I never knew that's where those lyrics were derived from, but I remember when the song came out when I first heard this...haven't seen you go back this far yet, but it definitely is interesting stuff. Thanks for that bit of information. Nice.
On this date in 1974, SEASONS IN THE SUN by TERRY JACKS began a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart (Mar 3, 1974) Originally "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man"), this was written and performed in French by the Belgian poet-composer Jacques Brel in 1961. The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English, and in 1964 The Kingston Trio released the first English-language version of the song. This is the version Terry Jacks heard, which became the basis for his rendition. Jacks said that after his version was released, he had dinner in Brussels with Jacques Brel, who told him about writing the song: "It was about an old man who was dying of a broken heart because his best friend was screwing his wife," Jacks said. "He wrote this in a whorehouse in Tangiers, and the words were quite different. The song originally he used to do on stage and it was in a march form, like, 'Bom ba DUM, bom ba DUM.' Quite a different thing. This old man was dying of a broken heart and he was saying goodbye to his priest and his best friend and his wife, who cheated on him. Her name was Francoise, and it went, '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.'" The original version by Jacques Brel is rather macabre, but Jacks had an earnest inspiration for his reworking of the song: his good friend developed leukemia, and was given just six months to live. "He was gone in four months," explained Jacks. "He was a very good friend of mine, one of my best friends, and he said I was the first one that he told. I remembered this song of an old man dying of a broken heart, and I liked some of the melody and there was something there. I rewrote the song about him." Before releasing this song, Terry Jacks had considerable success in his native Canada as half of the duo The Poppy Family with his wife, Susan. He was friends with The Beach Boys, who asked him to produce a song for them - something Jacks was honored to do. Terry played them his arrangement of "Seasons in the Sun" and suggested they record it, since he thought it would sound great with their harmonies and with Carl Wilson singing lead. Terry flew to Brian Wilson's house and they began working on the song. Wilson had always been their producer, and could spend months working on a song if he wanted to perfect it. These were Terry's sessions, but Brian tried to take over. "The thing never got finished," said Jacks. "Brian wanted to get hold of the tape and add some things, and the engineer would have to take the tape home at night so that Brian wouldn't get hold of it. This went on and on, and I was almost having a nervous breakdown because I would put so much energy into this thing and the stress was really getting me. So I said, 'I'm not going to be able to finish this. I can't get you guys all in here together.' So it never got completed." The sessions weren't a complete wash for Jacks, however. He worked with Al Jardine on the backing vocals and came up with an arrangement he would use when he recorded the song himself. In 1973, the song was released as Jacks' second single ("Concrete Sea" was his first), and it was a huge hit, going to #1 in America for three weeks and also topping the UK chart. Terry released this on his own label, Goldfish Records, and was amazed when it became the largest-selling single in Canadian history: more than 285,000 copies sold in a matter of weeks. Bell Records vice president Dave Carrico heard the record, flew to Vancouver, and snapped up the American rights. Bell released the song in the US, and on February 14, 1974, it earned its first RIAA Gold Award for sales of over a million copies. Eventually, it sold more than three million copies in the United States alone. Worldwide, the figure is over six million. Shortly before Terry's recording came out, Jacques Brel retired, at the peak of his popularity. Fans around the world were stunned, but the composer would give no reason. Finally, the truth was revealed: after a quiet, six-year battle against cancer, Brel succumbed to the disease and died on October 9, 1978. With the money he made from this song, Jacks purchased a boat, which he christened "Seasons in the Sun." He began sailing up and down the west coast of Alaska and Canada, and had some revelations along the way. "I started to realize that this wasn't made by a blob," he said. "This was made by God." Terry became a Christian and began a quest to protect nature. He gave up music and became an environmental activist, fighting the Canadian paper mills, which he accused of dumping toxins and destroying forests. He made some films on the subject, including The Faceless Ones and The Warmth of Love: The 4 Seasons of Sophie Thomas, maintaining a modest lifestyle in Canada financed by his musical achievements. For Terry, becoming an environmentalist was not just a moral imperative, but a way of dealing with the fallout from this song, which came to define his career. "I got to be known as an environmentalist, which was the only thing that ever got rid of my label," he said. "I was 'Seasons in the Sun' before that." Rod McKuen, who translated the lyrics, is the credited writer on the song along with Jacques Brel. Terry Jacks made some significant musical changes and wrote an entirely different last verse, but didn't get a songwriter credit, since he never claimed one. Jacks says he didn't think of it at the time, and never anticipated the song becoming a royalty-generating hit.
The song is about a man accepting his demise, he is saying goodbye to all the ones he has loved, even though it's heartbreaking, he is accepting his fate...and recalling his love and memories from his time with them.
This from Wikipedia: _Jacks rewrote the lyrics, although he is uncredited for it. He justifies the rewriting by stating that he deemed the original version and its translations as "too macabre". The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones with whom he shared his life, much like the original. However, unlike the Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully._ Summing up: This song was rewritten and sung from the point of view of Terry Jack's dying friend (unnamed) saying his last goodbyes.
Jamel, Terry Jacks rewrote the lyrics to give the song a different meaning: "The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones whom he shared his life with, much like the original. However, unlike the Jacques Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully."
"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 song "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
Terry Jacks had nothing to do with writing, translating, or rewriting this song. Originally written in the French language and titled Le Moribond by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel in 1961, American actor, poet, and songwriter Rod McKuen wrote an English adaptation in 1963. The first recorded version of the English adaptation was released by The Kingston Trio in 1963. Terry Jacks covered it in 1974.
Thank You!!! I knew it! Ha! That’s what I thought! I was confused by what Jamal said,. But yes,. I thought it was about someone dying! I’ve heard that before,. Just forgot about it,. Thanks for clearing that up for me!!! Great Song!
This was the first 45 my little brother bought, and besides hearing it once or twice an hour- I hadn't discovered f.m. yet- I heard it through my bedroom wall probably a thousand times. I never paid much attention to the meaning, but for almost 50yrs now, I thought he was dying, or maybe I just wanted him to.
Our high school class, we had a great young man who got cancer the summer before our senior year. He vowed he would be at our graduation and he would walk across the stage. He kept that promise, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. He was one of those kids that was just liked by everyone, he always had a smile on his face, and he had a great sense of humor. He passed away a month or two after our graduation. He was so well liked, there was over 800 people at the funeral. The whole time he had cancer, he said never feel sad or feel sorry for him, with that same smile. I still miss him.
