Last Hurrah (by John Stewart)

This is John's classic account of the 1968 campaign.

[@Irlose1]

Beautiful...as only JS could sing that. Clean, transparent and authentic...with a voice that transcends the ages. I miss him...and the innocent age he sang about.

[@crichta]

A beautiful song. John Stewart was a supreme songwriter, singer and musician, up there with the very best.

[@Bikewer]

Stewart himself spoke in concert about being on the road with Kennedy as an introduction to this song. We were big fans of John from the time California Bloodlines came out.... What a great album.

[@crispinkeith8945]

Very moving from a good man who wore his heart on his sleeve.

[@donnlarossa9173]

Brings me chills some of Johns songs.. A true folk hero in my home

[@LMUDewey]

Agreed! I saw JS perform many times and his concert at El Camino College in the L.A. area, circa 1976 had "front row dancers" when he played Run Away Fool of Love. I think JS was surprised and delighted. Many of us "loyal friends" were as well.

[@ElNeo9778]

Privileged to have seen John perform on numerous occasions in the Uk including very small venues where we were only a few feet from him.

[@JCKAMK]

What a great talent. Still missing him.

[@nirajdesai192]

I watched the movie "Apollo 11" last night and that introduced me to the song "Mother Country" -- and that led me here. I knew of the Kingston Trio, of course, but I didn't know anything of John Stewart as an individual performer. Now I do. The internet's a good thing.

[@mattreynolds612]

I'm a lifer with this guy. Keep listening and searching. He has TONS Of great songs written & performed by him. Also wrote for others. (Daydream Believer) for one example. But I believe he's as good as any American songwriter, just never blew up. He was a generational talent.

[@barrybrink6041]

I always felt this was a melancholy song about the deaths of RFK and MLK, Jr...Keep your dreams as clean as silver...Love you, John.

[@robertmeadows2432]

TRULY....."THE LAST CAMPAINGER".......Where Do We Go From Here...

[@donnlarossa9173]

Long time fan he's brilliant. KT member went rogue

[@serberious]

Heard this so many years ago......

[@muckeetruckee1398]

Clean as silver........

[@Buzzbox3rd]

Brilliant.

[@Bikewer]

Thanks for putting this up. We had the vinyl album years back, a great song.

[@neilprocter]

To add to my last comment: "In Tennessee they were foresaken" refers to the lack of success of California Bloodlines and Willard, both recorded in Nasville; "LA was the coup de grace": his albums for WB and RCA were recorded in California. And how can "loyal friends and front row dancers" refer to anything but his fans?

[@normand8]

Sublime

[@neilprocter]

It's alright, it's only music....

[@3Pitous]

Neil Procter ( 4 years ago) is right. This song has nothing to do with politics or Bobby Kennedy's last campaign.
J.Stewart wrote this song about himself. . He was about to be without a recording contract and didn't know what his future would be.
I read that "the last Hurrah" was intended to be the last song on the album but he changed his mind .

[@robertmeadows2432]

" THE LAST CAMPAINGER"

[@neilprocter]

I didn't think this song was about politics at all. John had just moved to the RSO label and was aware that, if he didn't have success here, it might be his last chance to make music. The lyrics fit this scenario well. And as we know, his next album, Bombs Away Dream Babies, was a hit and spawned the singles Gold, Midnight Wind and Lost Her In The Sun.....

[@donarbi]

I Agree.....Completely!

[@jonah3359]

my thoughts as well

[@leojakubowski9800]

Yes, 1968 with Bobby Kennedy. Got to see JFK campaign, but not Bobby. When did we stop working together?

[@robertastley3359]

6/07/14.This one particular song will not play,I have listened to it many times before.All other JS songs play no prob.46 yrs.ago we all know what took place in Memphis and L.A.Seems odd now this song is blocked out at this date&time:(.Neil P.,really?

[@CPSWard]

@neilprocter: Of course "Last Hurrah" was a political expression long before the 1956 novel written by Edwin O'Connor. As you say, though, the parallels between the historical events mentioned in the song and John's own problems in Nashville and Los Angeles are remarkable. Thanks for commenting, Neil.

[@judewatters2113]

no reference is to MLF and RFK

[@bobdavis4848]

MLF? Maybe you could clarify you meant MLK, as adding an "I" to "MLF" makes something quite inappropriate. Stay safe.