"Ne me quitte pas" (''"Don't leave me"'') is a 1959 song by

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

singer-songwriter

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...

. It has been

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

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 Rodney Marvin McKuen (; April 29, 1933 – January 29, 2015) was an American poet, singer-songwriter, and actor. He was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, McKuen produced a wide range ...

, is "

If You Go Away "If You Go Away" is an adaptation of the 1959 Jacques Brel song "Ne me quitte pas" with English lyrics by Rod McKuen. Created as part of a larger project to translate Brel's work, "If You Go Away" is considered a pop standard and has been recor ...

Background

"Ne me quitte pas" is considered by some as "Brel's ultimate classic". 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. Brel first recorded the song on 11 September 1959, and it was released on his fourth album '' La Valse à Mille Temps''. 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 Ernst Rudolf van Altena (11 December 1933, Amsterdam – 15 June 1999, Landsmeer) was a Dutch poet, writer and translator. He was best known for his translations of chansons by Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – ...

, it was a B-side to

Marieke Marieke, sometimes written as Marike or Marique (), is a Dutch-language feminine given name, a diminutive of Maria. The Polish, Greek and Japanese equivalent is Marika. The ''-ke'' suffix is characteristic for Flemish, Brabantian and Limburgis ...

(also a Dutch-language version). 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 A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...

, 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. 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 Franz Liszt, in modern usage ''Liszt Ferenc'' . Liszt's Hungarian passport spelled his given name as "Ferencz". An orthographic reform of the Hungarian language in 1922 (which was 36 years after Liszt's death) changed the letter "cz" to simpl ...

Johnny Hallyday version

French singer

Johnny Hallyday Jean-Philippe Léo Smet (; 15 June 1943 – 5 December 2017), better known by his stage name Johnny Hallyday, was a French rock and roll and pop singer and actor, credited for having brought rock and roll to France. During a career spanning 57 ...

released a live version of this song as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in November 1984. It was recorded during his performances at

Le Zénith Le Zénith () is the name given to a series of indoor arenas in France. The first arena, the "Zénith Paris" is a rejuvenation of the Pavillon de Paris. In French culture, the word "zénith" has become synonymous with "theater". A zénith is a ...

. 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".

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

Other versions

French *1959: **Simone Langlois – possibly the very first recording: Brel would have passed it to her prior to recording his own version *1961: **

Maysa Matarazzo Maysa Figueira Monjardim (June 6, 1936 – January 22, 1977), better known as Maysa Matarazzo, was a Brazilian singer-songwriter, performer and actress. She is also associated with Bossa nova music but is widely known as a torch song (''fossa' ...

in ''Maysa Sings Songs Before Dawn'' and ''Maysa Matarazzo 1961'' (released in Argentina). released again in 1966 álbum Maysa (1966). This version was used by Pedro Almodóvar in the movie ''

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'' (1987). Also used in 2001 for the Brazilian mini-series ''

Presença de Anita ''Presença de Anita'' ( en, The Presence of Anita, italic=yes) is a 2001 Brazilian drama television miniseries based on the 1948 novel of the same name by Mário Donato. Directed by Ricardo Waddington and Alexandre Avancini, the series aired o ...

'' (''Anita's Presence'') and in 2009 miniseries '' Maysa: Quando Fala o Coração''. *1961: ** Barbara ''chante Brel'' *1965: **

Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, ...

in her June 1965 ''

I Put a Spell on You "I Put a Spell on You" is a 1956 song written and composed by Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins, whose own recording of it was selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also included in Rober ...

'' album **

Frida Boccara Danielle Frida Hélène Boccara (29 October 1940 – 1 August 1996) was a Moroccan-born French singer of Italian descent, who performed and recorded in a number of languages, including French, Spanish, English, Italian, German, Dutch and Russ ...

