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.
Le Moribond
Jacques Brel Lyrics
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Adieu l'Émile, je t'aimais bien, tu sais
On a chanté les mêmes vins
On a chanté les mêmes filles
On a chanté les mêmes chagrins
Adieu l'Émile, je vais mourir
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
Car vu que t'es bon comme du pain blanc
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
Adieu Curé, je t'aimais bien
Adieu Curé, je t'aimais bien, tu sais
On n'était pas du même bord
On n'était pas du même chemin
Mais on cherchait le même port
Adieu Curé, je vais mourir
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme
Car vu que tu étais son confident
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
Adieu l'Antoine, je t'aimais pas bien
Adieu l'Antoine, je t'aimais pas bien tu sais
J'en crève de crever aujourd'hui
Alors que toi tu es bien vivant
Et même plus solide que l'ennui
Adieu l'Antoine, je vais mourir
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme
Car vu que t'étais son amant
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
Adieu ma femme, je t'aimais bien
Adieu ma femme, je t'aimais bien tu sais
Mais je prends le train pour le Bon Dieu
Je prends le train qu'est avant le tien
Mais on prend tous le train qu'on peut
Adieu ma femme, je vais mourir
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
Mais je pars aux fleurs les yeux fermés, ma femme
Car vu que je les ai fermés souvent
Je sais que tu prendras soin de mon âme
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
The lyrics to Jacques Brel's song "Le Moribond" tell the story of a dying man bidding farewell to his friends, his priest, his wife, and even his rival. The man is resigned to his fate and wishes his loved ones to continue living lightheartedly after his passing. He acknowledges the difficulty of dying in the springtime, but finds solace in the thought that his wife will be taken care of by his friends and confidants. He wants people to laugh, dance, and have fun, even when he's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Adieu l'Émile, je t'aimais bien
Farewell Emile, I really liked you
Adieu l'Émile, je t'aimais bien, tu sais
Goodbye Emile, you know I liked you
On a chanté les mêmes vins
We sang about the same wines
On a chanté les mêmes filles
We sang about the same girls
On a chanté les mêmes chagrins
We sang about the same sorrows
Adieu l'Émile, je vais mourir
Farewell Emile, I am going to die
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
It's hard to die in spring, you know
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme
But I depart to the flowers with peace in my soul
Car vu que t'es bon comme du pain blanc
Because you are as good as white bread
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
I know you will take care of my wife
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
I want people to laugh, I want people to dance
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
I want us to have fun like crazy people
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
When will they put me in the ground?
Adieu Curé, je t'aimais bien
Farewell Priest, I really liked you
Adieu Curé, je t'aimais bien, tu sais
Goodbye Priest, you know I liked you
On n'était pas du même bord
We weren't on the same side
On n'était pas du même chemin
We weren't on the same path
Mais on cherchait le même port
But we were looking for the same harbor
Adieu Curé, je vais mourir
Farewell Priest, I am going to die
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
It's hard to die in spring, you know
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme
But I depart to the flowers with peace in my soul
Car vu que tu étais son confident
Because you were her confidant
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
I know you will take care of my wife
Adieu l'Antoine, je t'aimais pas bien
Goodbye Antoine, I didn't like you much
Adieu l'Antoine, je t'aimais pas bien tu sais
Farewell Antoine, you know I didn't like you much
J'en crève de crever aujourd'hui
I'm dying to die today
Alors que toi tu es bien vivant
While you are alive and well
Et même plus solide que l'ennui
And even stronger than boredom
Adieu l'Antoine, je vais mourir
Goodbye Antoine, I am going to die
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
It's hard to die in spring, you know
Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme
But I depart to the flowers with peace in my soul
Car vu que t'étais son amant
Because you were her lover
Je sais que tu prendras soin de ma femme
I know you will take care of my wife
Adieu ma femme, je t'aimais bien
Farewell my wife, I really loved you
Adieu ma femme, je t'aimais bien tu sais
Goodbye my wife, you know I loved you
Mais je prends le train pour le Bon Dieu
But I'm taking the train to God
Je prends le train qu'est avant le tien
I'm taking the train that's before yours
Mais on prend tous le train qu'on peut
But we all take the train we can
Adieu ma femme, je vais mourir
Farewell my wife, I am going to die
C'est dur de mourir au printemps, tu sais
It's hard to die in spring, you know
Mais je pars aux fleurs les yeux fermés, ma femme
But I depart to the flowers with my eyes closed, my wife
Car vu que je les ai fermés souvent
Because I closed them often
Je sais que tu prendras soin de mon âme
I know you will take care of my soul
Je veux qu'on rie, je veux qu'on danse
I want people to laugh, I want people to dance
Je veux qu'on s'amuse comme des fous
I want us to have fun like crazy people
Quand c'est qu'on me mettra dans le trou
When will they put me in the ground?
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Brel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mary M. Brandes
on La Valse à Mille Temps
I love Jacques Brel songs.