September 2024
Si Tu Partirais
Music and original lyrics by Jacques Brel; original English lyrics by Rod McKuen;
French translation of McKuen; adaption by Debra Milligan
Si tu partirais ce jour d’été
Tu peux aussi effacer le soleil
Et les oiseux en vol au-dessus de nous
Lorsque notre amour est né
et nos cœurs éprouvaient de tout
Lorsque le jour était jeune
et la nuit sans fin
Si tu partirais
si tu partirais
si tu partirais
Mais si tu restes je te donnerai
un jour sans pareil
un jour sans pareil
Nous voyagerons le soleil
Nous danserons sous la pluie
Nous murmurerons aux pins
et rirons du vent.
Puis si tu partes
j’en comprendrai
Donnes-moi assez d’amour
pour ce seul jour
Si tu partirais
si tu partirais
si tu partirais.
Si tu ailles, comme je le sais,
Ordonnes au monde de ne pas tourner
jusqu’à ton retour
si tu le fasses jamais
Car je peux donner cet amour
seulement à toi
Peux-je te dire maintenant
Comme tu te tournes pour aller
Je vais mourir lentement
jusqu’au prochain « je t’aime »
Si tu partirais, si tu partirais, si tu partirais
Mais si tu restes
Je partagerai avec toi
une nuit sans mesure
une nuit pour toujours
Je voguerai sur ton sourire
je volerai au ton toucher
je chanterai
à tes yeux doux aimants
et rêverai à demain
Mais si tu partes,
je ne pleurerai pas
même si tout le bien ira
avec ton adieu
Si tu partirais, si tu partirais, si tu partirais
Si tu ailles, comme je sais que tu le dois,
Je douterai du monde entier
Je n’aurai qu’une pièce vide
remplie d'espaces dépouillés
Comme le regard vide que je vois
sur ton visage courtois
J'aurais été l'ombre de ton ombre
s'il aurait pu me garder à tes côtés
Si tu partirais, si tu partirais,
si tu partirais . . .
English translation by Debra Milligan
If you were to leave on this summer day
You can also erase the sun
and the birds in flight above us
When our love was born
and our hearts felt everything
When the day was young
and the night endless
If you were to leave
if you were to leave
if you were to leave
But if you stay
I’ll give you
a day like no other
a day like no other
We’ll travel the sun
We’ll dance in the rain
We’ll whisper to the pines
and laugh at the wind.
Then if you go
I’ll understand
Give me enough love
for this one day
If you were to leave
if you were to leave
if you were to leave.
If you go, as I know you will,
Command the world not to turn
until you return
if you ever do
For I can give this love
only to you
Can I tell you now
as you turn to go
I’ll be dying slowly
until the next “I love you”
If you were to leave, if you were to leave, if you were to leave
But if you stay
I’ll share with you
a night without measure
a night for forever
I’ll sail on your smile
I’ll fly to your touch
I’ll sing to your gentle loving eyes
and dream of tomorrow
But if you go,
I will not cry
even though all the good will go
with your goodbye
If you were to leave, if you were to leave, if you were to leave
If you go, as I know you must
I will doubt the whole world
I'll just have an empty room
filled with bare spaces
Like the empty look I see on your polite face
I’d have been the shadow of your shadow
if it could have kept me by your side
If you were to leave, if you were to leave,
if you were to leave . . .