Seasons in the Sun 1973 Terry Jacks

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"Seasons in the Sun" is the English version of the 1961 song "Le Moribond" (The Dying Man) by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel, with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by poet and singer Rod McKuen.
The first version of the song was recorded by Brel, and it tells the story of a dying man bidding farewell to his loved ones. He first says goodbye to his friend Emile, followed by a priest, an acquaintance named Antoine, and finally his wife. Despite knowing that his wife had an affair with Antoine, he still asks Antoine to take care of her. Rod McKuen translated the song into English.

Jacks found McKuen’s original lyrics and their translations "too grim" and reworked them. The rewritten lyrics were inspired by his close friend Roger, who passed away from leukemia.
Jacks's version was dedicated to his friend and portrays a man, dying in the springtime, delivering his final words to the loved ones who shared his life. Unlike Brel's version, the man in Jacks's rendition does not die of a broken heart but peacefully reflects on the rights and wrongs of his life.
In the revised lyrics, the man first speaks to a childhood friend, reminiscing about the times they spent playing and studying together and the friendships they shared. Next, he speaks to his father, expressing gratitude for the effort to guide him and provide him with a good upbringing. Finally, he addresses a "little one" named "Michelle," recounting how she brought him solace during his darkest moments. At the end of each verse, he reassures the three individuals that he remains with them in spirit whenever they visit familiar places or encounter certain people.

According to Jacks, The Beach Boys invited him to be their producer during the Surf's Up album sessions. On July 1970, they attempted a version of "Seasons in the Sun," but the result was unsatisfactory, and the track was never completed.
In an interview, Mike Love later said, "We recorded a version of 'Seasons,' but it was so weak that we had to discard it. It just wasn’t the right song for us."

Jacks subsequently recorded his version as a single in Vancouver in 1973. His version entered the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1973 and peaked at number one on March, 1974 where it remained for three weeks. Billboard ranked the song as the second most popular of 1974.
In Canada, it topped the RPM chart on January 1974, and held the position for four weeks.

Modern critics have offered mixed opinions on the song, with some considering it overly sentimental. Jacks's version has been cited as one of the worst pop songs ever recorded and was ranked fifth in a 2006 CNN poll.