Last Kiss

Pearl Jam 1999 Last Kiss Piano Sheet Music of 1961 song by Wayne Cochran v11. v11.0 10/11/25 1506 𝄞Sunset Piano.

Last Kiss from Pearl Jam's 1999 album No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees.

Intermediate Piano Sheet Music

- edit notes, updated dynamics, lyric format

Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss" is a cover of a classic song written by Wayne Cochran. The original is a tragic tale of a fatal car crash, a popular theme in teen tragedy songs of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Pearl Jam's version brought the song to a new generation, becoming one of their most beloved singles.

Wayne Cochran: The Original

Song Title: "Last Kiss"
Year Released: 1961
Album: The song was released as a non-album single.
Key: The song is in the key of G major.
Details: Wayne Cochran was a white R&B artist from Georgia known for his flamboyant style, including his signature white pompadour haircut. His original version of "Last Kiss" was a modest hit on the regional charts. It's a raw, doo-wop-influenced ballad that captures the heartbreaking simplicity of the story.

Pearl Jam: The Famous Cover

Song Title: "Last Kiss"
Year Released: 1999
Album: It was released on the charity compilation album No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees. Due to its popularity, it was later released as a standalone single.
Key: Pearl Jam's version is also in the key of G major.
Details: Pearl Jam's cover was a surprise hit. Eddie Vedder discovered the song on a bootleg tape and loved it so much that the band recorded it for a fan club Christmas single in 1998. The single's widespread popularity led to its commercial release. Pearl Jam's rendition is a faithful but more polished version of the original, with Vedder's emotive vocals giving the song a powerful, somber feel. It became the band's highest-charting single, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

[Chorus]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

Oh where, oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me

G Em/G C/G D/F# G G

She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good, so I can see my baby when I leave this world

[Verse 1]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

We were out on a date in my daddy's car, we hadn't driven very far

G Em/G C/G D/F#

There in the road, straight ahead, a car was stalled, the engine was dead

G Em/G C/G D/F#

I couldn't stop, so I swerved to the right, I’ll never forget the sound that night

G Em/G C/G D/F# G G

The screaming tires, the bustin' glass, the painful scream that I heard last

[Chorus]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

Oh where, oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me

G Em/G C/G D/F# G G

She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good, so I can see my baby when I leave this world

[Verse 2]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

When I woke up, the rain was pouring down, there were people standing all around

G Em/G C/G D/F#

Something warm flowin' through my eyes, but somehow I found my baby that night

G Em/G C/G D/F#

I lifted her head, she looked at me and said: Hold me darling just a little while

G Em/G C/G D/F#

I held her close, I kissed her our last kiss, I'd found the love that I knew I had missed

G Em/G C/G D/F# G G

Well, now she's gone, even though I hold her tight, I lost my love my life that night

[Chorus]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

Oh where, oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me

G Em/G C/G D/F# G G

She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good, so I can see my baby when I leave this world

[Outro]

G Em/G C/G D/F#

Ooo-o-o-o-oooh, ooo-o-o-o-o-o-oh

This is One of the Saddest Songs Ever - Emotional Piano Practice

Because of its Heartbreaking Lyrics, Haunting Melody, and the Raw Emotion of the Vocals

"Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam is often considered one of the saddest songs ever because of its heartbreaking lyrics, haunting melody, and the raw emotion of the vocals. Here’s why it hits so hard emotionally:

Tragic Storyline – The song tells the devastating story of a young man who loses his love in a car accident. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the crash, his desperate attempt to save her, and her final words: "Hold me, darling, just a little while."
Helplessness and Regret – The narrator is powerless to stop what’s happening. He watches the love of his life slip away in his arms, left only with the pain of what could have been. The line "I lost my love, my life, that night" is gut-wrenching.
Simple Yet Haunting Melody – The song’s stripped-down instrumentation and steady rhythm make it feel almost like a funeral march, adding to the sense of sorrow and finality.
Eddie Vedder’s Emotional Delivery – Vedder’s voice carries a deep sense of loss, making the song feel even more personal and heartbreaking. His mournful tone adds layers of sorrow that make the listener feel the pain firsthand.
Themes of Love, Loss, and Fate – The song captures the universal fear of losing someone suddenly and the deep sadness of not being able to say goodbye properly.

Originally written and recorded by Wayne Cochran in 1961, Last Kiss became a massive hit when Pearl Jam covered it in 1999. Their version brought new life to the song, introducing it to a new generation and cementing its place as one of the most heartbreaking songs ever.

It’s a song that lingers long after it ends—because who doesn’t fear losing the one they love in an instant? 💔