Soooo many memories, youve just brought back to soooooo many people right now. I'm in tears. I remember playing this on a 45* rpm record player, with the little disc inside... my sister and I would play this till the grooves were gone. Thank you sir. Edit thanks to Andrew and the others below
Don't think this was ever released on a 78rpm. As far as I know 78s stopped being regularly pressed in 1959. I remember this version because it was being constantly played on the radio in the summer of' '74 here in the UK.
@@HughJampton66 probably 45rpm. I had the 45 and I got it because my brother didn't like it after I told him at the record store 'I don't think you like that song'. Silly boy. I bought Billy Don't Be a Hero, and loved BOTH of them.
This made me cry when I was a child. I was so afraid of being a grown up and having to face loss. I havent heard it since then and it made me cry again. I guess even at my age I'm still afraid of being a grown up.
This came out when I was a kid and it made me so sad. I thought of losing those I loved. Now that it has happened and I'm without them it's difficult to listen to. However it's put together nicely melody wise. Cherish those in your life!
Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 Belgian song "Le Moribond" (in English "The Dying Man") by singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
This started as almost a spoken song by Frenchman Jacques Briel in 1961. The Kingston Trio first recorded it as a musical song in 1964. Then, it went to the Beach Boys six years later who tried to record it for their 1970 album "Surf's Up." Mike Love of the group said the sessions went so badly they just figured it was not meant to be their song. The producer of that album? Terry Jacks. He reworked the lyrics to tell the story of a good friend who died young of leukemia.
Every time I hear this song I think of my mother. It's been almost 20 years that she passed and this was one of her favorite songs. Thank you for reminding me of it.
While in the ninth grade, a girl in the desk next to me wrote a few lines of this song - Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die. . I jokingly asked her if she was about to die. She replied she was, but also jokingly. The upcoming weekend she died in an accident while skiing. That has stuck with me through the decades.
Wow, why did I suddenly feel an urge to hear this while I'm waiting to hear about my mom's open heart surgery, and here you are with a fresh reaction! Thank you
This is a cover of a 1961 French song written by a Belgian songwriter and loosely translated into English by actor Rod McKuen in 1963. The first recording of McKuen's translation was released by The Kingston Trio. Terry Jacks covered it in 1974.
This was Jacks' only solo hit in the U.S. However, while a member of The Poppy Family, he scored a hit in 1971 "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" Jacks also had several more hits in his native Canada both as a solo artist & with The Poppy Family.
@@willdwyer6782 I saw a comment that attributed it to Jacque Brel, who did indeed write Ne me quitte pas…and Seasons in the Sun! Rod and Jacque were both poets, that’s for sure…If You Go Away and Seasons in the Sun are two of the loveliest songs ever written. Thank you for telling me this, it was fun researching it…I knew it was a powerful lyric but…
"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 song "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
Jacques Brel also wrote a song, translated into English, called If We Only Have Love. Its from a play, and Its basically about the love, respect, and tolerance of the human race. Jamel, this reminds me of you..check out the lyrics. Now I don't know if you have anything against Barry Manilow music (I don't think I've seen you react to any of his songs) but he does a great live version of this nd its on RUclips.
That's the Wikipedia intro. Both Brel's original and McKuen's transliteration dealt with the illicit affair between the singer's best friend and his wife. Jack's version totally eliminated the original central theme.
One of my all time favorites, was a little guy when my mommy played this for me and we danced to it. Wish I still had my mom here to dance with me again. Thanks for reacting to this great song...
“Seasons in the Sun” is the 1973 hit single from Canadian singer Terry Jack, which was originally an English language adaptation of the 1961 song “Le Moribond” by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. The lyrics were then rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen, who is credited on Terry Jack’s cover of the song. “Seasons in the Sun” is the eleventh track on Jacks’ debut album of the same name. The original version by Brel details a man dying of a broken heart while he says his last farewells to his best friend, a priest and his wife who cheated on him. When Rod McKuen translated the lyrics into English in 1963, the American folk and pop group the Kingston Trio recorded what would be the first English rendition of “Seasons in the Sun” or “Le Moribond”. From this, Jacks created the foundations for his version. Despite Jacks rewriting the lyrics for his version, he is not credited for this. The inspiration for Jacks version came from one of his friends who was sadly suffering from acute leukaemia and passed away four months later. In Jacks’ version, the songs tell the story of a dying man telling his last words to his loved ones. In Jacks’ version, the man addresses his childhood friend, his father and potentially a daughter or niece. There was no music video release for “Seasons in the Sun”, but there is an official audio upload available on Terry Jacks RUclips channel. Since its upload in 2013, the video has 20.2 million views with 165 thousand likes. Despite the song’s success it was ranked at #5 on “one of the worst pop songs ever recorded” list in a CNN poll in 2006.
The first version of the song was recorded by Jacques Brel, who also wrote it in a brothel in Tangiers. Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells to his close friend Emile, a priest friend, an acquaintance named Antoine, and his wife who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine. Despite knowing of Antoine being his wife's lover, he wishes no ill upon him but tells him to take care of his wife. The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English. In 1964, the Kingston Trio first recorded an English version of "Seasons in the Sun", which was later heard by Terry Jacks and became the basis for his rendition. Jacks rewrote the lyrics, although he is uncredited for it. He justifies the rewriting by stating that he deemed the original version and its translations to be "too macabre". The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones whom he shared his life with, much like the original. However, unlike the Jacques Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully. In the rewritten version, the man first addresses his close friend, whom he had known since childhood and reminisces the happy times they had such as playing and studying together ("climbed hills and trees", "learned of love and ABC's"), and friendships with others ("skinned our hearts and skinned our knees"). He then addresses his father, who tried to give him a good upbringing and exert a positive influence on his undisciplined life ("I was the black sheep of the family", "You tried to teach me right from wrong", "wonder how I got along") which included overindulgence, vices, and revelry ("too much wine and too much song"). The man finally addresses "Michelle", possibly his daughter or niece, and stating how she lifted his spirit up in times of despair. Before he dies in peace, the man reminds all three that he will always be alive in their hearts and will be present in spirit when they see people or visit places; pretty girls (old and new friends) for the close friend, young children playing for the father, and flower fields for Michelle.
I didn't realize how many of Rod McKuen's songs were translations of Jacques Brel's songs. Apparently, McKuen released a whole album of Brel's songs; you can find them on RUclips. My all-time favorite song, which I just this minute found out that Brel wrote, is "If You Go Away" / "Ne me quitte pas"; it's a beautiful song. I love the version sung by Dame Shirley Bassey.
Which is honestly bullshit that this song is ranked in the worst ever. It is a deep, soulful and amazingly well written song. It is hard not to listen to this song and not think about the people you love and what you would want to say to them on your own deathbed. But, it is also a beautiful song in many ways. Less about being afraid to die and being more at peace with it.
