The Last Waltz

Written by J.R. Robertson. The lyrics are copyrighted. Please do not copy or redistribute.

The Band performed this song at their final concert in 1976, where Robbie announced the title of it as "The Last Waltz." The lyrics were not all done at the time of the concert. The version given here has been transcribed from the concert bootleg The Complete Last Waltz. The song is the first version of what later became "The Last Waltz Suite" on the official album. The "suite" was recorded in studios and on a soundstage, and consisted of the songs "The Well," "Evangeline," (with Emmylou Harris) "Out of the Blue," "The Weight" (with the Staple Singes,) "The Last Waltz Refrain" and "Theme From The Last Waltz."

(Robbie:)
"We’re gonna try a song we never played before... uh, we put
together kinda for the occasion.  It’s called 'The Last Waltz.'"

(Rick:)
She stands on the banks of the mighty Mississippi
Holding a lantern light
Waitin' for a man who's a riverboat gambler
He said he'd return tonight

(Levon:)
They used to waltz on the banks of the mighty Mississippi
[Unintelligible; doesn't sound like "Loving"] the whole night through
The riverboat gambler went off to make a killin'
And bring it on back to you

Evangeline, Evangeline, curses the soul of the Mississippi Queen
That pulled her man away

(Rick:)
Now, Bayou Sam from South Lousianne  
Had gamblin' in his veins
And Mama Moo (??) who loves only you
Why do ya cause her such pain?

(Levon:)
She went to the top of Hickory Hill
Stand in the lightnin' and thunder
Riverboat, it was sinkin’
She watched that boat go under

Evangeline, Evangeline, curses the soul of the Mississippi Queen
That pulled her man away

(Robbie & Richard:)

The last of November
Leaves on the ground
It's hard to remember
What city, what town (what town)
So many roads
Mothered (?) in stone
Surrounded by bones
It feels so alone

The last waltz, the last waltz
The last waltz with you
Don’t mean the last dance is over
The last waltz, the last waltz
The last waltz was through
But that don’t really mean that the party's over