The Last Waltz (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Last Waltz" is a song written by Barry Mason
and Les Reed
. It was one of Engelbert Humperdinck
's biggest hits, spending five weeks at number one on the British charts in September and October 1967. Humperdinck had already had a number one in the UK earlier in the year with "Release Me
" which had spent six weeks at the top.
In the United States, "The Last Waltz" reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart and making the top ten of the easy listening
chart.
The title of the song is something of a double entendre
, as it refers to both the narrator's first and last dances with the woman he loves - the first dance was the "last waltz" played at the party where the two met, and the final dance signified the end of their relationship after their romance had cooled.
French language
versions, titled "La Derniere Valse", were released by Mireille Mathieu
and Petula Clark
in 1967. Mireille Mathieu's version spent three weeks at number one in the French pop charts, and also was a hit in Britain, reaching #26. Petula Clark's version entered the French charts in February 1968 and reached number two but did not chart in the UK. It is also included on her album, The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener
(1968)
The song is associated with English football clubs Peterborough United F.C.
and Gillingham
.
Barry Mason
John Barry Mason is an English songwriter, originally from the village of Coppull, near Chorley in Lancashire....
and Les Reed
Les Reed
Les Reed O.B.E. is an English songwriter, musician and light orchestra leader.-Career:...
. It was one of Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
's biggest hits, spending five weeks at number one on the British charts in September and October 1967. Humperdinck had already had a number one in the UK earlier in the year with "Release Me
Release Me (1946 song)
"Release Me" is a popular song written by Eddie Miller, Robert Yount, and James Pebworth , published in 1946.Miller wrote the song in 1946 but could not get anyone to record it for years, so he recorded it himself in 1953. Shortly afterward it was covered by Jimmy Heap, and with even better success...
" which had spent six weeks at the top.
In the United States, "The Last Waltz" reached number 25 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 and making the top ten of the easy listening
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...
chart.
The title of the song is something of a double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, as it refers to both the narrator's first and last dances with the woman he loves - the first dance was the "last waltz" played at the party where the two met, and the final dance signified the end of their relationship after their romance had cooled.
French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
versions, titled "La Derniere Valse", were released by Mireille Mathieu
Mireille Mathieu
Mireille Mathieu is a French chanteuse, and pop singer. Hailed in the French press as the successor to Édith Piaf, she has achieved great commercial success, recording over 1200 songs in nine different languages, with more than 120 million records sold worldwide.-Childhood to early...
and Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
in 1967. Mireille Mathieu's version spent three weeks at number one in the French pop charts, and also was a hit in Britain, reaching #26. Petula Clark's version entered the French charts in February 1968 and reached number two but did not chart in the UK. It is also included on her album, The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener
The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (album)
The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener is the ninth album released by Petula Clark in the United States. It entered the Billboard 200 on February 17, 1968 and remained on the charts for 23 weeks, peaking at #93. It fared better in the United Kingdom, where it reached #37...
(1968)
The song is associated with English football clubs Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 1 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Top 40 | 3 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 6 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 9 |
| German Singles Chart | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |