Recorded 1991–1992 Length 3:21 (album version) | Genre Adult contemporary | |
B-side "The Man Who Never Died" (Remix) Released 6 October 1992 (US)
November 1992 (UK) Format CD, vinyl record (7"), audio cassette | ||
"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 song was used during a closing montage featuring people who had contracted AIDS at the end of the 1993 film And the Band Played On.
Gus Van Sant was not the first choice to direct the video. David Hockney and Madonna declined the offer.
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.