Warning. Listen at own risk No. 13

Rod McKuen

“Hey, babe, check this out.” That’s my husband. He is sitting at the kitchen table, reading the questions on his Red Hand Files. It always puts him in a good mood. It makes him happy and, kind of, hopeful.

“What?”

“There is a person called Naomi from Glasgow who is making a suggestion for a song on your Stuff Page.”

I’m sitting here too, trying to write my Stuff Page. My Stuff Page makes me happy and hopeful, too.

“Naomi from Glasgow says, “On the wonderful Vampire’s Wife Stuff Page you sometimes suggest a Song of Devastation. What makes a Song of Devastation?” My husband looks at me. “What do you think makes a Song of Devastation?”

“Well, I think a Song of Devastation is a song that shows that even in the depths of despair, there is beauty, and where there is beauty, there is hope, and where there is hope, there is a reason to carry on. So to me, a Song of Devastation always has within it that portion of hope.” 

“She recommends Rod McKuen’s “If You Go Away”. He wrote it with Jacques Brel. Shall we put that up?”

“Sure. That’s a sad one, all right. Whispered tears. I like that Naomi likes the Stuff Page. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone reads it. I don’t know why I do it. I just feel a kind of commitment to it.”

“Well, I read it. It provides that portion of hope.”

If You Go Away

If you go away on this summer day
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in a 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 nightbird's song
If you go away
Ne me quitte pas
If you go away
Ne me quitte pas

But if you stay I'll make you a day like no day has been or will be again
We'll sail on 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
Ne me quitte pas
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 'til your next hello
Ne me quitte pas
If you go away
If you go away

But if you stay I'll make you a night like no night has been or 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
Then if you go I'll understand
Leave me just enough love to hold up my hand
If you go away
If you go away
Ne me quitte pas
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 I thought it'd have kept me by your side
If you go away
Ne me quitte pas
If you go away

Please, don't go away

Written by Jacques Brel and Rod McKuen