cacherai là / I will hide here
A te regarder / just looking at you
Danser et sourire / dancing and smiling
Et à t'écouter / and listening to you
Chanter et puis rire / singing and laughing
Laisse-moi devenir / let me become
L'ombre de ton ombre / the shadow of your shadow
L'ombre de ta main / the shadow of your hand
L'ombre de ton chien / the shadow of your dog
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Ne me quitte pas / Don’t leave me
Huong Bui
[English]
Do not leave me now
We must just forget
Yes, we can forget
All that’s flown beyond
Let’s forget the time
The misunderstands
And the wasted time
To find out how
To forget these hours
Which sometimes kill
The blows of why,
A heart full of joy.
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
I offer you
Pearls of rain
Coming from the lands
Where it never rains
I will cross the world
Till after my death
To cover your bosom
With gold and light
I will make a kingdom
where love will be king
Where love will be the law
Where you will be queen
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now,
Will invent for you
The insane words
That you’ll understand
And I will tell you
Of these lovers who
Were seen twice
With their hearts in blaze
I will say in detail
The story of this king
Dead, from having not
Encountered you.
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
One often recalls
Flames light anew
From an old volcano
Thought to be too old.
It appears that
The scorched fields
Can give more corn
Than the best of springs.
And when evening comes
In this blazing sky
The red and the night
Marry nevermore.
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
I will cry no more
I will talk no more
Will hide somehow
Just to look at you
Dance and smile
And to hear you
Sing and then laugh
Let me be for you
The shadow of your shadow
The shadow of your hand
The shadow of your dog
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
José Ramón Ballesteros de Diego
No me dejes
Es necesario olvidar
Todo se puede olvidar
Que se escapa ya
Olvidar el tiempo
De los malentendidos
Y el tiempo perdido
A saber cómo
Olvidar estas horas
Que mataban a veces
A golpes de porqué
El corazón de la felicidad
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
Yo te ofreceré
Perlas de lluvia
Llegadas del país
Donde no llueve
Yo cavaré la tierra
Hasta después de mi muerte
Para cubrir tu cuerpo
De oro y de luz
Haré un ámbito
Donde el amor será rey
Donde el amor será ley
Donde serás reina
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
Yo te inventaré
Palabras absurdas
Que tu entenderás
Yo te hablaré
De esos amantes
Que vieron dos veces
Sus corazones abrazarse
Yo te contaré
La historia de este rey
Muerto de no haber
Podido encontrarte
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
A menudo vimos
Reflejarse el fuego
De un antiguo volcán
Que se creía demasiado viejo
Se dice que es
De las tierras quemadas
Dando más trigo
Que el mejor abril
Y cuando viene la noche
Para que un cielo brille
El rojo y el negro
No se casan
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No voy a llorar más
No voy a hablar más
Me esconderé allí
Al mirarte
Bailar y sonreír
Y a escucharte
Cantar y luego reir
Déjame hacerte
La sombra de tu sombra
La sombra de tu mano
La sombra de tu perro
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
No me dejes
Valerii Bizhko
Не бросай меня.
Просто всё забудь.
Пусть растёт стена,
Что закроет путь
К ссорам-ревностям,
К тусклым дням без встреч
И нелепостям,
Что, как взрыв, картечь
Только ранят нас…
Пламя и свинец…
Удалив тотчас
Счастье из сердец.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Принесу в ответ
Жемчугов дожди.
Там, где взял – их нет,
Хоть веками жди.
Силы все отдам.
Для тебя одной
Положу к ногам
Слиток золотой.
И построю мир,
Где любовь – закон.
Тот – где ты кумир,
Счастья эталон.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не проси уйти.
Разыщу слова –
Их поймёшь лишь ты.
Но жива молва
И живы сердца,
Что погаснув, вновь
Загораются –
В них горит любовь.
Знай, что тот ушёл,
Кто тебя не знал –
Отыгравший роль
Навсегда пропал.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
И вулкан порой
Выбросит огонь,
Забывая свой
Вековечный сон.
Выгорит стерня
И тогда земля
Больше даст зерна,
Чем в соку поля.
Лишь с земли лица
Сходит солнца свет…
Не сливается
С красным чёрный цвет?
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Будь со мной, прошу…
Слов запас иссяк.
Слёзы осушу.
Буду просто так
Слушать: как поёшь,
Звонкий смех, нить слов.
Видеть, как плывёшь
В танце без оков.
Тенью мне бы стать
От твоих подошв,
Чтобы только знать:
Я – где ты идёшь.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Не бросай меня.
Такой мой перевод.
PS. Чуть подправил 14.12.21.
Jasiel Calixto
Great singer and actor. I can feel his pain so vividly
Jörg
@AlphaOne2009
Versagen ?
Deins hast Du uns schon bewiesen .....
Shu
You know, I have heard some other renditions. Even Celine Dion has one. Great vocal range, she of course hits every note she wishes to. But I do not believe she is singing those lines. I do not believe she would ever say such things to anyone. But when Jacques sings them, I believe him instantly. There is no doubt that he felt this pain. At some point. For someone.
olga markova
@Yassine Yes mr vous etes normal?
Jay Taxa
and an amazing writer - there are great images and metaphors here :-)
João Silva silva
uma música das antigas mesmo que haja quem não goste, é sempre muito melhor que as que hoje todos gostão
Boudlal Mohammed
J'ai découvert Brel quand j'étais ado. Now, je suis senior, figurez-vous, il remue toujours en moi les émotions enflammées d'antan.
João Dionisio
36
Laura Vaccario
Je peux dire exactement la même chose que vous...
Bella Seefeld
Moi aussi. Mais j'aime toujours. 🙂