Me and my buddy used to listen to this song back in the 70s. We were 12 when we became friends. We are still best friends. We go eat a steak every month. I dig you. Keep on rocking man.
The first version of the song was recorded by Jacques Brel, who also wrote it in a brothel in Tangiers. Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells to his close friend Emile, a priest friend, an acquaintance named Antoine, and his wife who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine. Despite knowing of Antoine being his wife's lover, he wishes no ill upon him but tells him to take care of his wife. The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English. In 1964, the Kingston Trio first recorded an English version of "Seasons in the Sun", which was later heard by Terry Jacks and became the basis for his rendition.~APRIL LIPKE
Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again, Naturally" is an even more depressing song, but still a good song though. There's a time and a place for everything, I suppose.
I love this song!! Terry Jacks had an awesome voice. I heard him say once that he had a big fear of singing in front of people. He sang in the 60's with The Poppy Family. But he was really faced with that fear even more with the success of "Seasons In The Sun." I'd love to see a reaction to "Which Way You Goin' Billy" by The Poppy Family.
One of those songs where the music doesn't sound as dark as the lyrics, so you don't notice until many years later. Another song that sounds sweet, but is much darker than this is Moonshadow by Cat Stevens. One day you're singing along and realize, "Wait a sec... WHAT DID HE JUST SAY!?"
Terry was also a member of the Poppy Family with his ex-wife Susan Jacks. They had a No. 2 hit in 1970 with “Which Way You Goin’, Billy” and a follow-up with “That’s Where I Went Wrong”.
I have known this song all my life, I went to Webster's Corners Elementary School in Mable Ridge, BC, Canada, in 1972, and as I remember, we had a very nice Song teacher, and I think it was the GF/Wife of Terry Jacks at the time. So we got the lyrics to sing this song in class. I was only in this class in 1971-72 and early 73 then I moved back to Denmark, and I think we got the lyrics as Terry was writing the song.. I had the lyrics with me back to Denmark, it was SPIRIT Copy (blue colour), I kept it for many years, but I cant find it now, sadly, would have been a nice trophy. Terry Jacks lived in the Mable Ridge area at that time period. So this song have been in my heart every since.
Have you ever watched the show "Gold Rush," on Discovery? One of the people on it was John Schnabel, Parker's grandfather, who was in his nineties and in failing health. In his last appearance on the show he was in the hospital. In the last scene we ever saw him in, he sang this song as they wheeled him out of the room. It wiped me out.
Back in the day a trusted friend was more than a best friend. They were what we would call today your brother or sister from another mother. They were closer to you than a best friend. The priest was not the lover of the wife Jacks explained in an interview when I was little but the priest gave the elderly man counsel and the man felt betrayed by the priest. The elderly man was reconciled with the priest and everyone before he died.
Finally a song u had not heard. Great reaction J. A similar song from around the same year is Billy don’t be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the heywoods. You will enjoy it.
It's such a sweet song to me. Your life is like a beautiful mandala: always under construction and when it's finally done, it's all swept away. We have nothing to fear - this life is a dream made to enjoy.
When I first heard this song I was on vacation in Mexico. I didn't know the language, I was lonely and depressed and this was the only thing in English that I found there. I played it over and over. Needless to say I got very depressed and homesick. Believe it or not I still love the song.
Wow- talk about a throwback hit! I loved this song as a little girl- I loved the beat- you listen to them when you’re older and the really pay attention to the lyrics . Even though I was singing right along with it at probably 1st grade age- 💜👍✌️
Sometime we had to be a loser because we had to leave her goal to be in love and peace and respecting everybody dislike this beautiful world God bless you your family and your beautiful heart amen 🙏
As a kid, when this came out, it was played on the radio alot. I understood the lyrics was about somebody dying. But what caught my interest was just the guitar lick at the beginning which I thought was cool sounding with the vibrato and that chord progression. It was different!
That was my Dads favorite song! ❤️ He was a soldier in the Army for 20 years and served in Vietnam. His Mother passed away when he was a little boy so I think this song resonated with him. Rest In Peace, Dad.
I absolutely relate to this song,,, having been diagnosed with ALS, waking each day with less strength, less abilities, slowly becoming paralyzed, knowing this body is fading away and not being able to enjoy my children and grandchildren as much as I would like, knowing I will leave them behind much sooner than I should,,,,, is the most difficult! I am only 53...
Beautiful 💜💜💜 From my childhood 🥰 I still love the music and since he changed the lyrics made it sound better. Kudos for studying what your reacting to. 💜💜💜
I was a young teen when this came out. A particularly rough time in my life. I wanted to end my life. I listened to this quite a lot and thought about the people my death might hurt and stayed alive.
That is fantastic.. I haven't laughed this hard in months. I just lost a very much loved dog... been very depressed.. Thank you. A beautiful gift you gave me.. my laugh back.
Oh, I do remember this sad little tear jerker. Best part "We had joy we had fun , we had seasons in the sun." We all love the joy and fun we have with our seasons in the sun, that's why this became so popular, it was the hook that did it. Hey could you review some Jim Croce songs? Like "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song." or "Big Bad Leroy Brown" or "I've Got A Name"? Thanks buddy! I love your reactions, your face and your comments. Keep up the good work!
Scotland The Brave. Amazing Grace. If you like music that moves you. I think if you listen to this version of amazing grace you will never forget it. It can bring tears to a music lovers eyes.
Prior to this, Terry Jacks was in a group called The Poppy Family with his wife, Susan, as the lead singer. They had one big hit, "Which Way You Goin' Billy?"
Sometime you get entire pie to punch everything is coming in your life nothing is easy in this life to working hard to have our beautiful family but that’s what it is to get him down one day and we have to accept what is coming behind you to see you around you nothing is easy in this life I Huxley do you understand my bad English and my beautiful broken heart amen 🙏
Hey Jamel thanks for this reaction, I remember that song I think from 1972 ? It was number 1, it played all the time on the radio. I never knew about all the things you read about the song. ✌️🤘 Brother Gary
Jacques Brel is one of the best songwriters ever. I grew up listening to English translations of many of his songs. My father had gone to see this live performance down in the Village called Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. It was a performance of translated Brel songs by these 4 performers. He bought the double album of their show. Our apartment when I was little was filled with the music of The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Melanie Safka, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, Bob Dylan, and Stan Getz. Others as well, but those most of all. If you want to react to Jacques Brel, I'd suggest starting with his live performance of Ne Me Quitte Pas to see what he was all about. A brilliant songwriter, and a fantastic singer. The man deeply felt every word of his songs. All that said, Terry Jacks certainly does a wonderful and personalized version of this Jacques Brel song here.
