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 Remember
The Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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.
The Turtles' "The Last Thing I Remember" is a haunting song that poses questions about the nature of dreams, memory, and the afterlife. The singer of the song seems to be experiencing a sort of out-of-body experience, or perhaps a dream, as he finds himself standing in a deep black sky, in between the lines. He feels alone and isolated in this space, until he hears voices of light and sees faces smiling at him, whispering his name. This realization brings him comfort and a sense of belonging.
The lyrics of the song are open to interpretation, but one common theme that arises is the idea of the afterlife. The singer's experience could be seen as a glimpse of what happens when we die - a moment when we are alone before being greeted by loved ones or some other divine presence. The idea of the "voices of light" is suggestive of a heavenly or spiritual realm that is beyond our physical world. Yet, the ambiguity of the lyrics and the dream-like quality of the singer's experience also leave open the possibility that this is all a product of his imagination.
Overall, "The Last Thing I Remember" is a thought-provoking song that explores profound themes through its evocative lyrics and haunting melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Suddenly aware,
I became conscious of my surroundings in an unexpected manner.
I was standing there,
I found myself in a particular spot.
In a deep, black sky,
I was surrounded by darkness.
In between the lines.
I was in a state of uncertainty and confusion.
I believed that I was all alone.
I thought nobody was with me.
The last thing I remember,
The most recent memory I recall.
The voices of light.
I heard sounds that appeared radiant and optimistic.
The first thing I knew.
It was the earliest realization I had.
Faces every while.
I saw individuals sporadically.
Came from everywhere.
They emerged from different directions.
But they smiled as they,
Each person had a smile on their face as they
Whispering my name.
Whispered my name softly.
And I could see,
I observed with my own eyes.
That I was not alone.
I had company.
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.