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.
Ne me quitte pas
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
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
"Ne me quitte pas" is a French song by Jacques Brel. The lyrics of this song express a plea and a declaration of love from the narrator to his lover, begging her not to leave him. He asks her to forget everything that has happened and promises to give her jewels from the rainless lands, to dig the earth until after his death and bathe her in gold and light, and to create a kingdom for her where love would be king. The narrator also reassures his lover that he would not cry anymore or talk, but would hide and watch her dance and smile, listen to her sing and laugh, and become a shadow of her shadow, hand, and dog. Through the use of vivid imagery, the song conveys the depth of the narrator's emotions and his desperate need for his lover.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was not an immediate success despite being recorded in 1959 by Jacques Brel. It was only after being covered by other artists, such as Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra, that it gained wide popularity. Another fact is that Brel would later express his disappointment in the song, feeling that it had become overrated and that its meaning had been misunderstood. Nonetheless, it went on to become one of his most famous compositions and has been covered by hundreds of artists in various languages.
The song has also been used in many films and television shows, including "The Fisher King" and "Mad Men." Additionally, in 1981, Brel himself returned to the studio to record a new version of the song for a compilation album. In contrast to the original recording, this version features a slower tempo and a more somber tone.
The chords for the song are as follows: Am, G, F, E, Am, G, F, E, Am, G, F, E, Am, G, F, E, Am, G, F, E, Am, G, F, E, F, E, Am, G, F, E, F, E.
Line by Line Meaning
Ne me quitte pas
Don't leave me
Il faut oublier
We must forget
Tout peut s'oublier
Everything can be forgotten
Qui s'enfuit déjà
That which is already running away
Oublier le temps
Forget about time
Des malentendus
Misunderstandings
Et le temps perdu
And the time lost
À savoir comment
Trying to figure out how
Oublier ces heures
Forget about those hours
Qui tuaient parfois
That sometimes killed
À coups de pourquoi
With blows of why
Le cœur du bonheur
The heart of happiness
Moi, je t'offrirai
I will offer you
Des perles de pluie
Rain pearls
Venues de pays
From lands
Où il ne pleut pas
Where it doesn't rain
Je creuserai la terre
I will dig the earth
Jusqu'après ma mort
Even 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 will make a domain
Où l'amour sera roi
Where love will be king
Où l'amour sera loi
Where love will be law
Où tu seras reine
Where you will be queen
Je t'inventerai
I will invent for you
Des mots insensés
Senseless words
Que tu comprendras
That you will understand
Je te parlerai
I will talk to you
De ces amants-là
Of those lovers
Qui ont vu deux fois
Who have seen twice
Leurs cœurs s'embraser
Their hearts ignite
Je te raconterai
I will tell you
L'histoire de ce roi
The story of that king
Mort de n'avoir pas
Died of not having
Pu te rencontrer
Been able to meet you
On a vu souvent
We have often seen
Rejaillir le feu
The fire coming back
De l'ancien volcan
From the old volcano
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
That was believed to be too old
Il est, paraît-il
It seems
Des terres brûlées
Burnt lands
Donnant plus de blé
Giving more wheat
Qu'un meilleur avril
Than the best April
Et quand vient le soir
And when the evening comes
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie
So that the sky blazes
Le rouge et le noir
Red and black
Ne s'épousent-ils pas?
Don't they come together?
Je ne vais plus pleurer
I won't cry anymore
Je ne vais plus parler
I won't talk anymore
Je me cacherai là
I will hide myself there
À te regarder
Watching you
Danser et sourire
Dancing and smiling
Et à t'écouter
And listening to you
Chanter et puis rire
Singing and then 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
Mais
But
Lyrics © Tratore, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Brel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AguantelDiego
No me dejes
Es necesario olvidar
Todo se puede olvidar
Quien se escapa ya
Olvidar el tiempo
De los malentendidos
Y el tiempo perdido
A saber cómo
Olvidar estas horas
Quiénes 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
Unas palabras absurdas
Que te incluirá
Yo te hablaré
De esos amantes
Quien vio dos veces
Sus corazones abrazarse
Yo te diré
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
Es, parece
de las tierras quemadas
Dando más trigo
Que 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
Nilza Lopes
Perfeito...Enquanto houver amor, haverá vida!Não Me Deixe
Não me deixe, é preciso esquecer,
Tudo pode ser esquecido, o que já ficou pra trás.
Esquecer o tempo dos mal-entendidos
E o tempo perdido tentando saber como....
Esquecer as horas que as vezes matam a golpes de porques
O coração feliz
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Eu te oferecerei, pérolas de chuva vindas de países
Onde nunca chove
Eu escavarei a terra, eu escaparei da morte
Para cobrir teu corpo de ouro e de luz
Criarei um país onde o amor será rei
Onde o amor será lei e você será a rainha.
Não me deixe
Não deixe
Não me deixe, eu te inventarei
Palavras absurdas que você compreenderá
Te falarei daqueles amantes
Que viram de novo seus corações excitados
Eu te contarei a história daquele rei
Que morreu porque não pôde te reencontrar
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
A gente sempre viu reacender o fogo
Daquele velho vulcão
Que julgávamos parecer velho demais
Terras queimadas produziram mais trigo que no melhor abril
E quando a tarde cai, para que o céu se inflame
O vermelho e o negro não se misturam
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe, Eu não vou mais chorar
Não vou mais falar, Me esconderei aqui
Só para te ver dançar e sorrir
E para te ouvir cantar e depois rir
Me deixa me tornar a sombra da tua sombra
A sombra da tua mão, A sombra do teu cão
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Valdir J. A. Raimundo
<3 Te oferecerei
Pérolas de chuva
Vindas de países
Onde nunca chove;
Escavarei a terra
Até depois da morte,
Para cobrir teu corpo
Com ouro, com luzes.
