Swan song

:Swan Song is also:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* the name of a novel by Robert R. McCammon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:* the name of a recording label, Swan Song Records, founded by Led Zeppelin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A swan song is a reference to an ancient and false belief that the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is completely mute during its lifespan, but may sing one heartbreakingly beautiful song just before it dies. An Orlando Gibbons madrigal states the legend thus:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:The silver swan, which, living, had no note,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Leaning her breast upon the reedy shore,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:thus sung her first and last and sung no more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The antiquity of the legend is indicated by Pliny the Elder's denial of it in A.D. 77. (Pliny's Natural History, book 10, chapter xxxii: olorum morte narratur flebilis cantus, falso, ut arbitror, aliquot experimentis, "observation shows that the story that the dying swan sings is false"). Not only do "mute" swans not sing as they die, but they produce snorts, shrill noises, grunts, and hisses throughout life. But the legend is so appealing that it has been used in artistic works over the centuries. Tennyson's poem "The Dying Swan" is a poetic evocation of the beauty of the supposed song and so full of detail as to imply that he had actually heard it:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:The wild swan's death-hymn took the soul

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Of that waste place with joy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Hidden in sorrow: at first to the ear

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:The warble was low, and full and clear; ...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:But anon her awful jubilant voice,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:With a music strange and manifold,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Flow’d forth on a carol free and bold;

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:As when a mighty people rejoice

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:With shawms, and with cymbals, and harps of gold...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By extension, swan song has become an idiom referring to a final theatrical or dramatic appearance, or any final work or accomplishment. For example, Franz Schubert's collection of songs, published in his year of death, 1828, is known as the Schwanengesang (German for "swan song").

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It generally carries the connotation that the performer is aware of his or her imminent demise (or retirement) and is expending his or her last breath on one magnificent final effort.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An example of a swan song is Freddie Mercury's song "The Show Must Go On", written and performed while he was dying of AIDS.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Novel: A novel (from French nouvelle, "new") is an extended fictional narrative in prose. Down into the 18th century, the word referred specifically to short fictions of love and intrigue as opposed to romances—epic-length works about love and adventures. Having become one of the major literary genr...

Robert R. McCammon: Robert R. McCammon is an American novelist from Birmingham, Alabama....

Orlando Gibbons: Orlando Gibbons (baptised December 25 1583 – June 5 1625) was an English composer and organist of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods....

Swan song related Images and Photos (experimental)

Led Zeppelin, Swan Song T-shirt	Led Zeppelin Swan Song Fabric Poster Wall Hanging	Swan	Swan
Swan, The (DVD, Remastered)	Swan Lake	The Swan	The Swan
Prison Song (DVD)	Blue Song	Bird Song	Love Song