If You Go Away

(Ne me quitte pas)





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 will sail the sun we will ride on the rain

We will talk to the trees and worship the wind

Then if you go I'll understand leave me just

Enough love to fill up my mind

If you go away - if you go away - if you go away



If you go away as I know you will

You must tell the world to stop turning till

You return again if you ever do

For what good is love without loving you

Can I tell you now as you turn to go

I'll be dying slowly till the next hello

If you go away - if you go away - if you go away

But if you stay I' ll make you a night

Like no night has beenor will be again

I' ll sail on your smile I' ll ride on your touch

I' ll talk to your eyes that I love so much

But if you go go I won' t cry though the

Good is gone from the word goodbye

If you go away - if you go away - if you go away



If you go away as I know you must

There will be noyhing left in the 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 shadow if I thought

It might have kept me by your side

If you go away

Please don' t go away

Please don't go away



(J. Brel R. McKuen)