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.
Leaving On A Jet Plane
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say
Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
The lyrics to "Leaving On A Jet Plane" express the difficulty of saying goodbye to a loved one before a departure on a long journey. The opening lines of the song reveal that the singer's bags are packed, and he's ready to go, meaning that he has already made the difficult decision to leave. He stands outside his lover's door, feeling melancholy about having to wake her up to say goodbye. The taxi's arrival only emphasizes the impending departure, and the feeling of loneliness that it brings.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to an apology for past indiscretions. The singer acknowledges the harm he has caused in the past but assures his lover that it doesn't mean a thing. He promises to always think of her wherever he goes, and dedicate all of his songs to her. He also promises to return with a wedding ring, suggesting that he is serious about their relationship.
The final verse of the song speaks to the singer's hope for the future. He asks his lover to close her eyes and dream of their future together when he won't have to leave alone. He ends the song by repeating the refrain, "Oh babe, I hate to go," emphasizing that saying goodbye is just as difficult as the decision to leave.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed
I've got everything in order, ready for my trip.
I'm ready to go
I'm eager to take off on this journey - even if it means leaving you behind.
I'm standin' here outside your door
I'm still close enough to you that I could change my mind, but I'm resolved to take this step.
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I know this is a hard moment, and I wish I didn't have to be the one to bring that sadness into your life.
But the dawn is breakin'
The world is moving forward, and it's time for me to do the same.
It's early morn
The day is just getting started, and I'm starting something new too.
The taxi's waitin'
My ride to the airport is ready for me. This trip is happening whether I'm emotionally prepared or not.
He's blowin' his horn
The sound of the taxi sends a signal to let me know that it's time for me to say goodbye.
Already I'm so lonesome / I could die
I'm already feeling the weight of this separation so deeply that it feels unbearable.
So kiss me and smile for me
Even if it's fake, please show me some affection before I leave.
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Give me some hope that this is just temporary and we'll reunite when I return.
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Savor this moment of physical intimacy because it will be a long time till we are together again.
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
The reality of this moment is that I'm embarking on this journey, and there's no turning back now.
Don't know when I'll be back again
I'm uncertain about when I'll be able to see you again, and it's eating me up inside.
Oh babe, I hate to go
I don't want to leave you because I love you, and it's hard to say goodbye.
There's so many times I've let you down
I've been a flawed partner in the past, and that's something that still haunts me as I'm leaving.
So many times I've played around
I've been unfaithful or disloyal to you at times, and that's something that still clouds our relationship.
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I'm saying now that those mistakes and betrayals didn't truly matter, but we both know that they will always hurt us.
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Even far from you, you'll be on my mind at all times.
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
Music is something that we both enjoy, and every song I hear will remind me of you.
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
I'm making a promise now that I'll return to you someday and solidify our commitment.
Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
I'm acutely aware of how hard it is to do this again; we've been in this situation before, and it's just as painful every time.
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I want one final moment of intimacy with you, one last chance to memorize your features and feel your warmth.
I'll be on my way
It's time for me to step into the unknown, to push myself on this journey. I wish I could stay with you, but life won't allow it.
Dream about the days to come
Both of us would rather look forward than behind right now, so we'll focus on the future and imagine a time when we're back together.
When I won't have to leave alone
Someday, hopefully soon, we'll be reunited in a way that doesn't require this kind of separation.
About the times, I won't have to say
Oh, kiss me and smile for me
We're both hoping for a time when we won't have to say goodbye like this - or at least not as often. For now, though, we have to deal with the reality in front of us.
Don't know when I'll be back again
The uncertainty around when I'll be back only heightens the emotions present in this moment.
Oh babe, I hate to go
I don't want to go, but I don't have a choice. I'll miss you, and I hope you'll miss me too.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Denver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind