The introduction provides an autobiographical entrée into “Ne me quitte pas” and why the song’s story is important to tell. Smith credits this song—and more specifically Nina Simone’s single—with one of the reasons why she, a Black woman from a monolingual English-speaking family, studied French in the first place. The introduction highlights the song’s winding journey from its origin by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel to Simone's riveting cover, to Shirley Bassey's English rendition "If You Go Away," and to other adaptations, such as Sasha Velour’s drag performance. The introduction details how the book will analyze the different versions from various dimensions—language, sound, emotion, culture, gender, and race—to underscore the transformative power of songs.