"If you go away"

Question

"If you go away" is a song in English based upon the French song "Ne me quitte pas", written by Jacques Brel.

Before asking my question I must admit it's a beautifully written song, which immediately caught my attention.

For those who don't know this song, I'll tell "Ne me quitte pas" in English means "Don't leave me".

There are a plenty of covers to both English and French versions throughout the world.

However, I have listened to those of Brenda Lee and Barbara Streisand.

There's a line that they sing differently.

Brenda sings: Oh, I'd have been the shadow of your shadow if I thought it might keep me by your sight.

Barbara sings: Oh, I would have been the shadow of your shadow if it might have kept me by your sight.

Are the two versions of singing this line grammatical?

I know this forum is dedicated to grammar, but if someone has truly something to say

about this song (about the style of writing, feelings, etc.), I'd be glad to listen. You can easily find the lyrics

of the song after searching for it on Google or Youtube.

Regards

Philip · Accepted Answer

Both are grammatically correct.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousI know this forum is dedicated to grammar, but if someone has truly something to say
about this song (about the style of writing, feelings, etc.), I'd be glad to listen.

I have heard a number of versions of this song. Tom Jones's is one of the best - and so is this Finnish version by the talented Anki Lindqvist.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

So, I understand you also like this song as I do. Do you think the English version (regardless of the singer) becomes

equal to the original French version by Jaques Brel? I went through the translation of the French song, and admittedly

the two versions are quite different in meaning. Have you noticed that? I'm quite sure you have.

Particularly, I love Brenda Lee's version. However, there are some "tough" sentences in the English version that are

not mentioned in the original one, such as "Though the good is gone from the word goodbye".

And as to my first question, I still find this sentence more grammatical: I'd have been the shadow of your shadow if I thought it might have kept me by your sight. I don't think it can be replaced with: "...it might keep me...".

What are you saying though?

Regards

Dimsumexpress · Answer

I love music myself, I mean real music like jazz, opo, RB and RR and so on. For this reason, I sometime too are wonder about the lyrics. I see it like this, Lyrics are written for the mass audience who either don't have or don't care about the graamatical aspect of the songs. As long as the meaning gets across and the public buys it is "grammatical" for the publisher. As for this particluar song as I remember it, its genre is pop rock. I don't think I have ever heard the Brenda Lee and Barbara S. version. But based on what you showed in your post, I think it is grammatical because it portrayed the yearning to be close to the person which may not have been fulfilled.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousAnd as to my first question, I still find this sentence more grammatical: I'd have been the shadow of your shadow if I thought it might have kept me by your sight. I don't think it can be replaced with: "...it might keep me...".
What are you saying though?

English is far from exact with regard to conditional sentences like this. The sequence of tenses is adhered to in both the English versions, and that is often enough. I think that of the two versions you offer, I would go for the Brenda Lee lyric.

I have four versions of the song in my collection: Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra and Anki Lindqvist. I don't think I have ever heard a French version.

CB

"If you go away"

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