Paxton, Tom - The Last Thing On My Mind Lyrics






It's a lesson too late for the learning,
Made of sand, made of sand.
In the wink of an eye my soul is turning
In your hand, in your hand.

Are you going away with no word of farewell,
Will there be not a trace left behind?
I could have loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind.
You know that was the last thing on my mind.

You've got reasons a-plenty for going—
This I know, this I know—
For the weeds have been steadily growing.
Please don't go, please don't go.

Are you going away with no word of farewell,
Will there be not a trace left behind?
I could have loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind.
You know that was the last thing on my mind.

As I lie in my bed in the morning
Without you, without you,
Each song in my breast dies a-borning
Without you, without you.

Are you going away with no word of farewell,
Will there be not a trace left behind?
I could have loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind.
You know that was the last thing on my mind.





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Paxton, Tom The Last Thing On My Mind Comments
  1. A.... c....

    Check out the Reggae Version by Delroy Wilson. It's sounds really good.

  2. N.... V....

    Outstanding. Nothing like hearing the great singer songwriters own versions. Yes, Dolly and Porters version is memorable but the writers intent is clear from his own performance

  3. j.... ....

    Music to shoot yourself by.

  4. H.... H....

    jesus, his voice.

  5. C.... ....

    Boring as bat shit. Thank God for the Rolling Stones in 1966

  6. H.... M....

    Being a muso for 6 decades now I just came across this vid and remembered that I used to perform it.... will add it back to my repo. I wish I had written this. I wish we could see his guitar hands.

  7. B.... H....

    God bless you uncle Tom !!

  8. C.... R....

    Quite possibly the most perfect chorus ever written

  9. P.... D....

    Tom looks so different without the cap & 53 years. 1966 seems so long ago, great music & troubled times.

  10. w.... ....

    Great voice and finger picking.

  11. R.... h....

    one of the best songs in the world!

  12. J.... H....

    As I sit And Watch Tom sing I car't Help But Smile AND feel Happy

  13. J.... G....

    First time ive heard that song and i was struck by its beauty.

  14. L.... M....

    Beautiful 🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️💯

  15. 4.... ....

    Singer stands alone before his audience and sings. Simply brilliant, intimacy great words.

  16. K.... E....

    There are plenty of lessons for the learning here for musicians of today.

  17. L.... M....

    Beautiful song💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍👍🔥🔥

  18. N.... B....

    Some great shots of Tom's nostrils here...very rare.

  19. N.... ....

    Many covers of this song but I love the stripped down, clean arrangement here.

  20. F.... O....

    Beatiful song. But I love Diamond's version. It's so much romantic. I think so

  21. L.... M....

    Beautiful song l love Tom Paxton🎸🎸🥇🎸🏅🎊🎟💐🌷🌹🕊🥰😘 Hugs from 🇺🇸💞🎸🎸Usa

  22. J.... V....

    What a beautiful song. I highly recommend you all go look up the Move's version of this.

  23. Y.... W....

    So amazingly beautiful x

  24. J.... N....

    Listening 2019

  25. g.... w....

    Truly beautiful...he sings it from the heart...

  26. U.... ....

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vHIvXnl4gUg

  27. �.... �....

    2019 ❤I ADORE IT I ONLY HAVE 17 THT SONG HAVE NAKE ME FEEL I HAVE A LOT OF SEE AND ALOT TO LOVE 💔🍀🌼ALL THE BEST FOR ALL

  28. P.... H....

    I've watched and listened to every version of this song on YouTube, and while as an Aussie I love the Seekers interpretation, and anything Joanie sings is fine with me, this is undoubtedly the purest and most heart-rending version available. Thank you, Tom.

  29. K.... M....

    Neil Diamond's version is the epitome of this gem.

  30. S.... V....

    all versions are so different ... what about the live video of Tom with Liam Clancy ...?

