Last Rose Of Summer

Album: Sin After Sin (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • One of the most easygoing Judas Priest songs, "Last Rose Of Summer" is a love song set to the cycles of nature. After giving the last rose to his love, frontman Rob Halford sings, "Do not despair, mother nature simply rests."

    In a Songfacts interview with Halford, he explained: "The title, 'Last Rose of Summer,' it's just got a lot of attitude about it as far as making you think. If you say to somebody, 'the last rose of summer,' that's not only the changing of the seasons, but it could also be the changing of a relationship. It could be the completion of something. It's just got a multi-faceted opportunity, and I like it.

    It's also sweet because it talks about nature: 'Mother Nature simply rests' and all this kind of thing. I've always felt that song is very attractive because there haven't been that many lyrics that talk about Mother Nature."
  • This was written by Rob Halford and Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, who played a Fender Rhodes piano on the track.
  • Judas Priest had yet to develop their leather look and were still refining their twin-guitar sound (Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing) when this song was released on their third album, Sin After Sin. The only single from that album was a cover of the Joan Baez song "Diamonds & Rust."

Comments: 2

  • I Am The Singer Of All. from The Treasure Valley, Snake River Plain.Memories.
  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA very good and super cool soft rocking ballad that Judas Priest recorded back in 1977 and a perfect song for a slow dance.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.