The Last Song (Elton John song)

"The Last Song" is a song by English musician Elton John, released as the third single from his 23rd studio album, The One (1992). It was composed by John, with lyrics provided by Bernie Taupin. 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 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	Rocket MCA
Songwriter(s)	Elton John Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Chris Thomas
Elton John singles chronology
"Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993)
Music video
"The Last Song" on YouTube

Background

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 to avoid dating it.^[2]

Music video

A music video, directed by 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’s dying from AIDS, interspersed with footage of John performing the song.

Personnel

• Elton John – piano, vocals
• Guy Babylon – keyboards

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[3] 32 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[4] 35 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[5] 7 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[6] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[7] 80 Germany (Official German Charts)^[8] 72 Ireland (IRMA)^[9] 28 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[10] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11] 38 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12] 27 UK Singles (OCC)^[13] 21 US Billboard Hot 100^[14] 23 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[15] 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[16] 26

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[17] 53 Chart (1993) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[18] 77 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[19] 47 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[20] 29

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 1992	Cassette	MCA
United Kingdom	26 October 1992	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Rocket	^[21]

In popular culture

"The Last Song" was used during a closing montage at the end of the 1993 film And the Band Played On, which featured images of notable people who had contracted AIDS. It has also been mentioned numerous times on The Howard Stern Show; whose producer Gary Dell'Abate said that the song and music video reminded him of his brother, who died of AIDS around the time The One was released. When they first played the song on the air, Dell'Abate broke out in tears during the first verse.^[22]

See also

• "Gone Too Soon", a song by Michael Jackson, dedicated to Ryan White.

References

1. Songfacts. "The Last Song by Elton John – Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
2. Bernardin, C. and Stanton, T. Rocket Man: The Encyclopedia of Elton John, pp 182–183, Greenwood Press, 1995
3. "Elton John – The Last Song". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
4. "Elton John – The Last Song" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1840." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1854." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 48. 28 November 1992. p. 27. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
8. "Elton John – The Last Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Last Song". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 48, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
11. "Elton John – The Last Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
12. "Elton John – The Last Song". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
14. "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
15. "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
16. "Elton John Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
17. "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
18. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
19. "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
20. "The Year in Music 1993" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. 25 December 1993. p. YE-46. (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
21. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 October 1992. p. 21.
22. Dell'Abate, Gary (31 May 2011). They Call Me Baba Booey, Spiegel & Grau. p 159. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved 2 October 2015.