(some versions): 1. Duet with Luis Recatero (EP Belter 51532, 1965); 2. ''Frida Boccara Sings'' – 1967, LP Melodia, made in USSR (''Поёт Фрида Боккара'' �-20579-80; 3. ''Place des Arts – Montreal '71 Live'' (2 LP Philips, 1971 and CD 2006, Canada); 4.''An Evening With Frida Boccara'' (1978, Live at Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne – 2 LP Philips and some CD compilations); 5. ''Un jour, un enfant'' – posthumous CD (1999) *1967: **

Sandie Shaw Sandie may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Sandie Clair (born 1988), French professional racing cyclist * Sandie Fitzgibbon, Irish former camogie player * Sandie Jones (1950/1951–2019), Irish singer * Sandie Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker (1879 ...

included the song on her third album '' Love Me, Please Love Me''. *1970: **

Vicky Leandros Vasiliki Papathanasiou ( el, Βασιλική Παπαθανασίου; born 23 August 1949), generally known as Vicky Leandros ( el, Βίκυ Λέανδρος, links=no), is a Greek singer living in Germany. She is the daughter of singer, music ...

– Brel asked Leandros to sing this song after they met in a French TV studio. The song was released on the album ''Ich Bin'' released January 1971 and on the French album ''Je Suis Comme Je Suis'' released in Canada (October 1971) *1974: **

Gigliola Cinquetti Gigliola Cinquetti (; born Giliola Cinquetti on 20 December 1947) is an Italian singer, songwriter, and television presenter. Life and career Gigliola Cinquetti was born into a wealthy family in Verona. From the ages of 9 to 13, she studied and ...

in ''Bonjour Paris (album CGD 65978)'' **

Mari Trini Mari may refer to: Places *Mari, Paraíba, Brazil, a city * Mari, Cyprus, a village *Mari, Greece, a village, site of ancient town of Marius * Mari, Iran (disambiguation), places in Iran * Mari, Punjab, a village and a union council in Pakistan ...

in ''¿Quien?'' *1979: **

Irena Jarocka Irena Wanda Jarocka (18 August 1946 – 21 January 2012), was a Polish singer. Career Education Jarocka was born in Srebrna Góra, Poland. She graduated from the V Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Stefana Żeromskiego, and the faculty of music s ...

in ''Koncert, Irena Jarocka, Orchestr Karla Vagnera, Supraphon 1979'' *1985: **

Mireille Mathieu Mireille Mathieu (; born 22 July 1946) is a French singer. She has recorded over 1200 songs in eleven languages, with more than 122 million records sold worldwide. Biography and career Early years Mireille Mathieu was born on 22 July 1946 in A ...

in ''Les grandes chansons francaises '' *1987: **

Alison Moyet Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard ( ; born 18 June 1961) is an English singer noted for her powerful bluesy contralto voice. She came to prominence as half of the duo Yazoo (also known as Yaz), but has since mainly worked as a solo artist. Her ...

Appears as the B-side to "Love Letters" *1988: **

Juliette Gréco Juliette Gréco (; 7 February 1927 – 23 September 2020) was a French singer and actress. Her best known songs are "Paris Canaille" (1962, originally sung by Léo Ferré), "La Javanaise" (1963, written by Serge Gainsbourg for Gréco) and "Désh ...

in ''Gréco 88: Hommage à Brel'' **

Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...

live on his ...Nothing Like the Sun tour *1994: **

Appears as the B-side to "Getting into Something" *1995: **

Isabelle Aubret Isabelle Aubret (; born Thérèse Coquerelle; 27 July 1938) is a French singer best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 with the song "Un premier amour". Early life Thérèse Coquerelle was born in Lille, France, on 27 July ...

in her ''Chante Brel'' album *1997: ** Timna Brauer & Elias Meiri in their album "Chansons et violons" *1998: **

Hugues Aufray Hugues Jean Marie Auffray (; born 18 August 1929), better known as Hugues Aufray, is a French singer-songwriter and guitarist. Aufray is known for French language covers of Bob Dylan's songs. Aufray knew Dylan and his work from his time in New ...

