The Last Song (Elton John song)


"The Last Song" is the second single from Elton John's 1992 album, The One. It was composed by John, with lyrics provided by Bernie Taupin. "The Last Song" marked the first of John's American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. Taupin faxed the lyrics to him in Paris, shortly after Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury died the previous year. "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". The song tells of an estranged father coming to terms with the sexuality of his gay son, who is dying of an AIDS-related illness. Originally titled "Song for 1992", it was renamed to avoid dating it.
"The Last Song" reached number seven in Canada and number 21 in the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 40 in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. 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 declined the offer.

Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Canada Top Singles 77
Canada Adult Contemporary 47

In popular culture

The 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.
The song has been mentioned numerous times on the Howard Stern Show. Show producer Gary Dell'Abate said that the song and music video reminds 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.