If You Go Away

Lyrics

If you go away on this summer day
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in the summer sky
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the night was long
And the moon stood still for the night bird's song
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away

But if you stay, I'll make you a day
Like no day has been, or will be again
We'll sail the sun, we'll ride on the rain
We'll talk to the trees and worship the wind
Then if you go, I'll understand
Leave me just enough love to fill up my hand
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away

If you go away, as I know you must
There'll be nothing left in this world to trust
Just an empty room full of empty space
Like the empty look I see on your face
I'd have been the shadow of your dog
If you thought it might keep me by your side
If you go away, if you go away, please don't go away

Credits

Original (Ne Me Quitte Pas) written by Jacques Brel
English translation by Rob McKuen

Album

None

Song

Madonna recorded her own version of 'If You Go Away' in 2003 for the musical Hello Suckers!, which never materialized. It's based on the classic 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' by Belgian singer Jacques Brel. The English version of this song has been covered by a wide range of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand. Madonna's demo version surfaced online in September 2010.