Don’t leave me? This is the story of the singer-songwriter himself, when he was abandoned by his fiancée “Zizou”, and felt humiliated. It was recorded in 1959 by Warner Chappell, on his album La Valse’ mille temps Since then many versions have been recorded, the best known being Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Julio Iglesias and Madonna. The song was also recorded in several languages.
What’s behind the sad and, at the same time, beautiful lyrics to this song?A dramatic story, no doubt. Jacques Brel conquered the audience with his drama on stage, as he was elegant and seductive, he made women sigh with this sensual language that he is French.
- During her time as a club artist.
- She met a woman named Suzanne Gabriello.
- Intelligent.
- Sensual and actress.
- Fell in love and did not hesitate to embark on an affair.
- But at the same time this feeling has translated into hate for various reasons.
- Brel’s girlfriend was brunette and laughed very well.
- Gave herself completely to her for five years.
- But it was five years full of misunderstandings.
- Intrigue and more.
- It’s a modern form of forbidden.
- Strange.
- And passionate love in Paris.
- The story between Brel and Zizou is very melodramatic.
It is interesting to note that he had a wife, Thérése Michielsen, and three children, who lived in a suburb of the French capital. Brel had to invent as many alibis as possible to be with his lover. His friend Georges Pasquier saved him and helped him, in his lies to maintain his profile as a faithful husband and exemplary father, although the art world was not very well seen or respected at the time.
After two years of pressure from Zizou, for his endless lies, he brought Miche (as he intimately called his wife) and the children back to Brussels. Meanwhile, Zizou rented a meeting room in an apartment in Clichy Square to be with his lover.
Shortly after becoming pregnant, Briel denied being the father and said he would not recognize the child. It’s the beginning of the end for a really pathetic story. Mad with rage, Zizou threatens to sue him and everyone would know what kind of man he is. So he travels to Brussels with his legitimate wife. At that time, he wrote the lyrics to the song “Don’t leave me”.
As for the song, this song uses the melody of Franz List’s “Hungarian Rhapsody Number 6” (although he denies it). He made several changes to the beautiful song before it was finally recorded. It was beautiful singer Simone Langlois who first incarned her. A few months later, Jacques Brel recorded it, being present on his fourth album, “Valse Le Um Mille Temps”.
Edith Piaf, one of the singers who also recorded “Don’t Leave Me”, said she disagreed with Brel’s attitude because she knew her “Parisian” walks. However, he did not believe it was just the singer’s story, but thought it was a kind of anthem for men who love and can be humiliated by a woman. The song translates into an ode to male and sexist humiliation, although it is actually nothing more than the purgatory and hell of the singer.
It’s a song of despair, about a tragic breakup and a man’s discouragement when he falls, despair, mental agony and sentimental death. Experts say he took it to Dostoyevsky when he said, “Let me be your dog’s shadow?”And they also suggest that there are details of García Lorca in relation to the lost treasure and the servile image of man.
You can tell that Brel hated this song because it reminded him of many memories of his lover Zizou, the song was a palpable definition of what was going on in his mind and heart, a kind of catharsis for your sins.
Jacques died at the age of 49 of a pulmonary embolism (he was a penitent smoker). His remains are found in French Polynesia, south of the island of Hiva Oa, in the same place as his favorite painter, Paul Gauguin. Suzanne Grabiello died in 1992 of cancer, at 60, and was buried in Paris, will she always be remembered for being there?Sweet madness, Belgian musician.
Don’t you leave the lyrics to me? (translated into Portuguese)
Do not leave me, you have to forget, everything can be forgotten and is behind. Forget the time Of the misunderstandings And the time wasted Ask how To forget these hours, That sometimes kill, Breathe why, The heart of happiness. Don’t leave me, (* 4) I’ll offer you pearls of rain Coming from countries where it never rains; I will dig the earth until after death, to cover your body with gold, with lights. I will create a country where love will be the king, where love will be the law and you will be the queen. Do not leave me, (* 4) I will tell you absurd words that you will understand; I will tell you about these lovers who have seen their hearts again; I will tell you the story of this king, who died because he could not meet you. Don’t leave me, (* 4) Many times we have seen the Fire from the repercussion of the old volcano. There are even those who speak of scorched lands that produce more wheat; May the best spring be when the evening falls, look how red and black They do not mix So that the sky lights up Do not leave me, (* 4) I will no longer cry, I will not speak anymore, I hide here To see you Dance and smile, To listen to you Sing and laugh Let me be the shadow of your shadow, the shadow of your hand, the shadow of your dog. Don’t leave me (* 4)