From: ‘Stuart’
To: ‘Leila Summers’
Sent: 22 February 2007 09:02 AM
… I got very still last night listening to Jacques Brel sing his Ne Me Quitte Pas; it is so beautiful, I wish I didn’t have to read a translation to understand it…
This is part of an email that I received from my husband two days before he died. At the time I didn’t go and listen to the song nor find the translation; there was too much else going on. It was only some time after he had died, while writing, that I came across the song mention again, and went to look it up. Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me) is a deeply melancholic and beautiful song, and the translation stopped me right in my middle. Some days, like today, the song still plays on my computer in a random playlist and it is only slightly less jarring than when I first listened to it. If you’ve read my book, you’ll have an understanding of why this song is so pertinent. Below is an original version of the song sung by Jacques Brel with English subtitles. The end of this video, in particular, is heart wrenching!
Leila Summers
If you’ve read my memoir, I appreciate all Amazon reviews.
Find Me on Goodreads
