Login
Login

Ne me quitte pas

{{short description|1959 song by Jacques Brel}}

{{About||the 1972 album|Ne me quitte pas (album)|the Regina Spektor song|Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Ne me quitte pas

| cover = Jacques_Brel-Ne_Me_Quitte_Pas_(1960).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| language = French

| English_title = Don't leave me

| artist = Jacques Brel

| album = La Valse à mille temps

| EP =

| written =

| published = 1959

| released = 1959

| format =

| recorded = 11 September 1959

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Chanson

| length = 3:52

| label = Philips

| writer = Jacques Brel

| composer =

| lyricist =

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

"Ne me quitte pas" ("Don't leave me") is a 1959 song by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. It has been covered in the original French by many artists and has also been translated into and performed in many other languages. A well-known adaptation, with English lyrics by Rod McKuen, is "If You Go Away".

Background

File:Moijetoffrirai.png

"Ne me quitte pas" is considered by some as "Brel's ultimate classic".{{Cite web|url=http://www.nescio.info/brel/english/biography.htm |title=Quand on n'a que l'amour- Jacques Brel |access-date=2007-01-14 |last=Robine |first=Marc |website=Nescio.info}} It was written after Brel's mistress "Zizou" (Suzanne Gabriello) threw him out of her life. Zizou was pregnant with Brel's child, but Brel refused to acknowledge the child as his own. Zizou later had an abortion due to Brel's actions.{{cite book|title=La chanson française|date=2007|publisher=Scali|location=Paris|isbn=978-2350120973|page=234|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qhMsAQAAIAAJ|author1=Christian Lamet |author2=Stan Cuesta |author3=François Gorin |author4=François Ducray |language=fr}} Brel first recorded the song on 11 September 1959, and it was released on his fourth album La Valse à mille temps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jacques-Brel-N-4/master/166990|title=Jacques Brel - N° 4|website=Discogs.com|access-date=26 April 2021}} It was published by Warner-Chappell Publishing. In 1961 a Dutch-language version sung by Brel was released on the Philips label; entitled "Laat me niet alleen", with lyrics by Ernst van Altena, it was a B-side to Marieke (also a Dutch-language version).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jacques-Brel-Marieke-Laat-Me-Niet-Alleen-Ne-Me-Quitte-Pas/release/1466230|title=Jacques Brel – Marieke / Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (1961, Vinyl)|access-date=26 April 2021|website=Discogs.com|date=May 1961 }} Brel recorded "Ne me quitte pas" again as the title track of his 1972 album.

In a 1966 interview, Brel said that "Ne me quitte pas" was not a love song, but rather "a hymn to the cowardice of men", and the degree to which they were willing to humiliate themselves. He knew, he said, that it would give pleasure to women who assumed it was a love song, and he understood that.Dialogue between Jacques Brel and Geneviève de Vilmorin, interviewed by Emmanuel Poulet (RTL, 1966)

The lyrics "Moi, je t'offrirai des perles de pluie venues de pays où il ne pleut pas" ("I'll offer you rain pearls from lands where it does not rain") are sung to a theme borrowed from the second part, Lassan (Andante), of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 by the composer Franz Liszt.

Johnny Hallyday version

{{Infobox song

| name = Ne me quitte pas / La garce

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Johnny Hallyday

| album = Johnny Hallyday au Zénith

| B-side = La garce

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1984|11|30}}

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue = Zénith Paris

| genre =

| length = 5:25

| label = Philips

| composer =

| lyricist =

| writer = Jacques Brel

| producer =

| prev_title = Rien à personne

| prev_year = 1984

| title = Ne me quitte pas

| title2 = La garce

| next_title = Le Chanteur abandonné

| next_year = 1985

| misc =

}}

French singer Johnny Hallyday released a live version of this song as a single in November 1984. It was recorded during his performances at Le Zénith. The song was part of his 1984 album Johnny Hallyday au Zénith.

= Critical reception =

Alain Wodrascka in his 2008 book Johnny Hallyday: les adieux du rock'cœur notes how Hallyday put in his 1984 cover of Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas" his special vocal qualities, i.e. his vocals that are "full of sensuality and expression of physical strength of an indestructible man, who sings as if making love".{{cite book|author=Alain Wodrascka|title=Johnny Hallyday: les adieux du rock'cœur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-45AQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Carpentier|isbn=978-2-84167-565-4|quote=... à fleur de sensualité et l'expression de la force physique d'un homme indestructible, qui chante comme s'il faisait l'amour - Johnny mettra ces mêmes qualités vocales au service de sa reprise de «Ne me quitte pas» de Jacques Brel (1984)}}

= Track listing =

7" single Philips 880 504-7

: Side 1. "Ne me quitte pas" (5:25)