in ''Hommage – Ils chantent Jacques Brel'' CD **

Yuri Buenaventura Yuri may refer to: People and fictional characters Given name *Yuri (Slavic name), the Slavic masculine form of the given name George, including a list of people with the given name Yuri, Yury, etc. *Yuri (Japanese name), also Yūri, feminine Jap ...

in ''Herencia Africana'' **

Miguel Bosé Luis Miguel González Bosé (born 3 April 1956), usually known as Miguel Bosé, is a Spanish pop new wave singer and actor. Early life Bosé was born in San Fernando Hospital in Panama City, Panama, the son of Italian actress Lucia Bosè (19 ...

in ''11 maneras de ponerse un sombrero'' CD **

Faudel Faudel Belloua ( ar, فُضيل بيلوى; born June 6, 1978) is a French raï singer and actor of Algerian descent. He released studio albums, notably '' Baïda'', '' Samra'', ''Un Autre Soleil'' and ''Mundial Corrida'' and the live album '' ...

in the tribute album ''Aux suivants'' *2000: ** Elena Kamburova in her album ''Дорога'' (The Road) CD *2001: **

Natacha Atlas Natacha Atlas ( ar, نتاشا أطلس}; born 20 March 1964) is an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "'' cha'abi moderne''" (modern popular music). Her mu ...

in her album '' Ayeshteni'' *''Maria Bill sings Jacques Brel'' *2002: ** Paloma Berganza in the ''Avec le temps'' CD **

Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (, ; "Circus of the Sun" or "Sun Circus") is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 Ju ...

's 2002 production ''

Varekai Varekai was a Cirque du Soleil touring production that premiered in Montréal in April 2002. Its title means "wherever" in the Romani language, and the show is an "acrobatic tribute to the nomadic soul". The show begins with the Greek myth of Ica ...

'' features a performance of the song. **

Ute Lemper Ute Gertrud Lemper (; born 4 July 1963) is a German singer and actress. Her roles in musicals include playing Sally Bowles in the original Paris production of ''Cabaret'', for which she won the 1987 Molière Award for Best Newcomer, and Velm ...

in ''But One Day'' *2003: **

Candan Erçetin Candan Erçetin (; born 10 February 1961) is a Turkish singer-songwriter. Over the twenty five years of her singing career, she has been recognized for preparing and singing songs about human life. Despite the fact that she made her albums with ...

in her album ''

Chante Hier Pour Aujourd'hui ''Chante Hier Pour Aujourd'hui'' (''Singing Yesterday for Today'') is Candan Erçetin's fifth solo album. It contain cover versions of popular songs of France. She mostly sings the songs on this album in French (except "Le Meteque" has some Turkis ...

'' **

Bic Runga Briolette Kah Bic Runga (born 13 January 1976), recording as Bic Runga, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. Her first three studio albums debuted at number one on the Recording Industry Association of New Ze ...

in '' Live in Concert with the Christchurch Symphony'' *2004: **

In-Grid Ingrid Alberini (born 11 September 1978), known by her stage name In-Grid, is an Italian dancer and singer-songwriter. Her 2003 club song "Tu es foutu", (English title: "You Promised Me"), charted in several European countries, Australia, Latin A ...

in her album ''

La vie en rose "La Vie en rose" (; ) is the signature song of popular French singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945, popularized in 1946, and released as a single in 1947. The song became very popular in the US in 1950, when seven versions reached the ''Billboard ...

