Throwing back to the week of March 9, 1974, we find Terry Jacks atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Seasons in the Sun.’
This song was first written and recorded in 1961 by the Danish artist Jacques Brel as ‘Le Moribond’ (which means ‘The Dying Man’). The lyrics described a man’s final messages to his friends, a priest, and his wife — who was cheating on him with one of his friends. In 1964, the Kingston Trio recorded an English-language version, retitled ‘Seasons in the Sun.’
Canadian singer/songwriter/producer Terry Jacks was enlisted to produce the song for The Beach Boys, who ultimately decided not to record it. Instead, Jacks tweaked the lyrics into a tribute to a close friend dying of leukemia and recorded the song himself.
The result was a #1 hit in a host of countries, and Jacks’ only Top 40 song in the U.S. Though critics have dismissed the track as maudlin, a look at the touching comments posted on its YouTube page suggest many listeners find it quite meaningful.
A remixed version of ‘Seasons in the Sun’ was used to incredible effect in the John Wick: Chapter 4 trailer, one of the best promos I’ve seen in years.
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend
We’ve known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we’ve climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC’s
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I’ll be there
[Chorus 1]
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time
[Verse 2]
Goodbye Papa, please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye Papa, it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them, I’ll be there
[Chorus 2]
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all gone
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all gone
[Verse 3]
Goodbye Michelle, my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground
Goodbye Michelle, it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there
[Chorus 3]
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, have all gone
All our lives, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree the remix was great for the John Wick 4 preview. Almost made me want to see the movie….almost.🤪
what a coincidence that I am reading this while watching John Wick 4 really!
I can only think about the Nirvana version of this song.