:: Excerpt from the album Zénith no. 824 045-2

:: Arrangement: {{interlanguage link|Éric Bouad|fr|Éric Bouad}}

: Side 2. "La garce" (Studio Version) (4:56)

:: Arrangement: Éric Bouad{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Hallyday-Ne-Me-Quitte-Pas-La-Garce/master/769822|title=Johnny Hallyday - Ne Me Quitte Pas / La Garce |website=Discogs.com|year=1984 |access-date=2017-11-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/cc42f/Johnny-Hallyday-Ne-me-quitte-pas|title=ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - Ne me quitte pas|website=Ultratop.be|access-date=2017-11-18}}

Other versions

French

Arabic

  • 2012: Mashrou' Leila's version "ما تتركني هيك - ne me quitte pas". Indie band from Lebanon performed the cover-version at Paleo Festival Nyon – (Chapiteau / Switzerland) in 2012.
  • 2017: Mike Massy adapted the song in Arabic, Lebanese slang "ما تفل Ma Tfell / Ne Me Quitte Pas" and released it in his EP "Le Délire". Lyrics by Nami Moukheiber, Arranged by Mike Massy.

Armenian

  • 1976: Onnik Dinkjian's version "Yete Heranas." Recorded by Onnik Dinkjian with John Berberian (oud) and others (all from the US) on the album "Inner Feelings of Onnik." (US release)
  • 2015: Lilit Bleyan's version "Չթողնես երբեք": Recorded at Ardini studio (Yerevan, Armenia)
  • 2018: Berge Turabian's version "Դու ինծ մի լքիր": Arrangements by Tigran Nanian on the album "Brel, Brassens, Ferré in Armenian" (US release)

Afrikaans

  • 1980: Laurika Rauch's version "Moenie weggaan nie". Dutch artist Herman van Veen performed a cover-version in the 2000s.
  • 2011: Herman van den Berg's version "Laat my by jou bly".

Belarusian

  • 2008: Źmicier Vajciuškievič's version "Nie hublaj mianie" ("Не губляй мяне") was recorded on the album Toje što treba.

Catalan

Croatian

Czech

Danish

  • 2020: Silas Bjerregaard – "Du må ikke gå".

Dutch

  • 1961: Jacques Brel's version "Laat me niet alleen"
  • 1968: Liesbeth List's version "Laat me niet alleen".
  • 2013: Brigitte Kaandorp's version "Lieve koningin", an homage to (the about to be abdicating) Queen Beatrix.{{YouTube|Hjqf5F7PPGw}}
  • 2014: Sjors van der Panne as "Laat me niet alleen".

English

{{Main|If You Go Away}}

The pop standard "If You Go Away", with lyrics by Rod McKuen, has been covered by many artists including Ray Charles. Different lyrics by Momus, closer to those of the original, render the song as "Don't Leave", added to all reissues of his 1986 album Circus Maximus. American duo the Black Veils translate the song as "Don't Leave Me" on their 2009 album Troubadours, which includes translations of six other French chansons. Sung by Holcombe Waller in Ryan Trecartin's "Sibling Topics (section a)" at 23:10.

Finnish

West Frisian

German

Greek

  • 1971: Vicky Leandros in the album Pes mou pos mporeis (Tell me how you can).
  • 1979: Yiannis Parios in the LP Tha Me Thymithis (You will remember me), with the title "Mi me afinis mi" (Don't leave me, don't).
  • 1996: Haris Alexiou in her live album: Gyrizontas ton kosmo (During my world tour).
  • 2007: Yiannnis Parios' live rendition of the aforementioned song.
  • 2009: Vassilikos in the album "Vintage"

Hebrew

  • 1974: Dani Granot Sang "Ana Al Telchi" - Please don't go(אנא אל תלכי), a translation by Dafna Eilat, in his album Shkiot Nashim Vechol Hashar.
  • 1992: The late Yossi Banai sings Al telchi mikan - Don't go from here(אל תלכי מכאן), a translation by Naomi Shemer, in the Im neda' le'ehov – Songs of Jacques Brel (אם נדע לאהוב) record
  • 2001: Rita and Rami Kleinstein sang the same Hebrew version live in their tour, that was later released on a CD, Rita Rami on Stage
  • 2008: Itay Pearl Israeli composer [http://www.itaypearl.com Itay Pearl], wrote a song as a response to the original Jacques Brel version.
  • 2009: Shlomi Shaban: Translated by Dory Manor, Al Telchi Achshav - Don't go now (אל תלכי עכשיו).
  • 2011: Miri Mesika sings the translation by Naomi Shemer, in her [http://www.israel-music.com/miri_mesika/live_acoustic_at_zappa/ http://www.israel-music.com/miri_mesika/live_acoustic_at_zappa]

