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.
Walking In Space
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blinds pulled (blinds pulled)
Lights low (lights low)
Flames high (flames high)
My body (my body)
My body
My body
My body
Is walking in space
My soul is in orbit
With God face to face
Floating, flipping
Flying, tripping
Tripping from Pottsville to Mainline
Tripping from Mainline to Moonville
Tripping from Potsville to Starlight ["pot"sville]
Tripping from Starlight to Moonville
On a rocket to
The Fourth Dimension
Total self awareness
The intention
My mind is as clear as country air
I feel my flesh, all colors mesh
Red black
Blue brown
Yellow crimson
Green orange
Purple pink
Violet white
White white
White white
White white
All the clouds are cumuloft
Walking in space
Oh my God your skin is soft
I love your face
How dare they try to end this beauty?
How dare they try to end this beauty?
To keep us under foot
They bury us in soot
Pretending it's a chore
To ship us off to war
In this dive
We rediscover sensation
In this dive
We rediscover sensation
Walking in space
We find the purpose of peace
The beauty of life
You can no longer hide
Our eyes are open
Our eyes are open
Our eyes are open
Our eyes are open
Wide wide wide!
The lyrics to James Last's song "Walking In Space" portray a sense of escapism and liberation. The opening lines indicate a desire for privacy and seclusion, with locked doors, pulled blinds, and dimmed lights. The following repetition of "My body" suggests a heightened sense of self-awareness and detachment from the physical world. The repetition intensifies the feeling of detachment and serves as a mantra for the singer's journey.
The central theme of the song is the experience of walking in space. It metaphorically describes a transcendental state where the body is liberated, and the soul is in orbit, facing God. The lyrics evoke a sense of weightlessness and freedom as the singer floats, flips, flies, and trips from place to place. The journey takes the singer from earthbound locations like Pottsville and Mainline to celestial destinations like Starlight and Moonville.
The lyrics also touch upon the tension between beauty and oppression. The song questions the audaciousness of those who try to suppress or end beauty, laughing at their attempts to bury the singer and others under "soot" as if it were a trivial chore. The line "To ship us off to war" hints at the destructive nature of conflict and the injustices faced by humanity.
In the dive mentioned in the lyrics, the singer rediscovers sensation, suggesting a renewed sense of purpose and awareness. Walking in space becomes a metaphor for finding peace and understanding, unveiling the true beauty of life that had been previously hidden. The song concludes with the affirmation that their eyes are open wide, signifying a newfound clarity and enlightenment.
Overall, "Walking In Space" depicts a journey of self-discovery, escapism, and liberation from earthly burdens, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Doors locked (doors locked)
Securing ourselves, shutting out the world
Blinds pulled (blinds pulled)
Blocking out distractions and outside influences
Lights low (lights low)
Creating a calm and intimate environment
Flames high (flames high)
Igniting intense and passionate emotions
My body (my body)
The physical vessel that carries me
My body
My body
Emphasizing the connection between mind and body
My body
Is walking in space
My physical form is venturing into unknown realms
My soul is in orbit
With God face to face
My spiritual essence is in communion with a divine presence
Floating, flipping
Flying, tripping
Experiencing a range of unconventional movements and sensations
Tripping from Pottsville to Mainline
Embarking on a journey from one place to another
Tripping from Mainline to Moonville
Continuing the journey to a more distant location
Tripping from Potsville to Starlight
Traveling through realms and reaching for celestial realms
Tripping from Starlight to Moonville
Moving further into the unknown, transcending earthly limitations
On a rocket to
The Fourth Dimension
Exploring higher dimensions of consciousness and existence
Total self awareness
The intention
Achieving a complete understanding of oneself and setting an intention
My mind is as clear as country air
Having a deeply focused and unclouded mind
I feel my flesh, all colors mesh
Sensing the unity and interconnectedness of diverse human experiences
Red black
Blue brown
Yellow crimson
Green orange
Purple pink
Violet white
White white
White white
White white
Celebrating the richness and diversity of colors in life
All the clouds are cumuloft
The obstacles and challenges are like fluffy clouds, easily surpassed
Walking in space
Moving freely and with purpose in uncharted territories
Oh my God your skin is soft
Expressing admiration and affection towards someone
I love your face
Feeling an intense attraction and connection to someone's physical appearance
How dare they try to end this beauty?
Expressing outrage at anyone attempting to destroy or diminish something beautiful
To keep us under foot
They bury us in soot
Oppressive forces try to suppress and smother us with negativity
Pretending it's a chore
To ship us off to war
Masking their true intentions by acting as though they are fulfilling a necessary duty
In this dive
We rediscover sensation
In this immersive experience, we reconnect with our senses and feel deeply
Walking in space
We find the purpose of peace
By venturing into the unknown, we discover the true meaning of peace
The beauty of life
You can no longer hide
The profound and extraordinary aspects of existence can no longer be concealed
Our eyes are open
We are fully awakened and aware
Our eyes are open
We are fully awakened and aware
Our eyes are open
We are fully awakened and aware
Our eyes are open
We are fully awakened and aware
Wide wide wide!
We have an expanded perspective, broadened horizons
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind