Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Mr. Giant Man
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ho Ho Come along and we'll have some fun
Hi Ho Party Time in Giant Land
Ho Ho I'm a friend come along come along
Ho Hum There'll be fun for everyone
Ho Ho In the land of Giant Man
Chorus: (x2)
Lets go together to the Giant Land
Better get gone before the sun goes down
Mr. Giant Man let's get on
Hi Ho I invite you all to come
Ho Ho Everybody will be there
Hi Ho We will dance the giant way
Ha Ha You can dance in double time
Ho Hum There'll be fun for everyone
Ho Ho In the land of Giant Man
(chorus) (x6 next verse sung over chorus reps. 3-4, one measure break between 5&6)
Hi Ho I invite you all to come
Ho Ho Everybody will be there
Hi Ho Party time in Giant Land
Ho Ho I'm a friend come along come along
(chorus cont.) (Last stanza sung over chorus reps. 6-7, chorus shifts up in pitch)
Hi Ho I'm the King of Giant Land
Ho Ho Come Along and we'll have some fun
Hi Ho Party time in Giant Land
Ho Ho I'm a friend come along come along
Ho hum There'll be fun for everyone
Hi Ho Hi Hum Ho Hum
(Instrumental outro)
The lyrics of James Last's song Mr. Giant Man depict a lively and fun-filled invitation to the Giant Land, a place where everyone, regardless of size or appearance, can enjoy dancing and having a good time. The song is an ode to joy and inclusivity that transcends physical differences and celebrates the power of music and laughter to bring people together. The lines "Hi Ho I'm the King of Giant Land" and "Ho Ho I'm a friend come along come along" suggest that the singer of the song is a benevolent giant who wants to share his world with others and create a harmonious atmosphere of merrymaking and belonging. The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, reinforces the idea of unity and anticipation, as the singer invites the listener to join him on a journey to a magical place where anything is possible.
The lyrics of Mr. Giant Man are simple but effective, evoking a sense of wonder and delight that is pure and uncomplicated. They draw on the familiar tropes of fairy tales and childhood stories, where giants are often depicted as either friendly or fearsome creatures who inhabit a realm beyond our own. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody add to its appeal, making it a popular tune for children and adults alike.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi Ho I'm the King of Giant Land
I am the leader of this magical land of giants
Ho Ho Come along and we'll have some fun
Join us and enjoy the festivities
Hi Ho Party Time in Giant Land
We are celebrating and every single soul is welcomed
Ho Ho I'm a friend come along come along
I am here to make sure everyone has a great time and to welcome you to our Land
Ho Hum There'll be fun for everyone
Everybody is welcome and will be included in the fun
Ho Ho In the land of Giant Man
This is the land of joy and happiness and we're all in it together
Take me in your hands Mr. Giant Man
Show me the way, take me with you to experience all the wonders of this magical land
Let's go together to the Giant Land
Let's unite and embark together to enter the world of the giants
Better get gone before the sun goes down
We need to hurry, as we don't want to miss out on the fun before it's too late
I invite you all to come
This is a friendly invitation to all, everyone is welcome
Everybody will be there
The whole Land will be celebrating together in harmony and unity
We will dance the giant way
We'll all celebrate together in our own specific way and traditions
You can dance in double time
You have the freedom and the ability to dance however you like, we celebrate diversity
Hi Ho Hi Hum Ho Hum
This is the catchy slogan of our community
I'm a friend come along come along
I am here as a friend to make sure you don't miss the fun
Hi Ho Hi Hum Ho Hum
Our catchy slogan is a friendly reminder that we're all in this together
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andrewcurtis2337
The theme song for Fabio‘s show “Strength through Failure” Thursday nights on WFMU 91.1 in NYC/north NJ or online at wfmu.org Thursday’s 3-5 pm
@hxcdanny3x
that's where I heard it
@GraniteQuarrier
I'm in New Mexico now but same:)
@andrewayres795
I heard it because it ends up tacked onto Psue’s FMU archive. Amazing song.
@kristenscalise6200
Thats how I learned about this song 😂
@sergemaster
WMFU 91.1 still rocks!
@mikey8088
No way anyone’s coming back alive if they go with the giant man.
@hakonosatowakugai7256
When I first heard this on WFMU I wasn't sure if it was a theme to a kids show or it was supposed to a trippy bug out. It turned out to be the later.
@iris5403
Oml I heard it on WFMU as well!
@josephderkos8090
@@iris5403 Same, but it was a Scandinavian version or something. And it was awesome.