Italian

Japanese

  • 1979: Hiromi Iwasaki's version "{{nihongo|Ikanaide|行かないで|}}" from her album {{nihongo|Koibito-tachi|恋人たち|}}

Macedonian

  • 1960: Nina Spirova, "Ако отидеш" (lat. "Ako otideš")

Persian

  • 2021: Alireza Tehrani, "Age To Beri / اگه تو بری / If You Go Away"

Polish

Portuguese

Brazilian Portuguese

  • 1979: Altemar Dutra (Brazil) "Se Você Partir" – Se Você Partir (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (J.Brel – Romeo Nunes)
  • 1989: Raimundo Fagner (Brazil) "Não Me Deixes" – Não Me Deixes (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (J. Brel – Fausto Nilo)

Russian

  • 1973: Radmila Karaklajić's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (Melodiya, LP album "Радмила Караклаич" USSR 1973){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Радмила-Караклаич-Радмила-Караклаич/release/2101451|title=Радмила Караклаич – Радмила Караклаич (1973, Vinyl)|access-date=26 April 2021|website=Discogs.com}}
  • 1995: Igor Ivanov's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (CDRDM 502065, CD album "Игорь Иванов – Я тебя помню", 1995){{Cite web |url=http://www.disc-a.ru/catalog/r_sol/i_ivanov/d.html |title=Игорь Иванов |access-date=10 May 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223014/http://www.disc-a.ru/catalog/r_sol/i_ivanov/d.html |url-status=dead }}
  • 2001: Mumiy Troll's version "Когда ты уйдёшь"

Serbian

Silesian

  • 2012: Julian Brudzewski "Nie ostowiej mie" (a humorous adaptation)

Slovene

Spanish

  • 1969: Matt Monro "No me dejes no", Album: "Todo Pasará"
  • ?: Alma Ritano "No me dejes no"
  • 1977: Angélica María "No me dejes no"
  • 1997: Sandy Aruba's salsa music version "No Me Dejes Mas"
  • 2011: Fito Páez: "Ne me quitté pás", Album: "Canciones para Aliens"

Swedish

Turkish

Yiddish

  • 2008: Mendy Cahan's version "לאָז מיך נישט אַלײן"

Multilingual

  • 2005: Lam Nhat Tien's version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas": Người Yêu Nếu Ra Đi in French and Vietnamese, from the album Giờ Đã Không Còn Nữa.
  • 2007: Das Blaue Einhorn's version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas" in French and German, from their album Verkauf dein Pferd – Lieder vom Halten und Lassen (2007)
  • 2014: Caro Emerald as a digital download performed in both French and English.

Instrumental

In popular culture

The song was used in season 1 episode 19 of the critically acclaimed TV show Person of Interest and in the final episode of Mr. Robot. It was also used in season 1 finale of The Leftovers. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" was used by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar in his sixth film, Law of Desire, in a striking performance by Brazilian singer Maysa Matarazzo. A parody of the song and the singer, as the archetypal chansonnier, was performed by Italian actor Gigi Proietti.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP-9GFMTFKg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/pP-9GFMTFKg |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=GIGI PROIETTI - NUN ME ROMPE ER CA'|date=17 August 2011 |access-date=26 April 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Claudio Corneiro performed a clown act with this song in Cirque du Soleil's Varekai.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ3WYQ-qHGY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/SQ3WYQ-qHGY |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Varekai spotlight clown act ne me quitte pas, Cirque du Solei|access-date=26 April 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} It is also the name of an episode in the series Ramy.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429172921/http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/932.html SecondHandSongs cover hierarchy for 'Ne Me Quitte Pas']
  • {{in lang|fr|en|it}} [http://www.brelitude.net/Covers/chansons/nemequittepas.htm Brelitude - List of 'Ne me quitte pas' cover versions]
  • {{YouTube|uSgViEzhieU}}
  • See the article "List of Jacques Brel cover versions".
  • Alfred de Grazia: {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114020125/http://www.grazian-archive.com/quiddity/brel/ne_me_quitte_pas.htm |date=14 January 2008 |title=Don't Leave Me: a translation into English by Anne-Marie de Grazia }}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Jacques Brel}}

{{Johnny Hallyday}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ne Me Quitte Pas}}

Category:Songs about heartache

Category:Songs about parting

Category:1959 songs

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Jacques Brel songs

Category:Nina Simone songs

Category:Demis Roussos songs

Category:Johnny Hallyday songs

Category:Songs in French

Category:Natacha Atlas songs

Category:Songs written by Jacques Brel

Category:Caro Emerald songs

Category:2014 singles

Category:Marlene Dietrich songs

Category:1959 quotations

Category:Quotations from music