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.
MacArthur Park
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took too long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
I still see the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees
And the birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will be another dream for me
Someone will bring it
I will drink the wine while it is warm
And never let you catch me looking at the sun
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
You'll still be the one
I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
I will have the things that I desire
And my passion flow like rivers and the sky
And after all the loves of my life
After all the love of my life
You still be the one
You keep wondering wanna know why
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
It took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
Oh, no
The song “MacArthur Park” by James Last is a poignant love song that tells the story of a couple’s memories and love as they recall their time spent together in a park called MacArthur. Spring, as a metaphor for time, is always one step ahead of them, and despite their passion and love, it inevitably slips away, causing memories to be lost forever. The idea of love being fleeting is emphasised through the lines “And I'll never have that recipe again,” and it is as if the cake and its recipe symbolise the memories and experiences that are unique to that particular couple.
Throughout the song, there are various images that portray the couple’s past experiences in the park, including descriptions of a yellow cotton dress, birds in one’s hands, and old men playing checkers by the trees. However, the central image in the song is the melting cake, which represents the loss of their memories and experiences together. It is ironic that the sweet, green icing of the cake is flowing down as it melts, just as the couple’s memories are slowly slipping away.
The song’s melancholic lyrics and the haunting melody resonate with many listeners, making it a classic love song. The way the lyrics paint vivid pictures of the couple’s tender moments in the park, combined with its soaring orchestra and driving rhythms, make it a timeless piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Spring was never waiting for us, girl
Love and life move fast and are always ahead of us
It ran one step ahead
Love and life are never stagnant, they keep on moving
As we followed in the dance
We try to catch up, and dance along with love and life
Between the parted pages and were pressed
Our love, like a book, is always under pressure, squeezed between the pages of life
In love's hot, fevered iron
Our love is intense and passionate
Like a striped pair of pants
Our love is unique and colorful
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
The love they shared is falling apart
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Their relationship is falling apart and things that were once sweet and vibrant are now dissolving away
Someone left the cake out in the rain
The relationship is ruined and there's no going back
I don't think that I can take it
The singer is heartbroken and can't handle the pain
Cause it took too long to bake it
The relationship was built up over time, and the loss is hard to accept
And I'll never have that recipe again
The special connection they shared can never be replicated
Oh, no!
Exclamation of sadness and despair
I still see the yellow cotton dress
The singer reminisces about a specific memory of his loved one
Foaming like a wave
The fabric of the dress moves like the ocean
On the ground around your knees
The dress is short, and falls around her knees
And the birds, like tender babies in your hands
She had birds in her hands, and he was struck by how gentle and nurturing she was
And the old men playing checkers by the trees
The setting was serene, with older men playing checkers calmly in the background
There will be another song for me
The singer is looking forward to a new chapter in his life, and more love songs
For I will sing it
He will express his new love in song
There will be another dream for me
He believes in a happy future, and new dreams to be fulfilled
Someone will bring it
His new love will help him realize his new dreams
I will drink the wine while it is warm
He will savor life's pleasures while he can
And never let you catch me looking at the sun
He will live life on his own terms, and not let anyone hold him back
And after all the loves of my life
The singer has experienced many loves
After all the loves of my life
Reiteration of the number of loves he has experienced
You'll still be the one
Despite having loved others, his previous love is still important and special to him
I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
He is taking control of his life and will live it to the fullest
I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
He will be in the spotlight, but is prepared to lose it as well
I will have the things that I desire
He will pursue his dreams and desires
And my passion flow like rivers and the sky
He will channel his passion into his art
You still be the one
Even though he is starting a new chapter in his life, his love from the past remains
You keep wondering wanna know why
He is keeping his past love alive through his music, and the listener wonders why it's so important to him
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN DROVER, JIMMY WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
castellanodrclaudio
Una tromba strepitosa, fantastica.
Derek Watkins è un Grande Artista raffinato, elegante, che sa trasmettere dalle sue note quelle "emozioni" che solo i Grandi artisti di livello internazionale sanno fare.
Eccellente l'esecuzione e l'interpretazione del brano proposto, che merita un Grande applauso a scena aperta.
Bravo, bravo veramente.
I miei complimenti.
c.castellano,italia
A fantastic, fantastic trumpet.
Derek Watkins is a refined, elegant, great artist who can convey from his notes those "emotions" that only the great international artists can do.
Excellent execution and interpretation of the proposed song, which deserves a big applause to open scene.
Bravo, really good.
My compliments.
c.castellano, Italy
Wayne Andrus
Derek Watkins was a world class artist - unparalled!
So truly musical . This is the best version of this tune!
SadAnorak
Fantastic rendition. Love the scene back to nature.... cannot be bettered. Rest In Peace Derek xx
Tom McClurg
Nobody does it better than Derek! RIP Derek.
Gregory Browning
Great sound !!! RIP Derek.
Hermes Campos
Magnífico trompetista, extraordinarios arreglos del Maestro James Last, hermoso tema. Toda la pieza es una maravilla.
Fränki Kawa
Für mich einer der besten Trompeter der Welt, Ruhe in Frieden Derek. Ein Ton, eine Technik unglaublich.
MacArthur Park
One of the best trumpet players in the world for me, rest in peace Derek. One tone, one technique unbelievable.
John Carrick
Derek what a talented man. Love his music.
Clifford Dalton
beautiful rendition, thank you Derek :)
RIP:
Ricardo Nofoente
Simplemente o melhor!!! Derek The Best !!!