'' **Angélique Beauvence in the ''Still...love you'' CD **

Wende Snijders Wende Snijders, known mononymously as Wende (born 10 October 1978 in Beckenham, Greater London) is a Dutch singer. Biography Wende moved to Indonesia when she was four years old and to Guinea-Bissau when she was six. When she was nine, she went t ...

on the '' Quand tu Dors'' CD **

Alcione Nazareth Alcione Dias Nazareth (born November 21, 1947) is also known as, "Alcione", and "A Marrom" (English: "the brown one") is a Brazilian samba singer. She first gained international recognition in the late 1970 and has had nineteen gold records, as w ...

in the ''Um Barzinho, um Violão Vol. 4'' CD *2005: **

Mikel Laboa Mikel Laboa Mancisidor (15 June 1934 – 1 December 2008) was one of the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country's most important singer-songwriters. Considered the patriarch of Basque music, his music has had an influence on younger ge ...

in the ''Xoriek - 17'' CD. **

Pierre Bachelet Pierre Bachelet (25 May 1944 – 15 February 2005) was a French singer-songwriter and film score composer. He was also known as Andrew Bascon. He died of lung cancer in 2005. Personal life Pierre Bachelet was born on 25 May 1944 in the 12th ...

in the ''Tu ne nous quittes pas'' CD. ** Olivier Laurent ('à la manière de Patrick Bruel, Julien Clerc, Serge Lama, Johnny Hallyday') in ''Ces gens-là'' *2006: **Estrella Morente, a flamenco singer, on her album ''Mujeres'', whose arrangement and performance is based on Nina Simone's. *2007: **

Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle ( ; born August 17, 1958) is an American singer. She gained fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, the most successful all-female rock band of all time, and went on to have a prolific career as a solo artist. Raised in ...

on the ''

Voila Voila or Voilà may refer to: Music * VOILÀ, LA-based pop-rock duo featuring Gus Ross and Luke Eisner * ''Voila'' (album), by singer Belinda Carlisle * "Voila", a single by Radio Killer which charted in Romania * '' Voila!'', an album by Itali ...

'' CD. **

Florent Pagny Florent Pagny (born 6 November 1961) is a French singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He records his work in French, as well as in Italian, Spanish and English. His greatest hits include " N'importe quoi", " Savoir aimer" and " Ma Liberté de ...

on the album " Pagny Chante Brel" *2009: **

Maria Gadú Maria Gadú (born Mayra Corrêa Aygadoux, 4 December 1986) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and guitarist. She has been nominated twice for a Latin Grammy Award. She released her first album in 2009, self-titled Maria Gadú. Her single " Shimb ...

in the ''Maria Gadú'' CD & live at Vivo Altas Horas (Brazil) 19 September 2009. Used in 2010 for the Brazilian mini-series ''Cinquentinha''. **

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...

sings a mixed French/English lyric on her album '' Love Is the Answer''. *2010: **

Brian Molko Brian Molko (born 10 December 1972) is a Belgian-born Scottish-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the band Placebo. He is known in particular for his distinctive nasal, high-pitche ...

performed the song in the "I love EU" concert in Brussels. **

Kellylee Evans Kellylee Evans (born 7 February 1975) is a Canadian jazz and soul music vocalist. Early life Educated at Carleton University (1993–2000), it was there that Evans discovered jazz when she "got lost in the elevators of the Loeb Building and foun ...

in her album ''Nina'' *2011 **

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

performs the song during her Las Vegas residency show, '' Celine'' *2012 **The song is featured in the Deluxe Edition of

's album ''

Sans attendre ''Sans attendre'' (meaning ''Without Waiting'') is the fourteenth French-language and twenty-fourth studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released by Columbia Records on 2 November 2012. It is her first new French studio album since 2007's ...

'' **

Sophie Hunger Sophie Hunger (born Émilie Jeanne-Sophie Welti on 31 March 1983) is a Swiss singer-songwriter, film composer, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, blues harp, piano) and bandleader, currently living in Berlin. Early life Émilie Jeanne-Sophie Welt ...

on ''The Danger of Light (Deluxe Edition)'' CD *2013 **

Concha Buika María Concepción Balboa Buika (born 11 May 1972), known as Concha Buika or Buika, is a Spanish singer. Her album ''Niña de Fuego'' was nominated for the 2008 Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year and ''La Noche Más Larga'' was nominated ...

