Joe, I read the French lyrics you posted, and now I understand why you don't like the song. Brel's song is sardonic and funny, not at all sappy, like these lyrics or McKuen's translation. The difference is only a few lines. Where your version has "Car vu que t'etais son confidant, etc." in every verse, in Brel's song the lines change with each verse. I wish I could remember all the lyrics; I have a book of Brel's lyrics at home and will try to post them. I do remember that in the verse where the narrator is talking to his old friend, he lets him know he was aware that the friend was having an affair with the narrator's wife! The last verse, to his wife, ends, as best I can recall, "Mais je pars aux fleurs, les yeux fermes, ma femme/Car vu que je les ai ferme souvent/Je sais que tu prendras soin de mon ame." (Sorry, I don't know how to do accented letters.) It's a lot more interesting than Seasons in the Sun. I have a recording of it, and when Brel sings it, believe me, it's not sweet and sappy.
I think Mort Shuman was the only one who was really successful at translating Brel into English, and even he didn't hit a home run every time. But then again, who does?

Aloha,
Mark