If This Is The Last Time by LANY

Album: Mama's Boy (2020)

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Songfacts®:

This song is a love letter from LANY's singer Paul Klein to his mom and dad. He expresses gratitude for the way they raised him, and he wants them to know how much he loves them. Klein knows all things in life are temporary and he wants to treat every interaction with his parents as if it is their last.
Klein came up with the idea for the song on a flight to Beijing in the summer of 2019. He explained in an Instagram post that he was thinking about his "uncle buddy," who is in good health but is getting older. The LANY frontman is so busy recording and touring his music, he doesn't get to visit him much. The thought struck him, "What if the next time I get to see him is the last time I'll get to see him?"

Klein added that after facing a new reality amid the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, he realized that "finishing and perfecting this song was imperative."
On July 26, 2020, the day after releasing this song, LANY posted a 30-second clip of an interview with legendary Hollywood actor Sam Elliott, who built his career mostly on Western film roles but is (perhaps) best known among viewers today for his role as the Stranger in cult favorite The Big Lebowski. In the clip, the notorious "tough guy" Elliott opens up about the importance that his parents had on his life. The clip is captioned: "'if this is the last time' is a love letter to family. call ur mom call ur dad call ur friends don't waste a moment."

Comments: 5

D D Jones from TexasI heard this song for the first time shortly after my son was murdered. He was such a gentle man and the singers whispery voice made me stop in my tracks. It sounded so much like my son saying - hey, mom. We DID go to the mall and buy shoes. Had a few fights, and he learned how to live and treat a woman right from his stepfather that he loved very much His bio dad was abusive and his stepfather was an amazing example for him. My daughter has lived her life hard and fast since he died. Working nonstop. I think of her when he says not to go so fast. I can’t help but cry when I hear this song. It’s my favorite on my playlist.
Elsa Kapunan from PhilippinesI first heard it over the radio esp when the first line said hey!mom.As i listened to it intently i thought these are the very lines that my son who is also a singer and songwriter would be dedicating for us as the lyrics described so clearly what really is happening between me his mom and him and his dad.In fact his dad thought it was his composition and was singing it himself by his recording it in my cellphone.The lyrics says it all like we used to and still do only at times go to the mall and shop for his shoes and he misses his dad a lot now as his dad doesnt talk to him now for months already because of some of the wrong choices he made in the past.The song says it all for us!So thank you so much dearest composers whoever you are.Your song always makes me teary eyed and makes me realize that life is too short not to give that love away to your child no matter what happened in the past.I hope and pray his dad will again hear this song and realize the same.
Gina from Seoul, South KoreaI was enjoying my favorite song ‘DNA’ having lunch, then I had to stop eating when I heard this song…… Tears in my eyes… As a daughter and a mom, I could deeply feel the writer’s mind. Beautiful and touching lyrics. I am very sorry for your loss, Karen. I’ll pray for Scott and you.
Karen Thorpe from Dl, MinnesotaI spent three glorious days with my son the last days of Dec. 2020 and on Jan 1, 2021 he passed away. I heard this song for the first time the next day on the radio and I cried and cried. It was like you knew how my son and I perfectly. Scott and I often spent our time together going to the mall to buy some shoes. This song will forever be the song that brings Scott back to me for a brief time. Right now it makes me cry because I remember getting close and hugging each other before I left, not knowing it would be the last time. I know in the future this song will bring back memories that will make me smile. Thank you for this song!!!
Dale Hines from South Carolina UsaI just heard this sound on the radio and immediately fell in love with it. It will be on my playlist now. Thank you for such a beautiful tribute for your parents; this is something that is very rare today

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