Last to Die

Album: Magic (2007)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song refers to a John Kerry quote on ending the Vietnam War: "We are asking Americans to think about that because how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Emily - Toronto, Canada
  • This anti-war track was covered by The Pet Shop Boys for their 2013 Electric album. Neil Tennant of the band explained why they chose this song to Spin magazine: "My favorite records by Bruce Springsteen are pop records: 'Dancing In The Dark,' 'Tunnel Of Love,' 'Streets Of Philadelphia.' I think the cover we've done of the Bruce Springsteen song on this album makes it into a pop song," he said. "But we haven't changed it any way at all. It's just done in a pop style rather than his E Street Band style. We could do a lot of Bruce Springsteen - not that we will. They're very powerfully written songs with good melodies and quite simple chord changes, more simple than our chord changes, so they take to the electronic treatment."

Comments: 1

  • S from ScotlandThanks for this explanation. I was aware of the Pet Shop Boys cover, but was wondering where its origins were. Such a strong song!
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