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I have posted the lyrics to "Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux" which is a poem by Aragon set to music by Brassens. It is so sad, especially when sung, he had to write another song to the same melody, a prayer of thanks to the Virgin Mary, I guess, to balance the darkness.
Appropriate for Easter week is the first image, 'When he (Man) believes he opens his arms, his shadow is that of a cross." ( when he's generous and open , he gets crucified.)

That all sounds good, but if we stay with Jacques Brel,
I believe he really has written the saddest songs that exist.
My personal vote on the saddest one would be
"La chanson des vieux amands",
a song telling of old lovers who during their long relationship
have left each other a hundred times, taken lovers and so on, but still
he (the singer)refers to her as" his sweet, his gentle, his best love".
The song ends with the statement that it takes them a lot of talent
to be old without being grown up.

Un bel di (one fine day)

from Madama Butterfly

L

On the night of the 9/11 I was deep in the heart of rural France searching for an English station on the car radio in order to get a clear picture of what was going on. Through the crackle and hiss I heard Georgia Lee by Tom Waits. It's about a girl who was murdered but it's chorus goes:

"Why wasn't God watching,
Why wasn't God listening,
Why wasn't God there,
For Georgia Lee"

I just cried. Guess context is all.

Thank you, Jonnie Falafel, for your description of your experience that day, those very few words, and your brief comment. That very small post of yours brought tears to my eyes. Context.

~ Lizzy

Lightning ~

Where did you post them?

post deleted

The loss of a child, and even moreso the premature loss of a child, is supposed to be a grief beyond compare. Yes, Nancy at age 21. The woman in the song you've quoted, of unknown age, but definitely young. Craig's poem also reminds us of the potential of "never having known," as well.

There is no happy love - translated

Nothing is ever acquired to man
Not his strengths, or his weaknesses, or his heart
And when he believes he is opening his arms
His shade is that of a cross
And when he believes to have gotten a grip on happiness
He crushes it
His life is an estranged and painful divorce

There is no happy love

His life, it resembles to these soldiers without weapons
That we equipped for another destiny.
What will be the use to rise in the morning
If they find themselves in the evening disarmed?
Say these words, my life, and hold back your tears.

There is no happy love.
My beautiful love,
my dear love, my tear.
I carry you within me like a wounded bird.
And they, without knowing, look at us passing
Repeating after me the words that I braided
And who, for your big eyes, all at once died

There is no happy love

Time to learn how to live?
It is already too late.
How our hearts cry in unison.
How much misfortune is necessary for a song.

How many regrets are necessary for a shiver.
How many sobs are necessary for an air strung by a guitar.

There is no happy love

There is no love without pain
there is no love that has not faded
Even your love for the land
There is no love that does not thrive on tears

There is no happy love
But it is our love

Old Shep always brings a lump to my throat as does Ebony Eyes and Seasons in the Sun

Hi Paula,

I thought 'Seasons in the Sun' went from Jacques Brel to Rod McKuen to Terry Jacks. There's more?

Linda.

Sorry, I re-read your post and I had mis-read it the first time. I think.

Linda.

One of the saddest songs: "Yesterday, when I was young", sung by Charles Aznavour (BTW: why are there so many French in the sad song category?)

This is sad........

Old and Wise - Alan Parsons Project

As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go

And oh... when I'm old and wise
Bitter words mean little to me
Autumn winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they asked me if I knew you
I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine
And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You've always shared my darkest hours
I'll miss you when I go

And oh... when I'm old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like autumn winds that will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that you were a frined of mine
As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

Kay from Montreal, thanks for the
English translation from someone whose French is better than mine. The part about the soldier is clearer to me now. Aragon used the word "désoeuvrés" (Idle, unemployed) and Brassens changed it to "desarmées", disarmed. I find this song more profoundly sad than the others because it deals with whole state of Man, not just a broken love affair. It compares man's life to a strange and painful divorce in land where there is no divorce. It's a remarkable song and I know nothing like it in English. Lizzytysh, I posted the lyrics on the first post of this thead. Kays English translation seems accurate.Linda, Seasons in the Sun was Brel's Le Moribond, a dying man says good bye to all he knows, including his unfaithful wife. It is much stronger and less sappy than Seasons in the Sun. Chanson des Vieux Amants is a most beautiful love song but it doesn't seem sad to me.