  31. L.... M....

    Great song, Love Tom And his music👍❤️❣️💃💃💃💃😊❄️☃️⛄️🎄💃💃💃💃💫🌟⭐️😘🎄

  32. L.... M....

    Beautiful l love Tom Paxton💃💃💃👍❤️❣️😊🔥🔥🔥🔥

    L.... M....

    Whitley Bay soon..

  33. c.... ....

    Yes, Tom Paxton wrote it and he performs it best.

  34. A.... �....

    It's a lesson too late for the learning
    Made of sand, made of sand
    In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
    In your hand, in your hand

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind

    You've got reason a plenty for goin'
    This I know, this I know
    For the weeds have been steadily growin'
    Please don't go, please don't go

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind

    As I lie in my bed in the mornin'
    Without you, without you.
    Every song in my breast lies a bornin'
    Without you, without you.

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind
    That was the last thing on my mind

    Songwriters: Thomas R Paxton / Tom Paxton

  35. L.... M....

    Love Tom🍷💃💃💃💃🧚🏽‍♀️💝💝💝🧚🏽‍♀️Great Song❤️❤️🍷❤️

  36. C.... D....

    Lyrics :
    It's a lesson too late for the learning
    Made of sand, made of sand
    In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
    In your hand, in your hand

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind

    You've got reason a plenty for goin'
    This I know, this I know
    For the weeds have been steadily growin'
    Please don't go, please don't go

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind

    As I lie in my bed in the mornin'
    Without you, without you.
    Every song in my breast lies a bornin'
    Without you, without you.

    Are you going away with no word of farewell
    Will there be not a trace left behind
    Well, I could've loved you better, didn't mean to be unkind
    You know that was the last thing on my mind
    That was the last thing on my mind

  37. c.... ....

    I have listened to many versions of this but Tom's is the only one that encapsulates the utter sadness and desolation that accompanies a broken heart from lost love. Exquisite.

  38. L.... M....

    Vinyl Thank you, beautiful music👍❤️❤️♥️🍷💃💃💃😘😊

  39. L.... M....

    Great song♥️🍷🍷💃💃💃😘👍👍😃😏 love his great music🍷💃💃🍷♥️🌞🍷🍷

  40. L.... M....

    Beautiful Song❤️♥️💃💃💃💃💞💗💓😘👏👏👏

  41. L.... M....

    Great Song👏👏♥️💃💃💃💃💋🎸🇺🇸❤️💃💃💃💃💃for you Rob😘

  42. L.... M....

    Thanks viny❤️💃♥️😊🌺🌹😘👍🍷

    L.... M....

    This is the best ..Neil Diamond does a good rendition

  43. L.... M....

    Beautiful Song❤️💃Great Singer😘👍🙏🍷🌺💃🎸🍷

  44. L.... B....

    He looks nervous as hell

  45. P.... T....

    Still lovely after all these years.

  46. L.... L....

    I love it

  47. A.... S....

    Still beautiful when I hear it today

  48. R.... B....

    ....and how GREAT is that sound quality!?!?!?

  49. D.... T....

    Sublime.

  50. R.... B....

    perfect

  51. J.... M....

    So beautiful, if this doesn't touch your heart then there's something wrong!

  52. h.... ....

    A voice as clear as pure alcohol.
    👍👍👍👍

  53. R.... B....

    pretty damn good. . my god

  54. R.... ....

    I love this kind of music for its authenticity. You don't need an amazing singing voice, just something to say.

    R.... ....

    Reef Agree.. but I happens to think he also has a fine voice 😊

  55. S.... S....

    How'd you get the gig, Tom?

  56. L.... S....

    The best version! Love this song.

  57. b.... ....

    Some of the greatest songs were written by lesser known musicians. If I were a carpenter; The first time; Streets of London come to mind... but in the end the greatest and most prolific songwriter was Charles Wesley (6000+ songs all up)

  58. T.... G....

    Utterly brilliant and moving.  I once sang and played this at a  party in a garden at a French chateau one summer's evening, under a starry night.  My God I'll never forget it - the stars and the wine!

