Letters in Music: "Le Moribond" and "Seasons in the Sun"

I love to listen to Fondos reservados, a programme in Radio Galega presented by Moncho Lemos which recovers hits from the 60es, 70es, 80es and 90es, sometimes going over their context, anecdotes or hidden stories behind the songs. 

Last Friday he presented the song "Seasons in the Sun", a chart-topper by Canadian Terry Jacks in 1974 which remains an unsurpassed nadir of pop music. I am not sure if the song is a letter or not, but it does seem like one to me. The singer addresses his friend, his father and his lover as he faces death. Part of the allure of this song, at least for me, lies in the sobering song lyrics, written by poet Rod McKuen using the French tune "Le Moribond" by Belgian Jacques Brel as a basis.

Here are both songs alongside their lyrics.

"Le Moribond"

Adieu l'Émile je t'aimais bien

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

Mais je pars aux fleurs la paix dans l'âme

Car vu que tu 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 tu 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 qui 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

"Seasons in the Sun"

Goodbye to you, my trusted friend.

We've known each other since we were nine or ten.

Together we've climbed hills and trees.

Learned of love and ABC's,

skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.

Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die,

when all the birds are singing in the sky,

Now that the spring is in the air.

Pretty girls are everywhere.

Think of me and I'll be there.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the hills that we climbed

were just seasons out of time.

Goodbye, Papa, please pray for me,

I was the black sheep of the family.

You tried to teach me right from wrong.

Too much wine and too much song,

wonder how I got along.

Goodbye, Papa, it's hard to die

when all the birds are singing in the sky,

Now that the spring is in the air.

Little children everywhere.

When you see them I'll be there.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the wine and the song,

like the seasons, have all gone.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the wine and the song,

like the seasons, have all gone.

Goodbye, Michelle, my little one.

You gave me love and helped me find the sun.

And every time that I was down

you would always come around

and get my feet back on the ground.

Goodbye, Michelle, it's hard to die

when all the bird are singing in the sky,

Now that the spring is in the air.

With the flowers ev'rywhere.

I wish that we could both be there.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the stars we could reach

were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the stars we could reach

were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun,

But the wine and the song,

like the seasons, have all gone.

All our lives we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons out of time..