This Is the Last Time

"This Is the Last Time"
Single by Keane
from the album Hopes and Fears
B-side	"Can't Stop Now" "Allemande"
Released	13 October 2003
Format	CD single, 7"
Recorded	2003 Westside Studios
Genre	Pop rock, piano rock
Length	3:31
Label	Fierce Panda White Light Records
Writer(s)	Tim Rice-Oxley (Main composer) Tom Chaplin Richard Hughes James Sanger
Producer(s)	Andy Green James Sanger Keane
Keane singles chronology
"Everybody's Changing (2003) "This Is the Last Time" (2003) "Somewhere Only We Know" (2004)

"This Is the Last Time" is a song performed and composed by British rock band Keane, released on 13 October 2003 as their second commercial single, first released with Fierce Panda Records and later in 2004 as a different version with Island Records. It appears on their debut album Hopes and Fears as track two of the international version, but track nine on the British version. It was the fourth single from that album. Although the song was one of the biggest hits of 2004, the single only reached number 18 in the UK charts, considerably lower than previous singles by the band. For an easier reference, fans divided the two different singles into parts 1 and 2, similar to "Everybody's Changing".

Fierce Panda single

The Fierce Panda version was the first Keane record released outside the UK and one of the few singles available in the United States. The single sold around 4,000 copies and is stated to have charted at no. 58; however, this was ineligible for the chart due to the web-link the record contained. It was the only record ever co-released with White Light Records, Keane's own label, which soon disappeared because there was already a company with that name.

Island single

"This Is the Last Time (2004 version)"
Single by Keane
from the album Hopes and Fears
B-side	"She Opens Her Eyes" "This Is the Last Time" (Demo) "Everybody's Changing" (Live)
Released	22 November 2004
Format	7" vinyl CD single
Recorded	Helioscentric Studios, Rye, East Sussex
Genre	Piano rock, Britpop
Length	3:29
Label	Island
Producer(s)	Andy Green James Sanger Keane
Keane singles chronology
"Bedshaped" (2004) "This Is the Last Time" (2004) "Bend and Break" (2005)
Hopes and Fears (UK) track listing "Sunshine" (8) "This Is the Last Time" (9) "On a Day Like Today" (10) Hopes and Fears (Int'l) track listing "Somewhere Only We Know" (1) "This Is the Last Time" (2) "Bend and Break" (3) Promo cover Cover for the promo version release. Cover for the promo version release.

A year after signing with Island Records, a reissue of the song was released on 22 November 2004. This reissue featured all-new B-sides and cover, as well as a reworked version of the single and its music video. Additionally, a DVD was released featuring a cover showing a deer instead of the bull used on the single cover. This newer release includes a 2003 demo of the song, featuring Rice-Oxley on lead vocals.

Track listings

Fierce Panda CD single

Catalogue number: NING147CD

1. "This Is the Last Time" – 3:31
2. "Can't Stop Now" – 3:40
3. "Allemande" – 4:22

Island CD single

Catalogue number: CID880

1. "This Is the Last Time"
2. "She Opens Her Eyes"
3. "This Is the Last Time" (demo)
4. "This Is the Last Time" (video)

Island Limited Edition DVD

Catalogue number: CIDV880

• "Somewhere Only You Know" (secret gig)
• "We Might as Well Be Strangers" (live; Villiers Theatre, London 5 February 2004)
• "This Is the Last Time" (live; Irving Plaza New York 29 September 2004)
• Photo Gallery - "This Is the Last Time" video.

UK 7" vinyl

Catalogue number: IS880

1. "This Is the Last Time"
2. "She Opens Her Eyes"

Island alternative versions

Netherlands

Released 18 March 2005.