  59. J.... H....

    He had a hilarious song about the titanic can anyone help me?

  60. D.... R....

    Rip, great man

    D.... R....

    Since I just saw Tom singing tonight with the Don Juans at the Sheen Center on Bleeker Street I must ask. Who is the RIP you are referring to? Tom Paxton (the writer of this and many other great folk/rock standards) is alive and well and still singing the great songs and fighting the good fight.

  61. m.... ....

    I always wanted to know what he had done wrong to lose his woman so quickly. How did he hurt her? It seems like he had no insight whatsoever about what he had done wrong. I doubt it could have been any different, anyway. Like 4 Strong Winds. A foregone conclusion, a built in failure. May be the woman should take some of the blame, anyway.

  62. 1.... ....

    I'm really impressed with the audio quality of this upload. The warmth in his voice comes shining through so very clear. I mean no noise, no distortion, no muddiness, just perfect clear audio from something done in 1966. I am just amazed.

  63. J.... W....

    These are the kinds of songs that make me feel a little less whack feeling as sad as I do sometimes. We all feel it.

  64. T.... G....

    Good old times... when all the world was young and we were the future!

  65. B.... W....

    What a rich quality timbréd voice Tom has! Beautiful Baritone. I came here via The Seekers...whose version (as a group) I enjoy. I have heard Joan Baez and she also contributes some good musicianship to this song....but Tom? Well, he wrote the song...and all things being equal (quality of voice/instrumental quality etc), Tom wins "hands down"!!! Key of "G" perfect for this song.

  66. K.... M....

    Happy 80th Birthday Tom!

  67. R.... S....

    one of the greatest song ever written! Nuff respect every time!

  68. A.... M....

    I was part of the Folk Music Era (mid fifties and sixties) . That music I played my Guitar many a times and still do now that I am in my mid 74. Every Folk Singers of that time I have it deep in my mind and heart. I never get tired of it. Those were the times when music of the heart flowed from the dreams, hopes and gentle Solace was part of all my generation. We love and shared our lives with such fervor, sentiments. And violence, dislike and envy was very minimal in our generation. We were more concern with peace, non-violence, we marched for the rights of the needy ones. And our music reflected what was in our hearts, concerns, love, for our friends and others. Plus the intense love and respect we had for our soul mate. The air of our music were reflections of the deep love we had for that girl or boy we loved dearly in our youth. And never have forgotten that love. I still remember that girl. Never have I had such deep love and sentimental in my heart. It was a love that never asked but gave with eagerness to understand and pleasing air. And smiles from our heart and spirit. I still remember those times very vividly. One could hitch hike with very little fear of being hurt, robbed, or any form of danger. Those days are gone. I hope that in times to come I will perhaps see that era come again. But it is only a dream or maybe not. I traveled most of the States and Europe in my VW Van. Also parts of Algiers, Morocco and parts of Eastern Europe.

  69. R.... H....

    Qué maravilla de voz! Y la música te toca el alma. Gracias.

  70. G.... j....

    Tom I recorded your song live when I was in Guam
    so hope someday I'll be able to play it for you .
    I met you at the cellar door way back when . . . GLORIA JEAN

  71. M.... ....

    Incredible pure, simple and natural performance

  72. N.... M....

    love this song and the way Tom Paxton sings it with his warm voice: beautiful !

  73. n.... ....

    Excellently written, sensitively sung. Well done Tom! In the later version, sung with Liam Clancy, the audience picks up the song after about the first two words. An unforgettable song!

  74. m.... ....

    I have to say, I love this version more than his recording of it - something about these BBC live recordings that I can't quite explain (Judy Collins's concert from the same period is another good one)

    m.... ....

    Here Tom is singing it a whole step lower than the key that he sings it in on his album, giving this live performance of the song a more relaxed feeling.

  75. B.... K....

    this song ist one of me favourites, Tom P too!

