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The Last Farewell oDDBall
by   DaoDDBall
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Whitaker’s “The Last Farewell” is a poignant ballad that tells the story of a sailor bidding farewell to his lover before embarking on a long and possibly perilous journey at sea. The song captures the emotions of departure, longing, and the bittersweet nature of love when faced with separation. It reflects themes of yearning, hope, and resignation to fate, as the sailor expresses both his love for the person he is leaving behind and his uncertainty about returning.

The background to "The Last Farewell" has an interesting origin. It was written in 1971 by British folk singer Roger Whittaker and co-written with Ron A. Webster, a silversmith who had submitted the lyrics in a poetry contest. At the time, Whittaker was a popular singer and performer with a history of releasing folk and easy-listening music. He came across Webster's poem and found it captivating, which inspired him to set the words to music.

Initially, the song didn’t gain much attention, but in 1975, a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, started playing it, leading to its widespread popularity in the United States and later around the world. Its universal themes of love, loss, and longing resonated with audiences, making it one of Whittaker’s most famous and enduring songs.

The nautical imagery and evocative lyrics, combined with Whittaker's rich baritone voice, contribute to its timeless appeal, often evoking a sense of nostalgia and deep emotion in listeners.
Released: 11-Oct-2024
Category: Folk
Application: GarageBand
File type: mp3
File size: 6.8 Mb
Plays: 3
Downloads: 0
Weekly plays: 3
Weekly downloads: 0
License: Non-commercial derivatives allowed; contact artist for permission
Lyrics
There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor
Tomorrow for old England she sails
Far away from your land of endless sunshine
To my land full of rainy skies and gales
And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell

For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell

I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing
And the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising
Their guns on fire as we sail into Hell
I have no fear of death, it brings no sorrow
But how bitter will be this last farewell

For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
For you are beautiful, and I have loved you dearly
More dearly than the spoken word can tell

Though death and darkness gather all about me
And my ship be torn apart upon the seas
I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands
And the heaving waves that brought me once to thee
And should I return safe home again to England
I shall watch the English mist roll through the dale
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Comments
DaoDDBall
artist
I've just overcome a cold and I really wanted to sneeze mid performance. Really. Here is the video https://rumble.com/v5i9j4d-the-last-farewell-oddball.html
4 days ago
yoslounge
artist
Another gem well explained 
😊🙏🏻🙌🏼
3 days ago
DaoDDBall
artist
Glad to hear from you @yoslounge
3 days ago
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