The Last Song (Elton John song)
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| "The Last Song" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK 7-inch cover | ||||
| Single by Elton John | ||||
| from the album The One | ||||
| B-side | "The Man Who Never Died" (remix) | |||
| Released | October 1992 | |||
| Length | 3:21 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
| Elton John singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Last Song" on YouTube | ||||
"The Last Song" is a song by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, released in October 1992 by Rocket and MCA Records as the third single from John's twenty-third studio album, The One (1992). The song marked the first of John's American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. It reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 21 in the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 40 in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States.
The song tells the story of a boy dying of AIDS who is rejected by his father because of his homosexuality. The dying son meets his father and confesses his illness to him.
John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, faxed the lyrics to him in Paris, shortly after Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury had died the previous year. He said: "I was crying all the time as I wrote the music", John told The Advocate, "and it was very hard for me to sing it". Taupin went on to explain:
"We didn't go for the obvious. I tried to do something lyrically that would thaw the intolerance of not understanding. That's why I used the idea of a father coming to terms with his son's status in life and his sexuality, but unfortunately understanding too late. If you can melt a little intolerance along the way, I'm happy with that."[1]
Originally titled "Song for 1992", it was renamed for its position on the album to avoid dating it.[2]
Music video
A music video, directed by American director Gus Van Sant, was made for the song, but he was not the first director considered; David Hockney and Madonna had previously declined the offer. It features a father reconciling with his son, who is dying from AIDS, interspersed with footage of John performing the song.
Personnel
- Elton John – piano, vocals
- Guy Babylon – keyboards
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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