in her album '' La Noche Más Larga'' *2014 **

Caro Emerald Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw (born 26 April 1981), known for the project Caro Emerald, is a Dutch pop and jazz singer who mainly performs in English. Active since 2007, she rose to prominence in 2009 with the debut single, " Back It Up". Th ...

as a digital download performed in both French and English. *2017 **

Wyclef Jean Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, a ...

on J'ouvert (EP). ** Gela Guralia 23 June in Saint-Petersburg in both French and English Arabic *2012:

Mashrou' Leila Mashrou' Leila ( ar, مشروع ليلى, link=no, Latn, ar, Mashrūʿ Laylā, ; sometimes transliterated as Mashrou3 Leila or translated as Leila's Project) was a Lebanese four-member indie rock band. The band formed in Beirut, Lebanon in 2008 ...

'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 Mike Massy ( ar, مايك ماسي) (born 31 March 1982) is a Lebanese-born singer, songwriter, film score composer, arranger, pianist, actor and celebrity vocal coach whose musical register fluctuates between Arabic lyrical singing, the reper ...

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

. Armenian *1976:

Onnik Dinkjian Onnik Dinkjian ( hy, Oննիկ Տինքճեան; born 1929) is a French-born American-Armenian musician and singer. He is the father of Ara Dinkjian and has appeared with his son as well as other Armenian musicians such as Roupen Altiparmakian pla ...

'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 Laurika Rauch, (born 1 November 1950 in Cape Town) is a South African singer who performs in both Afrikaans and English. She had a hit single in 1979 with ''Kinders van die Wind'' (''Children of the Wind''), written by Koos du Plessis. The s ...

'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 *1965: Emili Vendrell – "No em deixis tan sol" *1967: Mercè Madolell – "No te'n vagis pas" *1968: Salomé – "No em deixis mai" *2005: Albert Fibla – "No em deixis, no" Croatian *1971:

Arsen Dedić Arsenije "Arsen" Dedić ( sr-Cyrl, Арсеније "Арсен" Дедић, ; 28 July 1938 – 17 August 2015) was a Croatian singer-songwriter. He wrote and performed chansons, as well as film music. He was also an award-winning poet, and was o ...

– Nemoj poći sad Czech *1969:

Eva Pilarová Eva Pilarová, née Bojanovská (9 August 1939 – 14 March 2020) was a Czech jazz and pop music singer. Biography Pilarová was born in Brno. She started singing during her childhood, including classical music. She studied singing at the Ja ...

, '' "Když mě opustíš"'' *1976:

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, ''Jestli rád tě má'' *1977:

Hana Hegerová Hana Hegerová (20 October 1931 – 23 March 2021) was a Slovak singer and actress. Often referred to as the Queen of Czechoslovak chanson, she gained popularity primarily as a singer of chansons. Outside of her homebase, Hegerová has attained ...

, ''"Lásko prokletá"'' Dutch *1961:

's version "Laat me niet alleen" *1968:

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's version "Laat me niet alleen". *2013:

Brigitte Kaandorp Brigitte Kaandorp (born 10 March 1962 in Haarlem) is a Dutch comedian and singer-songwriter. She started her show business career in 1983. Kaandorp's style is a mix of absurdism and sensitive songs, sometimes playing the ukulele The ukulele ( ...

's version "Lieve koningin", an homage to (the about to be abdicating) Queen Beatrix. *2014: Sjors van der Panne as "Laat me niet alleen". English The pop standard "

", with lyrics by

, has been covered by many artists including

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

. Different lyrics by

Momus Momus (; Ancient Greek: Μῶμος ''Momos'') in Greek mythology was the personification of satire and mockery, two stories about whom figure among Aesop's Fables. During the Renaissance, several literary works used him as a mouthpiece for their ...