I was in second grade and my friend brought the 45 to school. We got to play popular music once a week on the record player. The teacher wouldn't let us play it because she thought the record was warped because of the guitar reverb. Can't not think of that time when I hear it. We convinced the teacher to let it play.
This song came out when I was ten years old. I made my first pay check for performing when I was eleven. Every song that had inspired me had been positive. Here was a song that struck me hard. It seemed to be a story of a man who was dying. It didn't explain why or from what: Only regret. I loved the musicality of it. The chords and form of it. Yet it was different. And so it is burnt into my memory.
Jamal you all ways amaze me at your music you send me and your responses are so reall and this song is great but so FREAKING HAUNTING love and peace all ways your friend Chad
Terry Jacks is a Canadian one-hit wonder. This song is a 1963 English adaptation written by Rod McKuen based on a 1961 song called "Le Moribond" by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel, who wrote most of his lyrics in French and Dutch. Brel wrote Le Moribond shortly after receiving a diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer in 1960. He died of a pulmonary embolism in 1978 at the age of 49. Brel's music has been translated and covered in English by David Bowie, Ray Charles, The Kingston Trio, John Denver, Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams to name a few.
As other people have mentioned, it was a song originally written by Jacques Brel. However, Terry did adapt it, and rearranged the song, hoping to get the Beach Boys to release it, as he was their producer back in 1970. There is a version on RUclips out there, if you'd like to hear it, though it wasn't released back then, which is why Terry Jacks did it himself a few years later.
Terry initially offered this song to The Beach Boys but they were going in a different direction, so he was home one day playing the song and his paperboy heard it and told him he should record it himself. First 45 I ever bought
Omg… had this on 45 rpm and probably still do from early 70s. Even though it’s a sad song, I’ve always loved it. One of the first ten I put on my Spotify account.
Glad you found this one, I like it, too. The song was originally in Dutch and was about a dying man saying goodbye to loved ones. The Beach Boys tried to record it in 1970, but they threw it out, didn't sound right. Enter Terry Jacks, in 1974 . . . His version #1 in 14 countries. I've had this on my playlist for years.
Ahh! Great Song! Dude I haven’t heard this song since 1978!!! Haha! Well,. Almost! But this song is so haunting! Love this song! I grew up on this one!!! Okay,. Now I’m going to listen! Haha
when this song came out i was friends with this boy for some reason i always associated it with him . he graduated poditry college got married then keeled over from leukeima. now it has become a cemented memory
Terry Jacks had this song and that's pretty much it..I love how people try to groove with this song.. It's not happening.. The words do not sound like they belong with this tune.. But I think I heard it a thousand times on the radio when it came out..I always thought to myself, it's a beautiful day lets listen to a guy tell his family he is dying.. No one ever played this at a party that I ever heard. I have heard a ton of different meanings attributed, does it really matter though..
May have had a different meaning when he originally wrote it but like someone said, he rewrote it as he's saying goodbye to friends and family on his deathbed. A Tear jerker for most of us who heard this back in the 70s. You definitely don't want to hear that Bobby Goldsbro song where he sings about his wife......
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I never knew that's where those lyrics were derived from, but I remember when the song came out when I first heard this...haven't seen you go back this far yet, but it definitely is interesting stuff. Thanks for that bit of information. Nice.
I remember this song as a child, it always brought tears to my eyes, but we all loved the song. We would sing the chorus at recess.
On this date in 1974, SEASONS IN THE SUN by TERRY JACKS began a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart (Mar 3, 1974)
Originally "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man"), this was written and performed in French by the Belgian poet-composer Jacques Brel in 1961.
The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English, and in 1964 The Kingston Trio released the first English-language version of the song. This is the version Terry Jacks heard, which became the basis for his rendition.
Jacks said that after his version was released, he had dinner in Brussels with Jacques Brel, who told him about writing the song:
"It was about an old man who was dying of a broken heart because his best friend was screwing his wife," Jacks said.
"He wrote this in a whorehouse in Tangiers, and the words were quite different. The song originally he used to do on stage and it was in a march form, like, 'Bom ba DUM, bom ba DUM.' Quite a different thing. This old man was dying of a broken heart and he was saying goodbye to his priest and his best friend and his wife, who cheated on him. Her name was Francoise, and it went, '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.'"
The original version by Jacques Brel is rather macabre, but Jacks had an earnest inspiration for his reworking of the song: his good friend developed leukemia, and was given just six months to live.
"He was gone in four months," explained Jacks.
"He was a very good friend of mine, one of my best friends, and he said I was the first one that he told. I remembered this song of an old man dying of a broken heart, and I liked some of the melody and there was something there. I rewrote the song about him."
Before releasing this song, Terry Jacks had considerable success in his native Canada as half of the duo The Poppy Family with his wife, Susan. He was friends with The Beach Boys, who asked him to produce a song for them - something Jacks was honored to do. Terry played them his arrangement of "Seasons in the Sun" and suggested they record it, since he thought it would sound great with their harmonies and with Carl Wilson singing lead.
Terry flew to Brian Wilson's house and they began working on the song. Wilson had always been their producer, and could spend months working on a song if he wanted to perfect it. These were Terry's sessions, but Brian tried to take over.
"The thing never got finished," said Jacks.
"Brian wanted to get hold of the tape and add some things, and the engineer would have to take the tape home at night so that Brian wouldn't get hold of it. This went on and on, and I was almost having a nervous breakdown because I would put so much energy into this thing and the stress was really getting me. So I said, 'I'm not going to be able to finish this. I can't get you guys all in here together.' So it never got completed."
The sessions weren't a complete wash for Jacks, however. He worked with Al Jardine on the backing vocals and came up with an arrangement he would use when he recorded the song himself.
In 1973, the song was released as Jacks' second single ("Concrete Sea" was his first), and it was a huge hit, going to #1 in America for three weeks and also topping the UK chart.
Terry released this on his own label, Goldfish Records, and was amazed when it became the largest-selling single in Canadian history: more than 285,000 copies sold in a matter of weeks. Bell Records vice president Dave Carrico heard the record, flew to Vancouver, and snapped up the American rights. Bell released the song in the US, and on February 14, 1974, it earned its first RIAA Gold Award for sales of over a million copies. Eventually, it sold more than three million copies in the United States alone. Worldwide, the figure is over six million.
