This song is actually about a failed relationship; only the phase “Last Christmas,” when the relationship came to head, refers to the festive season. Despite this it has become an annual Christmas standard on UK radio stations.
This was a charity record with its proceeds going to famine relief in Ethiopia. Apart from “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” which prevented this from reaching #1, it is the biggest selling Christmas song in the UK. (George Michael features on both songs).
Numerous artists have covered this song including Ashley Tisdale, Coldplay, Jimmy Eat World and Taylor Swift, who reached #28 on the Billboard country with her version. In 2009 a version by the cast of Fox-TV’s Glee finally took the song into the Hot 100 when their rendition debuted at #63.
Lyrics to Wham!’s “Last Christmas”
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (special)
Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby do you recognize me?
Well it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me
I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying “I Love You” I meant it
Now I know what a fool I’ve been
But if you kissed me now I know you’d fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I’m hiding from you, and your soul of ice
My god I thought you were someone to rely on,
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man under cover but you tore me apart
Now I’ve found a real love you’ll never fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore him apart
Maybe next year, I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
Special, someone, someone
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
Who’ll give me something in return
I’ll give it to someone, hold my heart and watch it burn
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special
I thought you were here to stay
How can love be for a day?
I thought you were someone special, gave you my heart
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone
Last Christmas I gave you my heart
You gave it away
I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone
This is a well-made Lyrics Video we found:
And one more live performance before you go-go:
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