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.
Condor Pasa
James Last Lyrics
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Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
Its saddest sound
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
The lyrics of James Last's song Condor Pasa are filled with comparisons between natural elements and human constructs. The refrain "I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail, yes I would if I could I surely would, I'd rather be a hammer than a nail, yes I would if I only could I surely would" is evocative of an inherent desire to be free and to have agency in one's life. The song then goes on to contrast the mobility and grace of animals with the constraints placed on humans, "away, I'd rather sail away, like a swan that's here and gone" juxtaposes the permanence of human structures with the transience of nature. The final verse, "I'd rather be a forest than a street, yes I would if I could, I surely would, I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet, yes I would if I only could, I surely would" expresses a longing for a connection to the earth and the natural world, suggesting that nature is far superior to the man-made world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
I prefer to be a faster and freer bird instead of a slower and confined creature like a snail
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I strongly desire to be the former instead of the latter
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
I prefer to be the person who makes an impact or influence rather than the one who is acted upon
Away, I'd rather sail away
I desire to escape and travel far from my current situation
Like a swan that's here and gone
Just like swans come and go, I want to be able to experience different things and not be tied down to one thing for too long
A man gets tied up to the ground
People can become stuck and trapped in their current circumstances
He gives the world its saddest sound
Their despairing cries are the world's most disheartening and melancholy sounds
Its saddest sound
The sorrowful or woeful sound associated with being tied down or being trapped
I'd rather be a forest than a street
I desire to be a lush green area with natural life and purpose, rather than a concrete and unnatural landscape
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
I desire to be connected with the earth and to possess the freedom to explore it intimately
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I strongly desire to be the former instead of the latter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: DANIEL ROBLES, JORGE MILCHBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miguel Augusto Chinchayan Sandoval
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