Shortly before Terry's recording came out, Jacques Brel retired, at the peak of his popularity. Fans around the world were stunned, but the composer would give no reason. Finally, the truth was revealed: after a quiet, six-year battle against cancer, Brel succumbed to the disease and died on October 9, 1978.
With the money he made from this song, Jacks purchased a boat, which he christened "Seasons in the Sun." He began sailing up and down the west coast of Alaska and Canada, and had some revelations along the way. "I started to realize that this wasn't made by a blob," he said. "This was made by God."
Terry became a Christian and began a quest to protect nature. He gave up music and became an environmental activist, fighting the Canadian paper mills, which he accused of dumping toxins and destroying forests. He made some films on the subject, including The Faceless Ones and The Warmth of Love: The 4 Seasons of Sophie Thomas, maintaining a modest lifestyle in Canada financed by his musical achievements.
For Terry, becoming an environmentalist was not just a moral imperative, but a way of dealing with the fallout from this song, which came to define his career. "I got to be known as an environmentalist, which was the only thing that ever got rid of my label," he said. "I was 'Seasons in the Sun' before that."
Rod McKuen, who translated the lyrics, is the credited writer on the song along with Jacques Brel. Terry Jacks made some significant musical changes and wrote an entirely different last verse, but didn't get a songwriter credit, since he never claimed one. Jacks says he didn't think of it at the time, and never anticipated the song becoming a royalty-generating hit.
The song is about a man accepting his demise, he is saying goodbye to all the ones he has loved, even though it's heartbreaking, he is accepting his fate...and recalling his love and memories from his time with them.
This from Wikipedia:
_Jacks rewrote the lyrics, although he is uncredited for it. He justifies the rewriting by stating that he deemed the original version and its translations as "too macabre". The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones with whom he shared his life, much like the original. However, unlike the Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully._
Summing up: This song was rewritten and sung from the point of view of Terry Jack's dying friend (unnamed) saying his last goodbyes.
Didn't know that. Thank you
God dammit with all thes interpretations.. He´s saying farwell to his childhood friend, his pops, and his daughter. And it's beautifull
Another great story-telling song is "One Tin Soldier" by Coven
I agree One Tin Soldier is a great song!
I remember crying to both songs when I was a kid
Spoiler: "peace on earth" was all it said.
You mean by Coven
By Coven
Jamel, Terry Jacks rewrote the lyrics to give the song a different meaning:
"The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones whom he shared his life with, much like the original. However, unlike the Jacques Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully."
"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 song "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
Terry Jacks had nothing to do with writing, translating, or rewriting this song. Originally written in the French language and titled Le Moribond by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel in 1961, American actor, poet, and songwriter Rod McKuen wrote an English adaptation in 1963. The first recorded version of the English adaptation was released by The Kingston Trio in 1963. Terry Jacks covered it in 1974.
@@willdwyer6782 He did rewrite the lyrics and was uncredited for it..
Thank You!!! I knew it! Ha! That’s what I thought! I was confused by what Jamal said,. But yes,. I thought it was about someone dying! I’ve heard that before,. Just forgot about it,. Thanks for clearing that up for me!!! Great Song!
This was the first 45 my little brother bought, and besides hearing it once or twice an hour- I hadn't discovered f.m. yet- I heard it through my bedroom wall probably a thousand times. I never paid much attention to the meaning, but for almost 50yrs now, I thought he was dying, or maybe I just wanted him to.
Our high school class, we had a great young man who got cancer the summer before our senior year. He vowed he would be at our graduation and he would walk across the stage. He kept that promise, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. He was one of those kids that was just liked by everyone, he always had a smile on his face, and he had a great sense of humor. He passed away a month or two after our graduation. He was so well liked, there was over 800 people at the funeral. The whole time he had cancer, he said never feel sad or feel sorry for him, with that same smile. I still miss him.
Similar story at my school, but he died in his freshman or sophomore year. The family held the funeral in the gym.
One of my all time favotites.
Soooo many memories, youve just brought back to soooooo many people right now. I'm in tears. I remember playing this on a 45* rpm record player, with the little disc inside... my sister and I would play this till the grooves were gone. Thank you sir. Edit thanks to Andrew and the others below
Don't think this was ever released on a 78rpm. As far as I know 78s stopped being regularly pressed in 1959. I remember this version because it was being constantly played on the radio in the summer of' '74 here in the UK.
@@HughJampton66 probably 45rpm. I had the 45 and I got it because my brother didn't like it after I told him at the record store 'I don't think you like that song'. Silly boy. I bought Billy Don't Be a Hero, and loved BOTH of them.
Haha! So True!!! And,. Me Too!!! Wonder what happened to that record? 🧐. Hmmm,..
@@HughJampton66 I had this record,. I’m pretty sure! I don’t remember what was on the other side of it,. But I had it
What was on the other side? I had the record too!
This made me cry when I was a child. I was so afraid of being a grown up and having to face loss. I havent heard it since then and it made me cry again. I guess even at my age I'm still afraid of being a grown up.
I hear you. I'm too old to die young and I hate facing loss and being a grownup.
watched to many of those I love die in the last 13 years hope you never have to do that for a long long time
This came out when I was a kid and it made me so sad. I thought of losing those I loved. Now that it has happened and I'm without them it's difficult to listen to. However it's put together nicely melody wise. Cherish those in your life!
This song has also reminded me of another song called "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro. Beautiful but very sad.
Terry Jacks recorded songs with his then wife, Susan Jacks under the group The Poppy Family, They had a hit with a song Which Way You Going Billy.
Thank you for letting us know never new Terry was part of the poppy family I think they were on Bell records I think.
I still have that 45. Great song.
Also "That's Where I Went Wrong".
They have some interesting tunes.
Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 Belgian song "Le Moribond" (in English "The Dying Man") by singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
This started as almost a spoken song by Frenchman Jacques Briel in 1961. The Kingston Trio first recorded it as a musical song in 1964. Then, it went to the Beach Boys six years later who tried to record it for their 1970 album "Surf's Up." Mike Love of the group said the sessions went so badly they just figured it was not meant to be their song. The producer of that album? Terry Jacks. He reworked the lyrics to tell the story of a good friend who died young of leukemia.
Many thanks jamel. This song was HUGE when I was in high school. 1973-1974 school. It brought back many, many memories both good and bad. Thanks again
Yes, it was huge back then, unfortunately.
Same here. I was also in HS when this came out.
@@notedrockhistorian4382 why unfortunately?
Every time I hear this song I think of my mother. It's been almost 20 years that she passed and this was one of her favorite songs. Thank you for reminding me of it.
I’m 54, remember this song from when I was very young. I never understood how sad it was until now.
