The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan a… Read Full Bio ↴The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, a duo later known as Flo & Eddie. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits in the 60s, beginning with their version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965. The band scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song "Happy Together". Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965, the band was renowned for their both joyously melancholic and occasionally cheeky sound, always being good-natured.

Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.

The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.

The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.

The Last Thing I Rememb
The Turtles Lyrics

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Suddenly aware,
I was standing there,
In an deep, black sky,
In between the lines.
I believed that I was all alone.

(In a dre-eee-eee-eam.)

The last thing I remember,
The voices of light.
The last thing I remember,
The first thing I knew.
Faces every while.
Came from everywhere.

But they smiled as they,
Whispering my name.

And I could see,
That I was not alone.

(Oh, the thi-i-i-ing...)

The last thing I remember,

The voices of light.
The last thing I remember,

The first thing I knew.

(Ah ah ah ah, ah-ah-ah, ah ah.)
(Ah ah ah ah, ah-ah-ah, ah.)

The last thing I remember,
The voices of light.

The last thing I remember,
The first thing I knew.

Overall Meaning

“The Last Thing I Remember” by The Turtles is a song that explores themes of death, the afterlife, and the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can accompany a sense of being completely alone. The lyrics describe the singer suddenly becoming aware that they're standing in a deep, black sky, feeling as though they were all alone, and then hearing voices coming from everywhere. This jarring experience seems to be the moment of the singer's death, as they realize they were not alone, as “faces every while” smiling and whispering their name.

The image of a “deep, black sky” could be interpreted as a representation of death, and the “voices of light” that the singer hears could represent an otherworldly realm. The singer's confusion and sense of isolation before hearing the voices could symbolize the feeling of being lost or disconnected in life before death. The idea that the last thing the singer remembers is hearing these voices of light suggests that they are now transitioning to a different state of being.

Although the lyrics are open to interpretation, there is a clear sense of grappling with the unknown, with death and the afterlife, and the feeling of being lost and alone in the world. The ending of the song's chorus, with the repeated line “The first thing I knew,” suggests that the singer has gained new knowledge or insight into the mysteries of the universe after their experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Suddenly aware,
I became conscious all of a sudden,

I was standing there,
Realizing that I was standing

In an deep, black sky,
In a pitch-black sky

In between the lines.
Amidst the void

I believed that I was all alone.
I thought I was the only one present

(In a dre-eee-eee-eam.)
(It felt like a dream)

The last thing I remember,
The final thought my mind held was

The voices of light.
Voices filled with light and positivity

The last thing I remember,
The last recollection I have of the moment is

The first thing I knew.
The first thing I realized

Faces every while.
Different faces appeared every now and then