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[Rev. Rye]

I think people are a bit too unfair to this song, and not just because of the Link Wray guitar parts between the verses.

Granted, Rod McKuen's translations are usually considered to be subpar, but the original song this was based on was a lot funnier and a lot less sappy, particularly the twist that he's making all these backhanded compliments about these people who had fucked his lover.

See Jacques Brel singing his original version (with the original French translated much more directly than Rod McKuen did):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h02pNUKInBo

And, here's Arnie Johnon (the official Brel Estate-sanction English translator of the songs) singing his version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOz_NNtpGE

Lyrics here:

Adieu, Emile, I loved you well
Adieu, Emile, I loved you well, you know
The same girls made us sing and sigh
The same wines made us sing and laugh
The same griefs made us sing and cry
Adieu, Emile, I’m going to die
It’s hard dying in the Spring, you know
The flowers free my soul from strife
And Since you're good as plain white bread
I know you'll take care of my wife

You should laugh, you should dance
Till your head is spinning round.
You should laugh, you should dance
When they put me in the ground.

Adieu, My Priest, I loved you well
Adieu, My Priest, I loved you well, you know
We never shared a single aim
We never shared a single path
But still our destination is the same
Adieu, My Priest, I’m going to die
It’s hard dying in the Spring, you know
The flowers free my soul from strife
But since you were her Confidant
I know you'll take care of my wife

You should laugh, you should dance
Till your head is spinning round.
You should laugh, you should dance
When they put me in the ground.

Adieu, Antoine, If looks could kill
You may be sure you'd be the first to go
But now I lie here, ripe for death
While you're alive as you can be
Though independable as breath
Adieu, Antoine, I’m going to die
It’s hard dying in the Spring, you know
The flowers free my soul from strife
And since you've always been her... friend,
I know you'll take care of my wife

You should laugh, you should dance
Till your head is spinning round.
You should laugh, you should dance
When they put me in the ground.

Adieu, my wife, I loved you well
Adieu, my wife, I loved you well, you know
My train to heaven is at hand
And though I'd rather wait for yours
One catches all the trains he can
Adieu, my wife, I’m going to die
It’s hard dying in the Spring, you know
But the flowers help me close my eyes
And since I've closed them all my life
I know you'll help my soul arise

You should laugh, you should dance
Till your head is spinning round.
You should laugh, you should dance
When they put me in the ground.

You should laugh, you should dance
Till your head is spinning round.
You should laugh, you should dance
When they put me in the ground.

Imagine if Terry Jacks recorded those words.

And do you know the real kicker? Even the Kingston Trio, recording it 11 years before Terry Jacks' version, had a version that was closer to the spirit of the original than Terry Jacks' version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLfRtK0oxYE

Granted, it does use the same diabetic translation Terry Jacks did, but at least they didn't write their own crappy verse for the wife like Terry Jacks did.