While in the ninth grade, a girl in the desk next to me wrote a few lines of this song - Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die. . I jokingly asked her if she was about to die. She replied she was, but also jokingly. The upcoming weekend she died in an accident while skiing. That has stuck with me through the decades.
My sisters wore out a 45 of this song back in the day. This is from the early 70s. Beautiful song. 😁❤️🎶
My eyes and ears were frozen while listening to this. Few songs have done that to me. What a magical work of art!
Wow, why did I suddenly feel an urge to hear this while I'm waiting to hear about my mom's open heart surgery, and here you are with a fresh reaction! Thank you
I wish your mom all the best, may you be blessed with many more Seasons in the Sun with her!😊☀🌞💐
Sending love, positivity and prayers. I hope and pray that your mom is okay. 💌
This song always makes me cry…reminds me of a friend who killed himself.
I think, unfortunately, this was a one hit wonder…
This is a cover of a 1961 French song written by a Belgian songwriter and loosely translated into English by actor Rod McKuen in 1963. The first recording of McKuen's translation was released by The Kingston Trio. Terry Jacks covered it in 1974.
This was Jacks' only solo hit in the U.S. However, while a member of The Poppy Family, he scored a hit in 1971 "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" Jacks also had several more hits in his native Canada both as a solo artist & with The Poppy Family.
@@willdwyer6782 I saw a comment that attributed it to Jacque Brel, who did indeed write Ne me quitte pas…and Seasons in the Sun! Rod and Jacque were both poets, that’s for sure…If You Go Away and Seasons in the Sun are two of the loveliest songs ever written. Thank you for telling me this, it was fun researching it…I knew it was a powerful lyric but…
"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 song "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen,[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Canadian singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.
Jacques Brel also wrote a song, translated into English, called If We Only Have Love. Its from a play, and Its basically about the love, respect, and tolerance of the human race. Jamel, this reminds me of you..check out the lyrics. Now I don't know if you have anything against Barry Manilow music (I don't think I've seen you react to any of his songs) but he does a great live version of this nd its on RUclips.
That's the Wikipedia intro. Both Brel's original and McKuen's transliteration dealt with the illicit affair between the singer's best friend and his wife. Jack's version totally eliminated the original central theme.
I love this song ,this song is from the 70's it was about a man who was saying goodbye to his dying friend, thanks 🙋♀️💜
One of my all time favorites, was a little guy when my mommy played this for me and we danced to it. Wish I still had my mom here to dance with me again. Thanks for reacting to this great song...
“Seasons in the Sun” is the 1973 hit single from Canadian singer Terry Jack, which was originally an English language adaptation of the 1961 song “Le Moribond” by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. The lyrics were then rewritten in 1963 by American singer-poet Rod McKuen, who is credited on Terry Jack’s cover of the song. “Seasons in the Sun” is the eleventh track on Jacks’ debut album of the same name.
The original version by Brel details a man dying of a broken heart while he says his last farewells to his best friend, a priest and his wife who cheated on him. When Rod McKuen translated the lyrics into English in 1963, the American folk and pop group the Kingston Trio recorded what would be the first English rendition of “Seasons in the Sun” or “Le Moribond”. From this, Jacks created the foundations for his version.
Despite Jacks rewriting the lyrics for his version, he is not credited for this. The inspiration for Jacks version came from one of his friends who was sadly suffering from acute leukaemia and passed away four months later. In Jacks’ version, the songs tell the story of a dying man telling his last words to his loved ones. In Jacks’ version, the man addresses his childhood friend, his father and potentially a daughter or niece.
There was no music video release for “Seasons in the Sun”, but there is an official audio upload available on Terry Jacks RUclips channel. Since its upload in 2013, the video has 20.2 million views with 165 thousand likes. Despite the song’s success it was ranked at #5 on “one of the worst pop songs ever recorded” list in a CNN poll in 2006.
The first version of the song was recorded by Jacques Brel, who also wrote it in a brothel in Tangiers. Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells to his close friend Emile, a priest friend, an acquaintance named Antoine, and his wife who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine. Despite knowing of Antoine being his wife's lover, he wishes no ill upon him but tells him to take care of his wife. The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English. In 1964, the Kingston Trio first recorded an English version of "Seasons in the Sun", which was later heard by Terry Jacks and became the basis for his rendition.
Jacks rewrote the lyrics, although he is uncredited for it. He justifies the rewriting by stating that he deemed the original version and its translations to be "too macabre". The inspiration for the rewritten lyrics was a close friend of his who was suffering from acute leukemia and died four months later. The Terry Jacks rendition, which was later dedicated to the friend, has the dying man giving his last words to his loved ones whom he shared his life with, much like the original. However, unlike the Jacques Brel version, the man does not die broken-hearted but instead, acknowledges the rights and wrongs of his actions in life as he passes away peacefully.
In the rewritten version, the man first addresses his close friend, whom he had known since childhood and reminisces the happy times they had such as playing and studying together ("climbed hills and trees", "learned of love and ABC's"), and friendships with others ("skinned our hearts and skinned our knees"). He then addresses his father, who tried to give him a good upbringing and exert a positive influence on his undisciplined life ("I was the black sheep of the family", "You tried to teach me right from wrong", "wonder how I got along") which included overindulgence, vices, and revelry ("too much wine and too much song"). The man finally addresses "Michelle", possibly his daughter or niece, and stating how she lifted his spirit up in times of despair. Before he dies in peace, the man reminds all three that he will always be alive in their hearts and will be present in spirit when they see people or visit places; pretty girls (old and new friends) for the close friend, young children playing for the father, and flower fields for Michelle.
(Sorry it's so long.)
* Brel
I didn't realize how many of Rod McKuen's songs were translations of Jacques Brel's songs. Apparently, McKuen released a whole album of Brel's songs; you can find them on RUclips. My all-time favorite song, which I just this minute found out that Brel wrote, is "If You Go Away" / "Ne me quitte pas"; it's a beautiful song. I love the version sung by Dame Shirley Bassey.
Which is honestly bullshit that this song is ranked in the worst ever. It is a deep, soulful and amazingly well written song. It is hard not to listen to this song and not think about the people you love and what you would want to say to them on your own deathbed. But, it is also a beautiful song in many ways. Less about being afraid to die and being more at peace with it.
Me and my buddy used to listen to this song back in the 70s. We were 12 when we became friends. We are still best friends. We go eat a steak every month. I dig you. Keep on rocking man.
