THE LAST RESORT

“Everyone talks about how the west was won. This is about how

the west was lost.” – Don Henley, “Hell Freezes Over” Tour.

MACRO TECHNIQUES: THE BIG PICTURE

Irony/Pun/Wordplay• Title – The Last Resort. Analyse the two meanings of this.• Use of pun/wordplay throughout CREATES a feeling of

irony. Example: “Providence (meaning the place as well as good fortune) is ironic because it was not “providence” that the colonists brought to the country – it was destruction).

Narrative point of view• Henley speaks in the 3rd person. Why?

Distance Preaching? Appeal to audience

MACRO TECHNIQUES CONT.

Style: The song begins in a ballad style.• Ballad: tells a story• Where does it change from storytelling to

introspection/reflection?• Why?• The rest of the song – mixture of styles. “You can leave…”:

free verse. “Who will provide…”: AABBCC. “And you can…”: free verse until the couplet at the end (two lines that rhyme). Epic in style.

Rhyme and meter: changes, according to the style of the

song in each verse. See above.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/4800/

THEMES

Colonialism: “Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance,

acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from

another territory. Colonialism is a process whereby sovereignty over the

colony is claimed by the colonists and the social structure, government,

and economics of the colony are changed by colonists - people from the

“mother country”. Colonialism is a set of unequal relationships:

between the “mother country” and the colony, and between the

colonists and the indigenous population”. (from Wikipedia, sourced 3

July 2011).

Collins English Dictionary defines colonialism as "the policy of

acquiring and maintaining colonies, especially for exploitation."

THEMES CONT.

Colonialism (or colonialisation) has been a feature of Earth, its

peoples and its history for millennia. “To the victor the spoils” and

“winner takes all” are sayings that reflect this. In the post-colonial

world, however, the effects of colonialism are being explored and

redress made.

What are some lines/aspects of the text that refer specifically to

Henley’s criticism of the colonists?

What is he specifically saying to you, the audience, about the

effects of colonialism? What does he want you to think about? Use

quotes to support your answers.

THEMES CONT.

Choices and Consequences: oh, yes. • First, the explorers, colonists, missionaries and

capitalists made the conscious choice to expand westwards. What were the consequences?

• “Some rich men came and raped the land…” The consequences are left for their descendants to deal with. What are they?

• Henley is an ecologist. What is he saying about the choices and consequences to any listeners of the song? IOW, What is YOUR responsibility now that he’s told you the truth?

• Is this song still relevant? How so?

THEMES CONT.

Religion: Is Henley anti-Christian? What is your

evidence for/against?• “They even bought a neon sign…”• “Jesus, people bought em…”• “In the name of destiny/and in the name of God”• “You can see them there/on Sunday morning…”

Anti-Christian? Anti-religion? Anti-evangelism? Or just

his social conscience speaking out? (He is apparently a

Christian now but they still sing this song. Why?)

THEMES CONT.

Ecology: Don Henley is an environmentalist.

See: “Walden Woods Project” (Wikipedia). Is

this intended as a warning?

How has the song retained its relevance as an

environmental message?• Global Warming• Man-made climate change• Pollution (“They watched the hazy sun…”)