Tonight’s song began in French, as one of the saddest love songs ever written, by the Belgian singer Jacques Brel.
Learn from Songs · Unit 9a: Zero and first conditionals · B1
If You Go Away
A famous French song in English, built on a contrast: the first conditional for offers, promises and consequences (If you go away, everything will be empty; if you stay, I’ll…), unless, in case, and present tenses after if and when, with Philo, and his old teacher who is leaving for Rhodes.
SOPHIA
PHILO
And in English?
SOPHIA
In English, it became a song built on two conditions: if you go away, and if you stay. Two completely different futures.
MARCOS
Sinatra again! My grandfather’s favourite.
Before you listen: the song
Brussels and Paris, 1959; Los Angeles, 1966–1969
In 1959, the Belgian singer Jacques Brel wrote “Ne me quitte pas” (“Don’t leave me”), a desperate plea to a lover who is leaving. It became one of the most famous songs in the French language.
In 1966, the American poet and songwriter Rod McKuen wrote English words for it, not a translation but a new song: “If You Go Away”. It has been sung by Frank Sinatra (on his 1969 album My Way), Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey and many others. Part of the melody comes from classical music by Franz Liszt.
In the song, the singer describes two futures. If the person goes away, the world will be empty and grey. But if they stay, he will make every day special for them. And yet he knows they will go.
Two futures, one decision.
Listen: two futures
PHILO
Listen once. Which parts describe what will happen if the person goes? If they stay?
SOPHIA
Then listen for if. Does he think they will stay? Answer Section A.
🍂 Listen to the song: “If You Go Away” (Jacques Brel, English words by Rod McKuen, 1966), sung by Frank Sinatra (1969).Listen to the official recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “If You Go Away”, Frank Sinatra.Read the lyrics →
First conditional: two futures
DEMETRIA
If you go away, the library will be empty. If you stay, I’ll make you head copyist.
SOPHIA
Two first conditionals side by side show two possible futures. If + present simple, will + verb. Notice that the if-clause can come first (with a comma) or second (without): I’ll miss you if you go.
Offers, promises and consequences
MARCOS
If you stay, I’ll cook for you every day! If you leave, you’ll regret it!
SOPHIA
The first conditional is perfect for persuading: an offer (If you stay, I’ll pay you more), a promise (If you go, I’ll write every week), or a consequence (If you go, everything will change).
Unless and in case
PHILO
He won’t stay unless his daughter agrees. Take this scroll in case you get bored.
SOPHIA
unless = if not. in case = as a precaution, because something might happen: Take an umbrella in case it rains. (Compare: Take an umbrella if it rains = only when it rains.)
Sophia’s comparison: Dido and Aeneas
SOPHIA
In Virgil’s poem, Queen Dido begs Aeneas not to leave Carthage. If you stay, she says, everything I have is yours. But Aeneas has a destiny: he must sail to Italy.
PHILO
And Ruth, again: Naomi told her to go home, and Ruth refused. Where you go, I will go.
DEMETRIA
So some people stay, and some people must go. The song is about loving them either way.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If + present, will + verb | two possible futures | If you go away, I’ll be alone. |
| offers / promises / consequences | persuading with the first conditional | If you stay, I’ll help you. |
| unless | if not | He won’t stay unless she agrees. |
| in case | as a precaution | Take this in case you get bored. |
| if-clause first or second | punctuation | If you go, I’ll cry. / I’ll cry if you go. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. Where does the song come from?
2. What are the two futures in the song?
3. What will happen if the person goes away?
4. What does the singer promise if they stay?
5. Does he think the person will stay?
6. Who wrote the English words?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. If you away, the library will be empty. (go)
8. If you stay, I make you head copyist.
9. He won’t stay his daughter agrees. (if not)
10. Take an umbrella in it rains.
11. I’ll miss you you go.
12. If he doesn’t leave now, he’ll it. (feel sorry later)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “If you will stay, I’ll be happy.”
14. “Take a coat in case it gets cold.”
15. “I’ll go unless you don’t want me to.”
16. “If you leave, I’ll write to you every week.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Persuade me! In pairs: one wants to leave (the team, the city, the class); the other persuades them to stay with offers and promises: If you stay, I’ll…
Discuss. 1. Is it right to try to stop someone from leaving? 2. Which do you prefer, the French original or the English version? 3. Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you didn’t want to leave?
Write (100–120 words). Two futures. Write about a decision you have to make. Describe what will happen if you do it, and what will happen if you don’t.
Now play the gamebook: Philo and his old teacher Theodotos.Play the gamebook →