About the song
“Seasons in the Sun” is a poignant ballad that transcends language and culture. Originally a French song titled “Le Moribond” (The Dying Man), it has traveled the globe in various forms, carrying a message of bittersweet goodbyes. This exploration delves into the song’s rich history, from its dark origins to its transformation into a global sensation.
The story begins in 1961 with Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. His version, set to a marching beat, paints a bleak picture of a heartbroken man facing his demise. Brel bids farewell to a cheating wife, a priest, and a friend, revealing the emotional turmoil that consumes him.
Across the Atlantic, American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics into English in 1963. However, the translated version retained the macabre undertones of the original. It was this rendition that caught the attention of Terry Jacks, planting the seeds for a significant transformation.
Driven by the tragic illness of a close friend, Jacks significantly altered the lyrics. He stripped away the bitterness, replacing it with a sense of acceptance and reflection. The dying man in his version acknowledges his past mistakes and celebrates the joys he shared with loved ones. The springtime setting further emphasizes the theme of new beginnings, even in the face of death.
This reworked version, released in 1973, resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. The melancholic melody, coupled with Jacks’s heartfelt vocals, created a powerful emotional connection. Jacks’s iteration became a worldwide phenomenon, topping charts in the US, Canada, and the UK. It even achieved Christmas number one status in the UK in 1999, sung by the boyband Westlife.
Despite its immense popularity, “Seasons in the Sun” has garnered mixed reviews in recent years. Some critics find the sentimentality overly saccharine, while others acknowledge its enduring emotional impact. Regardless of these differing perspectives, the song’s journey from a story of heartbreak to a universal message of farewell remains a fascinating testament to the power of music to transform and connect across cultures.
Video
Lyrics
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 ABCs
Skinned our hearts and skinned our kneesGoodbye 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 thereWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of timeGoodbye 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 alongGoodbye 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 thereWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all goneWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all goneGoodbye 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 groundGoodbye Michelle, it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be thereWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beachWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beachWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all goneAll our lives we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of timeWe had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun