Last Rose Of Summer

Album: Sin After Sin (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • One of the most easygoing Judas Priest songs, "Last Rose Of Summer" is a love song set to the cycles of nature. After giving the last rose to his love, frontman Rob Halford sings, "Do not despair, mother nature simply rests."

    In a Songfacts interview with Halford, he explained: "The title, 'Last Rose of Summer,' it's just got a lot of attitude about it as far as making you think. If you say to somebody, 'the last rose of summer,' that's not only the changing of the seasons, but it could also be the changing of a relationship. It could be the completion of something. It's just got a multi-faceted opportunity, and I like it.

    It's also sweet because it talks about nature: 'Mother Nature simply rests' and all this kind of thing. I've always felt that song is very attractive because there haven't been that many lyrics that talk about Mother Nature."
  • This was written by Rob Halford and Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, who played a Fender Rhodes piano on the track.
  • Judas Priest had yet to develop their leather look and were still refining their twin-guitar sound (Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing) when this song was released on their third album, Sin After Sin. The only single from that album was a cover of the Joan Baez song "Diamonds & Rust."

Comments: 2

  • I Am The Singer Of All. from The Treasure Valley, Snake River Plain.Memories.
  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA very good and super cool soft rocking ballad that Judas Priest recorded back in 1977 and a perfect song for a slow dance.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.