James Last (Hans Last, * April 17, 1929 in Bremen, † June, 9, 2015 in Flori… Read Full Bio ↴James Last (Hans Last, * April 17, 1929 in Bremen, † June, 9, 2015 in Florida) was a German composer and big band leader with a large fan base in Europe and world-wide. Last's trademark was arranging pop hits in a big-band style; his series of "party albums" is equally well-known. Over the course of his career, he has sold well over 100 million albums.

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.

Waterloo
James Last Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My my
At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah
And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more

Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo

My my
I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger
Oh yeah
And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo

So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to

Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo

Overall Meaning

James Last's "Waterloo" is a song that is inspired by the historic Battle of Waterloo in 1815 where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by the British army led by the Duke of Wellington. The song portrays a personal relationship between two people where the singer has been defeated in love and has now realised that his destiny is to be with the person he loved. The lyrics of the song are symbolic of the battle and how the defeat of the singer in love is quite similar to the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.

In the first stanza, the singer compares his situation to that of Napoleon and how he has met his fate in love. The second stanza talks about how the singer tried to fight his feelings for his loved one but he couldn't hold back his love anymore. He finally admits that he has lost the fight but it feels like a victory because he can finally be with the one he loves. The chorus repeats this sentiment of defeat yet hope and promises to love the person forever.

Although the song may seem upbeat and cheerful, it is quite deep and portrays vulnerable emotions. The lyrics tell a story of defeat and acceptance, but at the same time, it gives a beautiful spin by turning the loss into a victory of love. It is a beautiful love story, portrayed with imagery from one of the most significant events in history.

Line by Line Meaning

My my
Expressing surprise or disbelief

At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Referring to the historical battle of Waterloo where Napoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington

Oh yeah
Expression of excitement or affirmation

And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
Comparing the defeat at Waterloo to the singer's personal experience of being defeated by love

The history book on the shelf
Referring to the significance of learning from history

Is always repeating itself
Stating the recurring nature of history

Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Symbolizing the singer's defeat in love and the other person's victory

Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Expressing the singer's commitment to love the other person forever

Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Acknowledging the inevitability of love and the singer's inability to escape it

Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Accepting one's destiny to be with the other person

Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
Confronting the defeat in love and accepting it as one's personal Waterloo