Rod McKuen: Quotes about singing

“Adieu, Francoise, my trusted wife;
Without you I'd have had a lonely life.
You cheated lots of times but then,
I forgave you in the end
Though your lover was my friend. Adieu, Francoise, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky.”

Rod McKuen

Seasons in the Sun" (1961), as translated from the Jacques Brel song "Le Moribond"· McKuen performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY__eaedtOA · Beach Boys performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjIra9pheU Goodbye, Michelle, my little one; You gave me love and helped me find the sun, And every time that I was down You would always come around And get my feet back on the ground. Goodbye, Michelle, it's hard to die When all the birds are singing in the sky; Now that the spring is in the air, With the flowers everywhere, I wish that we could both be there! As adapted in the Terry Jacks version (1974) Translations and adaptations Context: Adieu, Francoise, my trusted wife; Without you I'd have had a lonely life. You cheated lots of times but then, I forgave you in the end Though your lover was my friend. Adieu, Francoise, it's hard to die When all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that spring is in the air With your lovers ev'rywhere, Just be careful; I'll be there.

“So… like laughing children we’ll go
singing love wherever we go.”

Rod McKuen

"Only Love" by Jacques Brel as translated on the album After Midnight (1988)
Translations and adaptations
Context: We have only love,
to help us find our way,
as we go out into the world.
So... like laughing children we’ll go
singing love wherever we go.

“We have only love,
to offer as a prayer,
for all the wrongs in the world.
So… like singing troubadours we’ll go,
singing love wherever we go.”

Rod McKuen

"Only Love" by Jacques Brel as translated on the album After Midnight (1988)
Translations and adaptations