Criarei um país
Onde o amor será rei,
Onde o amor será lei
E você a rainha.
Rosa de França
Não Me Deixe
Não me deixe
Devemos esquecer
Tudo pode ser esquecido
Que já tenha passado
Esquecer o tempo
Dos mal-entendidos
E o tempo perdido
Tentando saber como
Esquecer as horas
Que as vezes matavam
Com golpes de porquê
O coração da felicidade
Não me deixe
Eu te oferecerei
Pérolas de chuva
Vindas de países
Onde não chove
Eu vou cavar a terra
Até após a minha morte
Para cobrir o seu corpo
De ouro e de luzes
Eu farei um reino
Onde o amor será rei
Onde o amor será lei
Onde você será rainha
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Eu inventarei
Palavras sem sentido
Que você compreenderá
Eu te falarei
Sobre os amantes
Que viram duas vezes
Seus corações se incendiarem
Eu te contarei
A história deste rei
Morto por não poder
Te conhecer
Não me deixe
Muitas vezes vimos
Renascer o fogo
Do vulcão antigo
Que pensávamos estar velho demais
Dizem que existem
Terras ardidas
Onde nasce mais trigo
Do que num melhor Abril
E quando vem a noite
Para que o céu flameja
Não é que o vermelho e o negro
Se casam
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não vou mais chorar
Não vou mais falar
Me esconderei aqui
Para te contemplar
Dançar e sorrir
E para te ouvir
Cantar e depois rir
Deixe que eu me torne
A sombra da sua sombra
A sombra da sua mão
A sombra do seu cão
Não me deixe
Arizoli Carvalho do Nascimento
#BandaDevassa - Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
💕 "N Ã O M E D E I X E" - (Ne Me Quitte Pas - Jacques Brel).
Não me deixe
Devemos esquecer
Tudo pode ser esquecido
Que já tenha passado
Esquecer o tempo
Dos mal-entendidos
E o tempo perdido
Tentando saber como
Esquecer as horas
Que as vezes matavam
Com golpes de porquê
O coração da felicidade
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe.
Eu te oferecerei
Pérolas de chuva
Vindas de países
Onde não chove
Eu vou cavar a terra
Até após a minha morte
Para cobrir o seu corpo
De ouro e de luzes
Eu farei um reino
Onde o amor será rei
Onde o amor será lei
Onde você será rainha
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe.
Não me deixe
Eu inventarei
Palavras sem sentido
Que você compreenderá
Eu te falarei
Sobre os amantes
Que viram duas vezes
Seus corações se incendiarem
Eu te contarei
A história deste rei
Morto por não poder
Te conhecer
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe.
Muitas vezes vimos
Renascer o fogo
Do vulcão antigo
Que pensávamos estar velho demais
Dizem que existem
Terras ardidas
Onde nasce mais trigo
Do que num melhor abril
E quando vem a noite
Para que o céu flameja
Não é que o vermelho e o negro
Não se casam
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe.
Não me deixe
Não vou mais chorar
Não vou mais falar
Me esconderei aqui
Para te contemplar
Dançar e sorrir
E para te ouvir
Cantar e depois rir
Deixe que eu me torne
A sombra da sua sombra
A sombra da sua mão
A sombra do seu cão
Mas
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe
Não me deixe.
(#ByArizoliCarvalho - Rio, 22/08/2022).
Arthur Marquet
It's so sad because someone who doesn't speak french may never feel the level of poetry this song really expels. The words used, are absolutely astonishing.
leannh5
@Wollin Vingt Armenians have been around since Bronze Age. Yerevan, the modern capital of Armenia, dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by King Argishti I. Unfortunately, the Armenians fell under Byzantine, Sassanid Persian, Islamic , and Soviet hegemony. The independence was proclaimed when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. You are right, Aznavour was a French citizen of Armenian descent.
plus one
Un bon raison a apprender le langue de l'amour.... PS - I'm from Brooklyn and sound like Bugs Bunny in real life Doc.
🐰
Francis Couderq
@Dirk Pehrke . Yes it s quite close.
Francis Couderq
@Mark Vandelaer :….and il écrit et chante en français non?
Le syndrome des gens nés quelque part..encore et toujours.
Francis Couderq
@Maxime Gilles : Barbara, Felix Leclerc, Brassens , some Aznavour…
Puffa Cookie
I’m in love with the passion and dignity that he puts into his music. There’s a clear understanding of the song and writes to perfection. Songs nowadays are repetitive with auto tune, but this is pure and sweet.
Mongoose
I recommend a live recording of Dalida singing: Je suis malade.
Magdalena Patterson
The best love song ever♥️🎶🎼
Jtrain Media
Jacques Brel makes me want to learn French. The way he told stories in his music was absolutely amazing and on another level. The way he could connect with emotion was just brilliant. I wish there were more people like him who could pull off what he did in such a beautiful, artistic, and classy way. But I guess the reason why there aren't is because he was so one of a kind!