The first version of the song was recorded by Jacques Brel, who also wrote it in a brothel in Tangiers. Sung in a marching tempo, it tells of a man dying of a broken heart and shows him saying his last farewells to his close friend Emile, a priest friend, an acquaintance named Antoine, and his wife who has cheated on him numerous times with Antoine. Despite knowing of Antoine being his wife's lover, he wishes no ill upon him but tells him to take care of his wife. The American poet Rod McKuen translated the lyrics to English. In 1964, the Kingston Trio first recorded an English version of "Seasons in the Sun", which was later heard by Terry Jacks and became the basis for his rendition.~APRIL LIPKE
Haven't heard this song in decades. I still like it even though the lyrics are a big downer.
Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again, Naturally" is an even more depressing song, but still a good song though. There's a time and a place for everything, I suppose.
Thank you for the laugh
The song Seasons in the Sun was first performed by the Kingston Trio in 1964.
It was written by Jacques Brel American poet Rod McKuen.
This was one of my mom's favorite songs, it still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. She passed in 2009, love you mom!❤️
Man haven't heard this in forever. Takes me back. 70s were pretty crazy. Had know idea thats what this was about back then.
I love this song!! Terry Jacks had an awesome voice. I heard him say once that he had a big fear of singing in front of people. He sang in the 60's with The Poppy Family. But he was really faced with that fear even more with the success of "Seasons In The Sun." I'd love to see a reaction to "Which Way You Goin' Billy" by The Poppy Family.
me too!!
One of those songs where the music doesn't sound as dark as the lyrics, so you don't notice until many years later. Another song that sounds sweet, but is much darker than this is Moonshadow by Cat Stevens. One day you're singing along and realize, "Wait a sec... WHAT DID HE JUST SAY!?"
Terry Jacks qualifies for your One Hit Wonder category. He did have a minor follow up hit, I forget the title, but this was his biggest song by far.
If You Go Away
Terry was also a member of the Poppy Family with his ex-wife Susan Jacks. They had a No. 2 hit in 1970 with “Which Way You Goin’, Billy” and a follow-up with “That’s Where I Went Wrong”.
He actually did a few good songs, worth checking out. "In my fathers footsteps" is very like this one...
I have known this song all my life, I went to Webster's Corners Elementary School in Mable Ridge, BC, Canada, in 1972, and as I remember, we had a very nice Song teacher, and I think it was the GF/Wife of Terry Jacks at the time. So we got the lyrics to sing this song in class. I was only in this class in 1971-72 and early 73 then I moved back to Denmark, and I think we got the lyrics as Terry was writing the song.. I had the lyrics with me back to Denmark, it was SPIRIT Copy (blue colour), I kept it for many years, but I cant find it now, sadly, would have been a nice trophy. Terry Jacks lived in the Mable Ridge area at that time period. So this song have been in my heart every since.
Have you ever watched the show "Gold Rush," on Discovery? One of the people on it was John Schnabel, Parker's grandfather, who was in his nineties and in failing health. In his last appearance on the show he was in the hospital. In the last scene we ever saw him in, he sang this song as they wheeled him out of the room. It wiped me out.
Back in the day a trusted friend was more than a best friend. They were what we would call today your brother or sister from another mother. They were closer to you than a best friend. The priest was not the lover of the wife Jacks explained in an interview when I was little but the priest gave the elderly man counsel and the man felt betrayed by the priest. The elderly man was reconciled with the priest and everyone before he died.
Finally a song u had not heard. Great reaction J. A similar song from around the same year is Billy don’t be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the heywoods. You will enjoy it.
It's such a sweet song to me. Your life is like a beautiful mandala: always under construction and when it's finally done, it's all swept away. We have nothing to fear - this life is a dream made to enjoy.
When I first heard this song I was on vacation in Mexico. I didn't know the language, I was lonely and depressed and this was the only thing in English that I found there. I played it over and over. Needless to say I got very depressed and homesick. Believe it or not I still love the song.
There’s a cover in Spanish too
Wow- talk about a throwback hit! I loved this song as a little girl- I loved the beat- you listen to them when you’re older and the really pay attention to the lyrics . Even though I was singing right along with it at probably 1st grade age- 💜👍✌️
The "AM Gold" category is still one of my favorites. The songs make me feel so young; until my body reminds me that I am not the girl I once was.
Sometime we had to be a loser because we had to leave her goal to be in love and peace and respecting everybody dislike this beautiful world God bless you your family and your beautiful heart amen 🙏
The Fortunes, a pop band from the sixties also had a hit with this song. I can recommend this band. 👍🎸🎸💕
I heard the song a million times never knew what it was about. Thanks for sharing.
Loved that song when I was young. Haven't heard it for ages- still love it. Very poignant.
From what I remember Terry actually pitched it to The Beach Boys who turned it down. So Terry and his wife recorded.
A song that is connected to this song is called "If You Go Away" also a poem written by I think the same person as Seasons in the Sun.
As a kid, when this came out, it was played on the radio alot. I understood the lyrics was about somebody dying. But what caught my interest was just the guitar lick at the beginning which I thought was cool sounding with the vibrato and that chord progression. It was different!
My favorite song when I was a kid! It makes me cry though, even back then. Sad song to love as a kid.
That was my Dads favorite song! ❤️ He was a soldier in the Army for 20 years and served in Vietnam. His Mother passed away when he was a little boy so I think this song resonated with him. Rest In Peace, Dad.
I absolutely relate to this song,,, having been diagnosed with ALS, waking each day with less strength, less abilities, slowly becoming paralyzed, knowing this body is fading away and not being able to enjoy my children and grandchildren as much as I would like, knowing I will leave them behind much sooner than I should,,,,, is the most difficult! I am only 53...
Beautiful 💜💜💜
From my childhood 🥰
I still love the music and since he changed the lyrics made it sound better. Kudos for studying what your reacting to. 💜💜💜
I was a young teen when this came out. A particularly rough time in my life. I wanted to end my life. I listened to this quite a lot and thought about the people my death might hurt and stayed alive.
Fred, I'm glad you're alive!
I’ve loved this song since I was knee high to a grasshopper. It touched my heart then , and still does. Thank you for reacting to it!!!
There are songs and there are songs that take you back to the place, time,place, and xyz....this is one of them. Thank you!
"We had joy, we had fun, we went streaking in the sun,
but the cops had the guns and they shot us in the buns."
Lol
Another variation as I recall was:
We had joy, we had fun, we had streakers on the run.
But the fun didn’t last, cause the streakers ran too fast.
That is fantastic.. I haven't laughed this hard in months. I just lost a very much loved dog... been very depressed..
Thank you.
A beautiful gift you gave me.. my laugh back.