, 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

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's "Sibling Topics (section a)" at 23:10. *1967:

Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalists ...

released a version as a single which also appeared on her album '' And We Were Lovers'', re-issued 1973 as "Big Spender". *1967:

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was an English singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, Pop music, p ...

popularized a multi-lingual French/English version for her album '' The Look of Love'' *1967:

Lana Cantrell Lana Eleanor Cantrell AM (born 7 August 1943) is an Australian-American singer and entertainment lawyer. She was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in the Grammy Awards of 1968. Music career Cantrell recorded six albums for ...

, for her album '' And Then There Was Lana'' *1967:

Kim Weston Kim Weston (born December 20, 1939) is an American soul singer, and Motown alumna. In the 1960s, Weston scored hits with the songs "Love Me All the Way" and "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)", and with her duet with Marvin Gaye ...

, for her MGM album '' For The First Time'' *1967:

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, for their album ''

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'' *1968:

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and television host. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodt ...

recorded a version on his album ''

Wichita Lineman "Wichita Lineman" is a song written by the American songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1968. It was first recorded by the American country music artist Glen Campbell with backing from members of The Wrecking Crew and was widely covered by other artists. ...

'' *1969:

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

released a version on his album ''

My Way "My Way" is a song popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra set to the music of the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed by Jacques Revaux with lyrics by Gilles Thibaut and Claude François and first performed in 1967 by Claude François. Its E ...

'' *1969: Scott Walker recorded a cover of "Ne me quitte pas" on his third solo album ''Scott 3'', originally released in 1969. Scott Walker released various Brel covers on the albums ''Scott'' 1, 2 & 3, which were translated by Mort Shuman. *1971: Neil Diamond covered "Ne me quitte pas" on his seventh studio album "Stones". *1974: Terry Jacks covered "If You Go Away" and released it as a stand-alone single. *1982: Marc Almond covered the track with his band Marc and the Mambas on the album ''Untitled (Marc and the Mambas album), Untitled'' *1989: Marc Almond recorded a second cover on his album Jacques, an hommage to Jacques Brel. *2000: Emilíana Torrini for her promotional album Rarities (Emilíana Torrini album), Rarities *2002: Patricia Kaas recorded the song for her album Piano Bar (Patricia Kaas album), Piano Bar. This version was featured in the movie ''And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen''. *2003: Shirley Horn, for her final album ''May the Music Never End'' *2003: Cyndi Lauper recorded a version for her album ''At Last (Cyndi Lauper album), At Last'' *2006: Art of Time Ensemble recorded a version with vocalist Martin Tielli on their debut album ''Live In Toronto (Art Of Time Ensemble album), Live in Toronto''. *2009:

recorded a multi-lingual French/English version for her album '' Love Is the Answer'' *2010: Julie Christmas recorded a version for her album The Bad Wife. *2011: Dalis Car recorded for the album ''InGladAloneness'' *2013: Tout Va Bien (band), Tout Va Bien recorded a version which was released as a single on iTunes. *2014: Storm Large in her album "Le Bonheur" *2014:

as a digital download performed in both French and English. *2015: Lauryn Hill for the album ''Nina Revisited… A Tribute to Nina Simone''. Finnish *1968: Brita Koivunen "Jos nyt menet pois" *1979: Toni Edelmann "Ethän lähde pois" *1984: Susanna Haavisto "Ala vetää vaan" *1985: Vera Telenius "Ala vetää vaan" *2010: Samuli Edelmann "Ethän lähde pois" West Frisian *2007: Douwe Heeringa "Leafste bliuw by my" German *1963: Marlene Dietrich "Bitte geh nicht fort" *1976: Klaus Hoffmann "Geh nicht fort von mir"; "Bitte geh nicht fort" (1997) *1977: :De:Markus Pol, Markus Pol ''Lass mich nicht allein'' Greek * 1971:

