Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Another Day In Paradise
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?'
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying
Oh think twice
Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh Lord, there must be something you can say
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
Cause she didn't fit in there
Oh think twice
The song "Another Day in Paradise" by James Last & Richard Clayderman is a poignant commentary on the issue of homelessness. The song recounts the story of a homeless woman who asks for help from a stranger on the street, but is ignored and dismissed as though she's invisible. The first verse describes her initial plea for help, asking the man if he can provide her with a place to sleep. However, the man shows callous indifference and walks on without even glancing in her direction. The second verse continues with her appeal, indicating that she's been walking so long that her feet are blistered and she can barely stand. Despite her condition, the man remains unresponsive and uncaring as he carries on with his life.
The chorus serves as a call to action, urging listeners to think twice before turning a blind eye to the plight of those who are suffering. The line "oh think twice, it's just another day for you, you and me in paradise" underscores the contrast between the fortunate and the disadvantaged. While some people may take their blessings for granted, there are others who struggle to survive every day. The song emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion, encouraging people to do what they can to help others.
Line by Line Meaning
She calls out to the man on the street
The woman pleads for help from the passers-by.
'Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?'
The woman asks for shelter and assistance, as she's left out in the cold with no place to stay.
He walks on, doesn't look back
The man ignores the woman's request and keeps walking away.
He pretends he can't hear her
The man feigns deafness to avoid helping the woman in need.
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
The man tries to distract himself by whistling, perhaps to avoid the guilt of denying help.
Seems embarrassed to be there
The man feels ashamed for being in the same place as the homeless woman, instead of empathizing with and helping her.
Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
The lyrics suggest that while we live a comfortable life, there are many others who struggle and people should consider their privilege before ignoring someone in need.
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise
The singer repeats the chorus, reminding the listener that the hardships the homeless woman faces are a recurring occurrence for many individuals.
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
The woman approaches the man who abandoned her and appeals to him again. Her red-eyes and tears reveal the distress she's facing.
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying
Her worn-out shoes are causing sores on her feet, making it difficult to walk, but still, she's attempting to find a way to survive.
Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh Lord, there must be something you can say
The song pleads to a higher power, wondering if there's any more anyone can do for the homeless woman, and if there's any message to be given in such a situation.
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
Cause she didn't fit in there
The woman's face conveys the tales of her experiences; she has probably gone through such hardship and abandonment multiple places, suggested by the term 'moved on.'
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind