Songs about Death - Last songs
Only death
transforms life into destiny. André Malraux
Last songs are the songs people sing before leaving this world forever.
Usually, these songs are full of fear, tears, disappointment. There are,
however, other songs written by those who know what death and, therefore,
what life is, as people live and die in the same way. The music, video and
lyrics below demonstrate another approach to death different from the one
generally accepted in the traditional western culture.
To listen to the song, click » |
 |
To view the video, click » |
 |
|
To view the picture, click
»
|
 |
 |
“Seasons In The Sun”, as performed by Terry Jacks and
gaining popularity in 1974, is a liberal translation from French of
the “Le Moribond”
 song by Jacques Brel written by him in 1966. The
song is sung by a man bidding his final farewell to the world and
saying to his close ones the words he could not say when death was
still far off.
Next years saw many cover versions of the song. Here is one
played by
Nirvana
|
Terry Jacks - Seasons In
The Sun »
|
|
|
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend.
We've known each other since we're nine or ten.
Together we climbed hills and trees.
Learned of love and ABC's,
skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.
Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die,
when all the birds are singing in the sky,
Now that the spring is in the air.
Pretty girls are everywhere.
When you see them I'll be there.
We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.
But the hills that we climbed
were just seasons out of time.
Goodbye, Papa, please pray for me,
I was the black sheep of the family.
You tried to teach me right from wrong.
Too much wine and too much song,
wonder how I get along.
Goodbye, Papa, it's hard to die
when all the birds are singing in the sky,
Now that the spring is in the air.
Little children everywhere.
When you see them I'll be there.
We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.
But the wine and the song,
like the seasons, all have gone.
Goodbye, Michelle, my little one.
You gave me love and helped me find the sun.
And every time that I was down
you would always come around
and get my feet back on the ground.
Goodbye, Michelle, it's hard to die
when all the birds are singing in the sky,
Now that the spring is in the air.
With the flowers ev'rywhere.
I whish that we could both be there.
|
 |
|
 |
 |
“The Show Must Go On” is the last song on the last
studio album released while Freddie was alive – the album was
released in 1991, six weeks before he died. The video, which
appeared only after his death, features chronicles, concerts,
interviews and other videos produced over the last 10 years the band
played. The song is filled with death anticipation, but, on the
other hand, it is so full of life. Both, the song and the video are
brilliant.
|
Queen - The Show Must Go On »
|
|
|
Empty spaces
What are we living for?
Abandoned places
I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody know
what we are looking for?
Another hero
Another mindless crime
Behind the curtain
In the pantomime
Hold the line, does anybody know
what we are living for?
The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking,
but my smile still stays on
Whatever happens
I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache
Another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know
what we are living for?
I guess I'm learning
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning
round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
but inside, in the dark
I'm aching to be free
My soul is painted like the wings of
butterflies
Fairytales of yesterday
will grow but never die
I can fly, my friends
The show must go on (yeah)
The show must go on
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show
Ooh, I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
(On with the show)
|
 |
|
 |
 |
On 20 March 1991, Conor, the 4-year old son of
Eric Clapton, fell 53 floors to his death through the window
carelessly left open by the cleaner. After his son’s death, Eric’s
friends stayed with him day and night afraid to leave the singer
alone. After a long silence, “Tears in Heaven” appeared as a tribute
to little Conor.
|
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven »
|
|
|
Would you know
my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay
here in heaven.
Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please,
Begging please.
Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
|
 |
 |
 |
“The End Of The End” was written and performed by Paul
McCartney. Here is what the author says about how the song was
created: “I remember once an Irish woman wished me well by saying,
'I wish you a good death,' and I said, 'ay what?' I thought about it
later and actually it's a great thing to wish someone. I thought,
'Well, what would I like?' Jokes, a wake, music, rather than
everyone sitting around looking glum, saying, 'He was a great guy' -
though they can do a bit of that, too. So that led into the verse,
'On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told and stories of old
to be rolled out like carpets". |
Paul McCartney - The End Of
The End »
|
|
|
At the end of
the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And this wasn't bad
So a much better place
would have to be special
No need to be sad
On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening to stories of old
At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry.
On the day that I die I'd like bells to be rung
And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets
That lovers have played on
And laid on while listening to songs that were sung
At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry
No need to be sad
At the end of the end
|
 |
 |
 |
“The Art of Dying” was written by George Harrison who passed away
in 2001. Not only did he know what life is, but he mastered the Art of Dying
so rare in the contemporary art world. George understood that death is
simply continuation of the way and that our relationships with other people
(especially close ones) are caused by reasons rooted in our past lives:
“Friends are all souls that we’ve known in other lives. We’re drawn to each
other. That’s how I feel about friends. Even if I’ve only known them for a
day, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to wait till I’ve known them two
years, because anyway we have met somewhere before, you know”. |
George Harrison - The Art
of Dying »
|
|
|
There'll come a time when all
of us must leave here
Then nothing sister Mary can do
Will keep me here with you
As nothing in this life that I've been trying
Could equal or surpass the art of dying
Do you believe me?
There'll come a time when all your hopes are fading
When things that seemed so very plain
Become an awful pain
Searching for the truth among the lying
And answered when you've learned the art of dying
But you're still with me
But if you want it
Then you must find it
But when you have it
There'll be no need for it
There'll come a time when most of us return here
Brought back by our desire to be
A perfect entity
Living through a million years of crying
Until you've realized the Art of Dying
Do you believe me?
|
 |
 |
|
Suicide
