The Last Farewell
Roger Whittaker
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There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor Tomorrow for old England she sails Far away from your land of endless sunshine To my land full of rainy skies and gales And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing And the taste of war I know so very well Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising Their guns on fire as we sail into hell I have no fear of death, it brings no sorrow But how bitter will be this last farewell For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell Though death and darkness gather all about me My ship be torn apart upon the seas I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands And the heaving waves that brought me once to thee And should I return home safe again to England I shall watch the English mist roll through the dale For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly More dearly than the spoken word can tell
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Written by: ROGER WHITTAKER, RONALD ARTHUR WEBSTER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Genre Classification"The Last Farewell" is a folk song that also has elements of pop music, showcasing Roger Whittaker's versatile music style.
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Songwriter CreditWhile Roger Whittaker is famously known for performing the song, it was actually co-written by him and Ron A. Webster, a silversmith from Birmingham, England.
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Inception of the SongRon Webster reportedly wrote the song while he was in the midst of a lawsuit, taking his inspiration from his experience during the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.
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Release Date"The Last Farewell" was first released in the UK in 1971, appearing on Whittaker's album 'New World in the Morning.'
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Global SuccessUpon its release in the United States in 1975, the song captured the nation and was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 19.
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Commercial SuccessDue to its popularity, "The Last Farewell" has been able to sell over 11 million copies worldwide making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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Whittaker's Identity"The Last Farewell" is arguably Roger Whittaker's most popular and identifiable song, effectively shaping his identity as an artist.
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TV Show InfluenceInterestingly, the song was used as the theme for a 1970s British television show named 'The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.'
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Cover VersionsOver the years, "The Last Farewell" has been covered by several artists, including Elvis Presley, who included a version of it on his album 'From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.'
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Influential TrackThe song is notable for its compelling melody and poignant lyrics, with lines like "For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly, More dearly than the spoken word can tell" resonating with millions of listeners worldwide.
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Popular Amongst SoldiersThe song was often used as the closing tune for the American Forces Vietnam Network during the Vietnam War.
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Citation
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"The Last Farewell Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/675960/Roger+Whittaker/The+Last+Farewell>.
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