"Seasons in the Sun" is the story of a dying man, bidding farewell to loved ones who have shared his life. Shortly before Terry's recording came out, Jacques Brel retired, at the peak of his popularity. Fans around the world were stunned, but the composer would give no reason. Finally, the truth was revealed. After a quiet, six-year battle against cancer, Brel succumbed to the disease and died, on October 9, 1978. The song was based on "Le moribond" (English: "The Dying Man"), written by Jacques Brel in 1961 and released on his fifth album titled 5. Brel's song was translated into English by poet Rod McKuen and this version was first recorded by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio, but it did not sell. The Beach Boys also recorded the song but it was never released.[1] Terry Jacks, who had participated in the Beach Boys recording, and who had in fact introduced the song to the group,[1] rewrote part of the lyrics to "lighten them up." Jacks' revisions tended to add a bit of ambiguity as to the nature of the storyteller's demise, allowing listeners the option to choose whether the death is by execution; from suicide over a failed life - quite possibly to escape drug addiction; or from natural causes. References to a cheating wife were also removed. A comparison is given below. Jacks' recording included a recurring, reverb-drenched guitar riff that many sources attribute to Link Wray. **All quoted from** http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/1983-seasons-sun-meaning-lyrics-question-canada/