The Last Farewell
Encyclopedia
"The Last Farewell" is the title of a song from 1971 by the British-Kenyan folk
singer Roger Whittaker
. Whittaker hosted a radio programme in Great Britain
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 (not to be confused with the footballer named Ron Webster
, who played for Derby County F.C.
), sent Whittaker his poem titled "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's one of the fewer than thirty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.
for a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia
was traveling in Canada and heard Whittaker's recording on the radio. When she returned to the United States, she asked her husband to play it on the station. After he played the song a few times, listeners began calling the station to find out more about the song and singer, and soon thereafter "The Last Farewell" was on its way onto the charts. The single
reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, peaking at #19 in June 1975. It also went to #1 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart
. The response in America led the single to achieve success in other parts of the world, including in Great Britain
, where it reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart
. It also went to #1 in 11 other countries and sold an estimated 11 million copies worldwide, making it by far Whittaker's best-known song around the world.
The opening of "The Last Farewell" features a French horn solo that was arranged by Lawrence on the initial airing of the radio programme. Whittaker has stated that he feels much of the song's appeal comes from the classical-sounding nature of this instrumental arrangement at the beginning of the song.
For a time in the late 1970s up until about 1980, WGN-TV
used that introductory fanfare as the music over its broadcast logo at each half-hour.
by many artists. In 1976, Elvis Presley
included "The Last Farewell" on his album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
. This version was released as a posthumous single in the UK in 1984, where it reached #48 in December.
Also reaching the UK pop charts with a version of "The Last Farewell" was the Marine Band of HMS Ark Royal
, just before the aircraft carrier
was decommissioned by the Royal Navy
in December 1978. It topped out at #46 in early 1979.
Guitar legend Chet Atkins
recorded an instrumental version on his 1986 album, Street Dreams
.
Swedish sports club AIK have adopted the music of "The Last Farewell" together with alternate lyrics as their official anthem.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of over 55 million. His music can be described as easy listening. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability...
. Whittaker hosted a radio programme in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
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
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England (not to be confused with the footballer named Ron Webster
Ron Webster
Ron Webster is an English former association football player, who spent nearly all his career playing for his local team Derby County. Webster played at right back. Webster was always a fans' favourite because of his hard tackles and effort. Seth Johnson, a recent ex-Derby player was compared to...
, who played for Derby County F.C.
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
), sent Whittaker his poem titled "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
New World In The Morning
New World in the Morning is a studio album by Roger Whittaker released in 1971. It featured some of his most popular songs including "The Last Farewell", "A Special Kind of Man", the title track "New World in the Morning" and "Streets of London".-History:...
(A Special Kind of Man in the US and Canada). Although the song failed to reach the music charts then, it's one of the fewer than thirty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.
Popularity
According to Whittaker, in 1975 the wife of a program directorProgram director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
was traveling in Canada and heard Whittaker's recording on the radio. When she returned to the United States, she asked her husband to play it on the station. After he played the song a few times, listeners began calling the station to find out more about the song and singer, and soon thereafter "The Last Farewell" was on its way onto the charts. The single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, peaking at #19 in June 1975. It also went to #1 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
. The response in America led the single to achieve success in other parts of the world, including in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, where it reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It also went to #1 in 11 other countries and sold an estimated 11 million copies worldwide, making it by far Whittaker's best-known song around the world.
The opening of "The Last Farewell" features a French horn solo that was arranged by Lawrence on the initial airing of the radio programme. Whittaker has stated that he feels much of the song's appeal comes from the classical-sounding nature of this instrumental arrangement at the beginning of the song.
For a time in the late 1970s up until about 1980, WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
used that introductory fanfare as the music over its broadcast logo at each half-hour.
Cover versions
The song has since been coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by many artists. In 1976, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
included "The Last Farewell" on his album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee is an album by Elvis Presley, released in 1976 on RCA Records. It is often mistaken that this is a concert recording as the album states the songs were "recorded live". While this is true, the songs were recorded live in the recording studio at a...
. This version was released as a posthumous single in the UK in 1984, where it reached #48 in December.
Also reaching the UK pop charts with a version of "The Last Farewell" was the Marine Band of HMS Ark Royal
HMS Ark Royal (R09)
HMS Ark Royal was an Audacious-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and, when she was decommissioned in 1978, was the Royal Navy's last remaining conventional catapult and arrested-landing aircraft carrier...
, just before the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
was decommissioned by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in December 1978. It topped out at #46 in early 1979.
Guitar legend Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
recorded an instrumental version on his 1986 album, Street Dreams
Street Dreams (Chet Atkins album)
Street Dreams is an album by Chet Atkins on the Columbia label.Having previously recorded some of Darryl Dybka's compositions, Atkins asked Dybka to help create a jazzier musical direction...
.
Swedish sports club AIK have adopted the music of "The Last Farewell" together with alternate lyrics as their official anthem.