The Last Song (Elton John song)

"The Last Song" is the second single from the 1992 album, "The One", recorded and released by Elton John. It was composed by John, with lyrics provided by Bernie Taupin. "The Last Song" marked the first of John's American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. Taupin faxed the lyrics to him in Paris, shortly after Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury had died the previous year. 'I was crying all the time as I wrote the music', John told "The Advocate", 'and it was very hard for me to sing it.' The song tells of an estranged father coming to terms with the sexuality of his gay son, who is dying of an AIDS-related illness. Originally titled "Song for 1992", it was renamed to avoid dating it.
"The Last Song" reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 21 in the United Kingdom, while peaking within the Top 40 in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. A music video, directed by Gus Van Sant, was made for the song, but he was not the first director considered; David Hockney and Madonna had previously declined the offer.
In popular culture.
"The Last Song" was used during a closing montage at the end of the 1993 film "And the Band Played On", which featured images of notable people who had contracted AIDS. It has also been mentioned numerous times on "The Howard Stern Show"; whose producer Gary Dell'Abate said that the song and music video reminded him of his brother, who died of AIDS around the time "The One" was released. When they first played the song on the air, Dell'Abate broke out in tears during the first verse.