Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers". He released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatra's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas, where he became one of its best known residency performers as part of The Rat Pack. His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours (1955), Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956), Come Fly with Me (1958), Only the Lonely (1958) and Nice 'n' Easy (1960).
Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label, Reprise Records, and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the retrospective September of My Years, starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, and released the tracks "Strangers in the Night" and "My Way". After releasing Sinatra at the Sands, recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim, the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was followed by 1968's collaboration with Duke Ellington. Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971, but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace, and reached success in 1980 with "New York, New York". Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998.
Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town (1949), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), and Pal Joey (1957), winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end of his career, he became associated with playing detectives, including the title character in Tony Rome (1967). Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s, and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, though before Kennedy's death Sinatra's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed.
While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had an impressive understanding of it, and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes". Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner. He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976. Sinatra had several violent confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After his death, American music critic Robert Christgau called him "the greatest singer of the 20th century", and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure.
Sinatra died with his wife at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 14, 1998, aged 82, after a heart attack. Sinatra had ill health during the last few years of his life, and was frequently hospitalized for heart and breathing problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia and bladder cancer. He was further diagnosed as having dementia. He had made no public appearances following a heart attack in February 1997. Sinatra's wife encouraged him to "fight" while attempts were made to stabilize him, and his final words were, "I'm losing." Sinatra's daughter, Tina, later wrote that she and her sister, Nancy, had not been notified of their father's final hospitalization, and it was her belief that "the omission was deliberate. Barbara would be the grieving widow alone at her husband's side." The night after Sinatra's death, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were turned blue, the lights at the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor, and the casinos stopped spinning for a minute.
Sinatra's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California, on May 20, 1998, with 400 mourners in attendance and thousands of fans outside. Gregory Peck, Tony Bennett, and Sinatra's son, Frank Jr., addressed the mourners, who included many notable people from film and entertainment. Sinatra was buried in a blue business suit with mementos from family members—cherry-flavored Life Savers, Tootsie Rolls, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, stuffed toys, a dog biscuit, and a roll of dimes that he always carried—next to his parents in section B-8 of Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.
His close friends Jilly Rizzo and Jimmy Van Heusen are buried nearby. The words "The Best Is Yet to Come", plus "Beloved Husband & Father" are imprinted on Sinatra's grave marker. Significant increases in recording sales worldwide were reported by Billboard in the month of his death.
The Last Dance
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've come to the last dance
They're dimming the lights down
They're hoping we'll go
It's obvious they're aware of us
The pair of us
Alone on the floor
Still I want to hold you like this forever and more
It's the last song
They're playing the last song
The orchestra's yawning
They're sleepy, I know
They're wondering just when will we leave
But till we leave, keep holding me tight
Through the last dance
Each beat of the last dance
Save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
They're wondering just when will we leave
But till we leave, keep holding me tight
Through the last dance
Each beat of the last dance
And save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
The lyrics of "The Last Dance" by Frank Sinatra are about a couple's final moments on the dance floor, as the night is ending and the lights are being dimmed. Although it is obvious that they should leave and the orchestra and other patrons are likely getting tired, the singer is still holding his partner close, not wanting the moment to end. The song encourages the listener to savor each beat of the final dance and to remember their partner in their dreams after the night has ended.
The song's theme of cherishing the moment is pertinent to many situations in life, not just romantic ones. The lyrics encourage the listener to slow down and appreciate the present, reminding us that some things are worth holding onto, even if only in memory. The melancholic melody underscores the bittersweet nature of the moment, as it is both beautiful and poignant.
Interestingly, "The Last Dance" was not written specifically for Frank Sinatra, but for the musical production "High Button Shoes" in 1947. Sinatra popularized the song when he recorded it in 1959, and it has since become a classic. The song has been covered by many artists, including Donna Summer, Michael Bublé, and Mark Knopfler.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the last dance
This is the final dance of the night
We've come to the last dance
We've arrived at the end of the dance event
They're dimming the lights down
The lights are being turned off gradually
They're hoping we'll go
The organizers want us to leave
It's obvious they're aware of us
The organizers have noticed us still on the dance floor
The pair of us
Just the two of us dancing
Alone on the floor
We are the only ones dancing at this point
Still I want to hold you like this forever and more
I want to hold on to you and dance with you forever
It's the last song
This is the final song of the night
They're playing the last song
The musicians are performing the last song
The orchestra's yawning
The band members are tired and bored
They're sleepy, I know
I'm aware that they're tired and want to go home
They're wondering just when will we leave
The organizers are curious about when we'll decide to leave
But till we leave, keep holding me tight
Let's keep dancing and holding onto each other until we're ready to go
Through the last dance
During this final dance
Each beat of the last dance
Every moment of this final dance
Save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
Think of me and the first dance of our next meeting in your dreams tonight
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Idrathernot.
It's the last dance, we've come to the last dance
They're dimming the lights down, they're hoping we'll go
It's obvious they're aware of us, the pair of us, alone on the floor
Still I want to hold you like this forever and more
It the last song, they're playing the last song
The orchestra's yawning, they're sleepy I know
They're wondering just when will we leave, but till we leave, keep holding me tight
Through the last dance, each beat of the last dance
Save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
[instrumental-strings and clarinet]
They're wondering just when will we leave, but till we leave, keep holding me tight
Through the last dance, each beat of the last dance
And save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
@joejazztrombone
Frank Sinatra is my favorite jazz vocalist. His talent his style the way he performed his charts was truly unique and beautiful filled with passion for his work. Few can come close to his style. There will only be one Frank Sinatra though.
@GoldenClays1
The Master's Voice may be at rest, but his songs are still among the best!
@beverlychenarides9076
Frank has been a large part of my life. Through the years I have memories of so many events I will neverf forget because of his voice. Finally got to see him in concert in his later years. Miss you, Frankie!
@RosalitaS1
One of my favorites from Frank Sinatra...love it !! Thanks for uploading !!
@rcw0815
Doesnt get any better... One of the all time greats
@johndoh8283
Had this song for the final song of my wedding reception. Still reminds me of how much I love my wife every time I hear it.
@jessieellen228
Reminds me of my late granddad, he would always sing this song to me when I was sad. He sadly passed away 3 months ago and I still feel like I can hear him singing this song to me from heaven. I know it sounds silly, oh well.
@daydaysalazar6018
wow.. that's really sad.. but beautiful at the same time :') He'll always live on through the memories
@ewerdherrera636
Your grandfather bless his soul sounds like he was great man
@hfletcher6472
There'll never be another like Frank , my life time favorite crooner , old blue eyes , the chairman of the board , we miss you Frank .