The Last Song

Album: No Pier Pressure (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This heartbreaking ballad details Brian Wilson's sadness about the Beach Boys' dissolution after Mike Love pulled the plug on the group's 2012 reunion tour. "It started out being about lost love," co-producer Joe Thomas told Rolling Stone. "But after the tour fell apart it became more about a missed opportunity for Brian and the guys to ride into the sunset together."
  • Session musician and producer Don Was played bass on the track, an experience that greatly moved him. "There's something about Brian signing off with it, saying, 'This is it, this is my last song.' It's really intense," he said. "If 'Last Song' turned out to be his last song, can you imagine? Wow. That'd be some coda."
  • Two versions were recorded - originally it was done with a haunting vocal by Lana Del Rey, but when Wilson asked the songstress to come back in to do more work, she had to decline due to scheduling issues. The version that appears on No Pier Pressure is with Wilson's lead vocals.
  • When Brian Wilson started singing, "If there was just another chance for me to sing to you… There's never enough time for the ones that you love," both Don Was and drummer Jim Keltner started crying. "We realized we were playing his coda," Was explained to Mojo magazine.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.