  76. J.... F....

    Its so sad how he recently passed away, especially because of his roles in Alien and the most recent one in Edge of tomorrow as the drill sergeant...
    I had no idea he was such a good singer!

    J.... F....

    That would be news to Tom. He's still among us. You are thinking of Bill Paxton.

  77. W.... ....

    The Neil Diamond version is vastly superior.

    W.... ....

    Ugh, hardly. If you're really listening, no one can match the simple, direct feeling that Tom imparts.

  78. W.... M....

    Did he write this? I much prefer Dolly's and Porter's version. This is good too, to be fair. Very different!

    W.... M....

    Yes, written and sung by Tom Paxton... this is the real thing...;-)

  79. J.... P....

    So many GREAT voices/writers and no one gives them their due. Just a note...Tom? You made a marriage, a child and a divorce. I think this is my theme song. I wish my 'ex' could see this part of me. I made that impossible for her. I will never stop loving her...crap, another 'song'.

  80. H.... N....

    super song

  81. H.... N....

    Imagine this song would never had existed if it weren't for Tom.

  82. L.... F....

    Beautiful song and a great voice🌹

  83. N.... ....

    What a great songwriter. Right up there with Townes Van Zandt, Bill Staines, and Steve Goodman.

    -jcr

    N.... ....

    But not quite up there with Trent Reznor.

  84. J.... A....

    From ages ago many songs brings one back to seconds ago . Such is this song . When I first heard this song , it was after a very painful break up with my first serious love . For those in the present time , give thanks to Tom but remember , greater joys are in your life . Peter behind my Judy

    J.... A....

    Judy Armstrong l

  85. H.... ....

    You're just bloody awesome mate. Have always loved this song

  86. J.... D....

    We, from Castlepollard Vocational school performed this song as part of a Westmeath, Ireland school's competition in the early spring of 1974. The singers were four ladies from the Intermediate class. Out of respect for the ladies and because I have not seen them since that time I will not mention their names here. I was on the quiz team. It was beautiful coming of age that time, and for me the song has lost none of its beauty. By the way won the schools competition.

    J.... D....

    Something about this song is evocative of an Irish folk song. Or is that just me?

  87. S.... H....

    l personally like Dolly Parton and Porter Waggoner's version best. Its just a bit faster and their harmony is as always, beautiful.

  88. Q.... D....

    I also like Gordon Lightfoot's if you could read my mind... these 2 songs play well one following another...

  89. D.... T....

    I shall be off back to fort dix.

  90. K.... F....

    I've seen Tom in concert 3 or 4 times over the years. He is a treasure.

  91. j.... ....

    Youtube should just get rid of the up and down voting nonsense because I tire of the nimrods who troll just to vote things down like this beautiful song.

    j.... ....

    Just ignore them.

  92. M.... ....

    I cant stop listening

  93. R.... D....

    I saw Paxton in concert a number of years ago. He said that out of all the songs he had written, this was his favorite.

  94. D.... D....

    This was one of the early songs I learnt to play on guitar. It helped to give me inspiration to carry on playing. I now teach guitar and sometimes this song to others and tell the younger generation about the great Tom Paxton.

    D.... D....

    can you do a lesson ?

  95. S.... Y....

    いい曲ですね、素晴らしく思いいます。

  96. g.... c....

    Tom had another live recording of this song - it had some piano backing - A very beautiful recording I have been unable to find it on U tub e

    g.... c....

    I have the vinyl LP with the version you mention ; in 1967 he sang in Paris in a very small place, and I had the pleasure to talk to him around a beer in a nearby cafe after the concert.

  97. s.... ....

    Just goes to show that YOU CAN SING A GREAT SONG WHILE WEARING A CLOSE FITTING TIE.

    s.... ....

    +slimchancetoo Ha Ha - good one

  98. S.... C....

    BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND VOICE, PINSKY AND CINSKY LISTEM MISS MAX

  99. J.... A....

    He gets completely lost in the music:)