The Last Farewell

Roger Whittaker

About The Last Farewell

"The Last Farewell" is a song from 1971 by the British folk singer Roger Whittaker. Whittaker hosted a radio programme in The United Kingdom in 1971, backed by a full orchestra with arrangements by Zack Lawrence. Whittaker is quoted as saying that "one of the ideas I had was to invite listeners to send their poems or lyrics to me and I would make songs out of them. We got a million replies, and I did one each week for 26 weeks."Ron A. Webster, a silversmith from Birmingham, England, sent Whittaker his poem entitled "The Last Farewell", and this became one of the selections to appear on the radio programme. It was subsequently recorded and featured on Whittaker's 1971 album New World in the Morning (A Special Kind of Man in the US and Canada). Although the song failed to reach the music charts then, it is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide. 


3:58
373 
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

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

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Roger Whittaker

Roger Whittaker (born 22 March 1936) is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician. His music can be described as easy listening or perhaps best as ballads. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability. American audiences are most familiar with his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell," the latter of which is his only single to hit the Billboard Hot 100 (it made the Top 20) and also hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. more »

3 fans

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.
Songwriter Credit
While 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.
Inception of the Song
Ron 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.
Release Date
"The Last Farewell" was first released in the UK in 1971, appearing on Whittaker's album 'New World in the Morning.'
Global Success
Upon 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.
Commercial Success
Due 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.
Whittaker's Identity
"The Last Farewell" is arguably Roger Whittaker's most popular and identifiable song, effectively shaping his identity as an artist.
TV Show Influence
Interestingly, the song was used as the theme for a 1970s British television show named 'The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.'
Cover Versions
Over 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.'
Influential Track
The 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.
Popular Amongst Soldiers
The song was often used as the closing tune for the American Forces Vietnam Network during the Vietnam War.

Discuss the The Last Farewell Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Last Farewell Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/675960/Roger+Whittaker/The+Last+Farewell>.

    Missing lyrics by Roger Whittaker?

    Know any other songs by Roger Whittaker? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    The Last Farewell

    10.5M
    46,801     1,927

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1975

    Billboard #19


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which band sings the song "Trust Fund Baby"?
    A BTS
    B One Direction
    C Why Don't We
    D AC/DC

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Roger Whittaker tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!