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: Vassilis Vassilikos, 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) Sound recording and reproduction, record *2001: Rita Kleinstein, 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 compose
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
Italian *1962: Gino Paoli, "Non Andare Via" *1970: Dalida, "Non Andare Via" *1970: Patty Pravo, "Non Andare Via" *1985: Ornella Vanoni, "Non Andare Via" *2006: Petra Magoni & Ferruccio Spinetti, "Non Andare Via" Japanese *1979: Hiromi Iwasaki's version "" from her album Macedonian *1960: Nina Spirova, "Ако отидеш" (lat. "Ako otideš") Persian * 2021: Alireza Tehrani, "Age To Beri / اگه تو بری / If You Go Away" Polish * 1976:

& Jacques Hustin, "Nie zostawiaj mnie/Ne me quitte pas" * 1986:

, "Nie zostawiaj mnie" * 1995: Michał Bajor, "Nie opuszczaj mnie" * 1995: Edyta Górniak, "Nie opuszczaj mnie" * 1998: Edyta Jungowska, "Nie opuszczaj mnie" * 2007: Joanna Jabłczyńska, "Nie opuszczaj mnie" Portuguese * 1974: Simone de Oliveira (Portugal) "Não me vás deixar (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" (J. Brel – David Mourão Ferreira) in ''Nunca mais a Solidão'' * 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: :sr:Radmila Karaklajić, Radmila Karaklajić's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (''Melodiya'', LP album "Радмила Караклаич" Soviet Union, USSR 1973) * 1995: Igor Ivanov's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (CDRDM 502065, CD album "Игорь Иванов – Я тебя помню", 1995) * 2001: Mumiy Troll's version "Когда ты уйдёшь" Serbian *1968: Anica Zubović's version "Ako odeš ti" (''Beograd Disk'', EP "Anica" Yugoslavia 1968) Slovene *2009: Branko Završan "Saj ne boš kar šla" *2011: Jure Ivanušič "Ne zapusti me" 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 *1968: Lill Lindfors: "Om du går din väg" in ''Kom i min värld'' *1982: Tommy Körberg & Stefan Nilsson (singer), Stefan Nilsson: "Du får inte gå" in ''Tommy Körberg & Stefan Nilsson tolkar Jacques Brel'' *2000: Maria Stoltz: "Du Får Inte Gå" in ''Franska chansoner'' Turkish * 1972: Zeki Müren "Beni Terketme" * 1975: Ertan Anapa "Beni Terketme" * 1977: Lale Belkıs "Beni Bırakma" 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:

as a digital download performed in both French and English. Instrumental *1982: Richard Clayderman, for his 1982 album 'Reveries No.2' *1985: Toots Thielemans and Fred Hersch, live at Lulu White's Mahogany Hall Bourbon Street, New Orleans *2005: Charles Lloyd (jazz musician), Charles Lloyd, in the album ''Jumping the Creek'' *2008: Farhad Besharati, in the album ''Zenith (Besharati album), Zenith''

In popular culture

The song was used in season 1 episode 19 of the critically acclaimed TV show ''Person of Interest (TV series), Person of Interest'' and in the final episode of ''Mr. Robot''. It was also used in season 1 finale of ''The Leftovers (TV series), The Leftovers''. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" was used by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar in his sixth film, ''

'', in a striking performance by Brazilian singer

. A parody of the song and the singer, as the archetypal chansonnier, was performed by Italian actor Gigi Proietti. Claudio Corneiro performed a clown act with this song in

. It is also the name of an episode in the series Ramy.

References

External links

SecondHandSongs cover hierarchy for 'Ne Me Quitte Pas'

* *See the article "List of Jacques Brel cover versions#C, List of Jacques Brel cover versions". *Alfred de Grazia: {{DEFAULTSORT:Ne Me Quitte Pas Songs about heartache Songs about parting 1959 songs Pop ballads Jacques Brel songs Nina Simone songs Demis Roussos songs Johnny Hallyday songs French-language songs Natacha Atlas songs Songs written by Jacques Brel Caro Emerald songs 2014 singles Marlene Dietrich songs 1950s neologisms Quotations from music