I don't know why people in a hospice would want to hear a song that their spouses cheated on them but I guess I'll take that over the Terry Jacks version which replaced the sarcastic verse with some horrible drivel about Michelle helping him find the sun--whatever that's supposed to mean (it's the big shiny thing up there).

On top of that, I hate the melody. It's one of those that lodges itself in your mind like a parasite and doesn't leave despite (or maybe because of) your absolutely not wanting it there. The only place it belongs is on one of those "Worst Songs of All Time" lists of which it has made plenty. But, of course, it sold millions of copies. Why does the public buy this crap only to hate it later on? How could people not have the sense to hate it the first time they heard it?

Btw, Brel's version as translated by McKuen:

Good-bye, my wife, I loved you well
Good-bye, my wife, I loved you well, you know,
But I'm taking the train for the Good Lord,
I'm taking the train before yours
But you take whatever train you can;

Goodbye, my wife, I'm going to die,
It's hard to die in springtime, you know,
But I'm leaving for the flowers with my eyes closed, my wife,
Because I closed them so often,
I know you will take care of my soul.

Adieu, Francoise, my trusted wife, without you I'd have had a lonely life.
You cheated lots of times but then, I forgave you in the end though your lover was my friend.
Adieu, Francoise, it's hard to die when all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that spring is in the air
With your lovers ev'rywhere; just be careful, I'll be there.