Oh, I do remember this sad little tear jerker. Best part "We had joy we had fun , we had seasons in the sun." We all love the joy and fun we have with our seasons in the sun, that's why this became so popular, it was the hook that did it. Hey could you review some Jim Croce songs? Like "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song." or "Big Bad Leroy Brown" or "I've Got A Name"? Thanks buddy! I love your reactions, your face and your comments. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the good cry. I have friends I've lost and this song hits those places deeply in my heart
I cry every time I hear this song . great song
Well hell, I coulda gone my whole life without knowing the background of this song. 57 years and you blew it dude!!! :(
Grew up with these classics on the radio in the 1980s. Thank you.
Scotland The Brave.
Amazing Grace. If you like music that moves you. I think if you listen to this version of amazing grace you will never forget it. It can bring tears to a music lovers eyes.
Prior to this, Terry Jacks was in a group called The Poppy Family with his wife, Susan, as the lead singer. They had one big hit, "Which Way You Goin' Billy?"
I vividly remember as a child listening to this song and crying... The first time a song made me cry...
Every time I wear my sweatshirt I bought from you, I get so many compliments!! Now I need a new color!!
I listened to this at my Grandaddy’s house. He had a record player and this ‘45. The memories were like a gut punch 🥊 listening to this!! 😢😢
Sometime you get entire pie to punch everything is coming in your life nothing is easy in this life to working hard to have our beautiful family but that’s what it is to get him down one day and we have to accept what is coming behind you to see you around you nothing is easy in this life I Huxley do you understand my bad English and my beautiful broken heart amen 🙏
Oh man this one brings back sooooo many memories! ✌🏼 love you J!!
This is one of my favorite 70s songs.
Hey Jamel thanks for this reaction, I remember that song I think from 1972 ?
It was number 1, it played all the time on the radio. I never knew about all the things you read about the song.
✌️🤘 Brother Gary
I have loved this song since I was a child.
That sure brings back memories! One of my all- time favourite songs of the 70s.
✌🏼❤️✌🏼 I love that you looked this history up!
Jacques Brel is one of the best songwriters ever. I grew up listening to English translations of many of his songs. My father had gone to see this live performance down in the Village called Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. It was a performance of translated Brel songs by these 4 performers. He bought the double album of their show. Our apartment when I was little was filled with the music of The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Melanie Safka, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, Bob Dylan, and Stan Getz. Others as well, but those most of all. If you want to react to Jacques Brel, I'd suggest starting with his live performance of Ne Me Quitte Pas to see what he was all about. A brilliant songwriter, and a fantastic singer. The man deeply felt every word of his songs. All that said, Terry Jacks certainly does a wonderful and personalized version of this Jacques Brel song here.
I was in second grade and my friend brought the 45 to school. We got to play popular music once a week on the record player. The teacher wouldn't let us play it because she thought the record was warped because of the guitar reverb. Can't not think of that time when I hear it. We convinced the teacher to let it play.
This song came out when I was ten years old. I made my first pay check for performing when I was eleven. Every song that had inspired me had been positive. Here was a song that struck me hard. It seemed to be a story of a man who was dying. It didn't explain why or from what: Only regret. I loved the musicality of it. The chords and form of it. Yet it was different. And so it is burnt into my memory.
I have always love ❤️ that song.
Jamal you all ways amaze me at your music you send me and your responses are so reall and this song is great but so FREAKING HAUNTING love and peace all ways your friend Chad
Awww this song…I always thought and also heard it was about the loss of his dog.
Great old, but sad tune.
Terry Jacks is a Canadian one-hit wonder. This song is a 1963 English adaptation written by Rod McKuen based on a 1961 song called "Le Moribond" by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel, who wrote most of his lyrics in French and Dutch. Brel wrote Le Moribond shortly after receiving a diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer in 1960. He died of a pulmonary embolism in 1978 at the age of 49. Brel's music has been translated and covered in English by David Bowie, Ray Charles, The Kingston Trio, John Denver, Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams to name a few.
Oh this song. It just has such memories for me.
Thanks for taking me back to my childhood for a while!
As other people have mentioned, it was a song originally written by Jacques Brel. However, Terry did adapt it, and rearranged the song, hoping to get the Beach Boys to release it, as he was their producer back in 1970. There is a version on RUclips out there, if you'd like to hear it, though it wasn't released back then, which is why Terry Jacks did it himself a few years later.
This was a monster hit on the radio back in the day....
Wore the grooves off of this 45! Another one hit wonder was a song called SHANNON by Henry Gross. Another beautifully sad song about the family dog
Terry initially offered this song to The Beach Boys but they were going in a different direction, so he was home one day playing the song and his paperboy heard it and told him he should record it himself. First 45 I ever bought
Tears at the heartstrings, great track😊
Another great song from the 70s is Shannon by Henry Gross.
Absolutely fantastic song! 👍
Omg… had this on 45 rpm and probably still do from early 70s. Even though it’s a sad song, I’ve always loved it. One of the first ten I put on my Spotify account.
This was played frequently on the radio back in the day.
I love this song and I played my 45 record when this came out ❤️🎶❤️🎶
I have always loved this song
Glad you found this one, I like it, too. The song was originally in Dutch and was about a dying man saying goodbye to loved ones. The Beach Boys tried to record it in 1970, but they threw it out, didn't sound right. Enter Terry Jacks, in 1974 . . . His version #1 in 14 countries. I've had this on my playlist for years.
Ahh! Great Song! Dude I haven’t heard this song since 1978!!! Haha! Well,. Almost! But this song is so haunting! Love this song! I grew up on this one!!! Okay,. Now I’m going to listen! Haha
when this song came out i was friends with this boy for some reason i always associated it with him . he graduated poditry college got married then keeled over from leukeima. now it has become a cemented memory
Oh wow! An oldie but an absolute goodie! 👏👏
Seasons in the Sun is from 1974 it was Terry Jack song and it's sold over 10 million copies worldwide and somebody else had it out in 1961
Terry Jacks had this song and that's pretty much it..I love how people try to groove with this song.. It's not happening.. The words do not sound like they belong with this tune.. But I think I heard it a thousand times on the radio when it came out..I always thought to myself, it's a beautiful day lets listen to a guy tell his family he is dying.. No one ever played this at a party that I ever heard. I have heard a ton of different meanings attributed, does it really matter though..
May have had a different meaning when he originally wrote it but like someone said, he rewrote it as he's saying goodbye to friends and family on his deathbed. A Tear jerker for most of us who heard this back in the 70s. You definitely don't want to hear that Bobby Goldsbro song where he sings about his wife......
commenting before seeing your reax... I started laughing when I saw this on my feed. haha