If you go away

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Sometimes you hear an old song on the radio. One you haven’t heard for years. You recall it in an instant, but for the first time ever, you notice the words. Until now it was just a catchy tune, but suddenly your head is filled with poetry. Poetry that was always there but somehow failed to register.

Well that happened to me today. And the words were so powerful that they took my breath away. It was a song originally written in French by Jacque Brel back in the late 60’s, and later recorded in English by several artistes including the fantastic Scott Walker.

I always endeavour to publish original work on my blog, but I thought I’d share this with you in case these beautiful words have passed you by too.

You may like to listen to the song as you read. I hope you enjoy it.

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If you go away on this summer day

Then you might as well take the sun away

All the birds that flew in the summer sky

When our love was new and our hearts were high

And the day was young and the night was long

The moon stood still for the night birds song

If you go away If you go away If you go away

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But if you stay I'll make you a day

like no day has been or will be again

we'll sail the sun we'll ride on the rain

And talk to the trees and I’ll worship the wind

But if you go I'll understand

Leave me just enough love to fill up my hand

If you go away If you go away If you go away

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If you go away as I know you will

You must tell the world to stop turning , turning

til you return again if you ever do

For what good is love without loving you

can I tell you now as you turn to go

I'll be dying slowly til the next hello

If you go away If you go away If you go away

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But if you stay, I'll make you a night

Like no night has been or will be again

I'll sail on your smile I'll ride on your touch

I’ll talk to your eyes that I love so much

But if you go I won't cry for the good is gone from the word goodbye

If you go away if you go away if you go away

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If you go away as I know you must

there’d be nothing left in this world to trust

Just an empty room, full of empty space

Like the empty look I see on your face

Oh, I’d have been the shadow of your shadow

If it might have kept me by your side

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away

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