The Last Mile

Album: Long Cold Winter (1988)
Charted: 36
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This number reached #36 on the US chart, making it the band's fifth-best-selling single during their career. The group brought in producer Andy Johns for the album Long Cold Winter. On this song, you can hear the influence from his previous production work with bands Bad Company and Free.
  • In a Songfacts interview with Cinderella lead singer Tom Keifer, he mentions his fondness for The blues. There are various genres of blues, and what Keifer does with "The Last Mile" is lay out self-confessional lyrics in a Delta style while the band plays out a British blues sound as a foundation. The song plays out in parallel universes: Tom displays a brief measure of arpeggio picking in the intro, which seems to be a style he was processing at the time, as he does it with another cut from Long Cold Winter, "Coming Home."
  • The lyrics are a great example of Tom Keifer's struggles of being on the road and the weariness it entails. The time to think as the miles roll past sitting on the tour bus staring out the window into the faceless landscape. "Monkeys on my back I gotta find a better way." The indulgences that tempt to escape the pressures of staying on top. He struggles with what is reality and the challenge of the advise he receives from the folks of the Mississippi farmland, "they told me to take it day by day." The mantra of the blues.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."