Composer

:

Jacques Brel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

4:57

"If You Go Away" is a song composed by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel in 1959. The song was originally titled "Ne me quitte pas" (Don't leave me) and was written in French. It was later translated into English by Rod McKuen and became a popular hit in the United States. The song was first premiered by Brel in 1959 and was later recorded by various artists, including Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, and Shirley Bassey. The song has four movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement is slow and melancholic, with a simple piano accompaniment. The lyrics express the singer's fear of being alone and his desperate plea for his lover to stay with him. The second movement is more upbeat, with a faster tempo and a more complex arrangement. The lyrics express the singer's hope that his lover will change her mind and stay with him. The third movement is slower and more introspective, with a haunting melody and sparse instrumentation. The lyrics express the singer's resignation to his lover's departure and his acceptance of his fate. The final movement is a reprise of the first, with the same simple piano accompaniment and melancholic tone. The lyrics express the singer's final plea for his lover to stay with him, even though he knows she must go. Overall, "If You Go Away" is a powerful and emotional song that captures the pain and desperation of a lover facing the loss of his beloved. The song's haunting melody and poignant lyrics have made it a classic of the chanson genre and a favorite of audiences around the world.

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