1. "This Is the Last Time"
2. "She Opens Her Eyes"

France, 2CD

Released 3 October 2005. CD1

1. "This Is the Last Time"
2. "She Opens Her Eyes"
3. "This Is the Last Time" (demo)
4. "This Is the Last Time" (video)

CD2

1. "This Is the Last Time"
2. "Everybody's Changing" (live; Airwaves Festival, Reykjavík 23 October 2004)

Composition and recording

Tim Rice-Oxley composed this song circa 2001. It was one of the first songs played without Dominic Scott, ex-guitarist of the band, being possibly about him. It was recorded at Les Essarts, Normandy, France, during the James Sanger sessions from August to November 2001. A newer version was recorded at the Helioscentric Studios in Rye, East Sussex.

Information about song's meaning

The song means regret, confusion and separating, commented by Rice-Oxley:

(…) You have a bond with someone but you don't want to stay with them forever, so you decide to go. But you're not saying "I hate you and I'm leaving"...you're trying to say "I think you're great but I've seen that there's something more perfect and magical out there for me and I need to find it. But I will always be your friend if you need me." (…) I guess the feeling of conflict within yourself and the difficulty of making that decision is what the song is really about. It's not sarcastic or anything but it is certainly confusing(…)[1]

Instrumentation

• Bass (Fender Jazz)
• Drums (Yamaha)
• Piano (Yamaha CP70)
• Reverse cymbals
• Synthesizer

B-sides

Can't Stop Now

For more information about this song, visit "Can't Stop Now".

Allemande

Only available on the Fierce Panda CD. Rice-Oxley explained to some fans the title is inspired by a family of pianos called Allemande. "Allemande" was played live a few times during 2004. It also appeared on the EP Live Recordings 2004, on the Japanese version of Hopes and Fears and on the "Bend and Break" single.

Instrumentation

• Piano (Yamaha CP 70)
• Vocals (by Tom Chaplin)

She Opens Her Eyes

Is Tom Chaplin's (lead singer) favourite Keane song. It does not feature drumming. Probably composed by Rice-Oxley, who hasn't given any meaning to this song.

• Echoes
• Piano (Yamaha CP70)
• Vocals (by Tom Chaplin)

This Is the Last Time (Demo)

Tim Rice-Oxley is the lead vocalist in this no-drums driven demo of the single.

Instrumentation

• Piano (Yamaha CP70)
• Vocals (by Tim Rice-Oxley)

Technical information on songs

Song	Length	Tempo	Key	Time signature	Genre
"This Is the Last Time"	3:29	132bpm	G (Sol major)	4/4 on 8 beats	Piano rock
"Can't Stop Now"	3:38	120bpm	F (Fa major)	4/4 on 8 beats	Piano rock
"Allemande"	4:22	57bpm	D (Re major)	3/4	Acoustic ballad
"She Opens Her Eyes"	4:28	72bpm	Ebm (Mi flat major)	4/4	Acoustic ballad
"This Is the Last Time" (demo)	4:12	132bpm	G (Sol major)	4/4	Acoustic piano rock

Music videos

The first music video for "This Is the Last Time" was used only during gigs as a live visual. This first video featured a baby in a pushchair, graffiti on the walls and pink trees without leaves. The next two different videos were released for British and American markets, with the Fierce Panda single in 2003. The second video clip shows several trees under a pink sky and rain falling down. Island Records used this idea to shot a third video with a similar background but this time Keane appearing on it.

The fourth and final video was directed by Howard Greenhaigh from Exposure Films and shot between 4 and 5 October 2004. The video starts with Keane playing in the middle of the street. Then, Chaplin starts walking with his microphone. He realizes the cable of the microphone can't go farther so he changes his microphone for a taxicab radio. He continues walking with the radio and again he can't go on because of the cable. Finally Chaplin sees a music store, gets another microphone and then breaks the window. The band are now playing inside the store and now there's also a crowd watching them.

Chart performance

Chart	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)	6
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)	2
France (SNEP)	56
Germany (Official German Charts)	84
Ireland (IRMA)	43
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	18

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics