What Is a Swan Song?

We often hear the expression "Swan Song" in the movies and on television. It is heard so often that we tend not to give it a second thought, but what exactly is a swan song? Do swans really sing?

According to research, swans do not sing. The phrase "swan song" is a figurative expression that means a final gesture, song, speech, or public performance given before death, retirement, or transition to something else.

Origin of the Phrase

There is a legend that says swans are mute during their lifetime, but just as they are about to die, they sing for the very first time. Even though what they sing is beautiful, it is also mournful. That is just a legend because swans have vocal cords that enable them to make sounds during their entire life, and not just before they die. However, that doesn't keep the phrase from being written in poetry, plays, and other forms of literature.

Geoffrey Chaucer included a line in Parliament of Fowles that the jealous swan sings before its death. William Shakespeare wrote about the swan singing before its death in two of his plays, The Merchant of Venice and Othello.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote about the swan singing before its death in his poem, "On a Volunteer Singer." John Willison referred to King David's swan song in Psalm 48. Leonardo da Vinci wrote, "The swan is white without spot, and it sings sweetly as it dies, that song ending its life."

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote details about the swan singing in his lengthy poem, "The Dying Swan." The ballerina Anna Pavlova performed a solo dance about 4,000 times based on the poem. The short ballet of only four minutes depicts the last moments in the life of a swan.

Even though the legend might not be true, many artists have capitalized on it as if the tale was factual. "Swan song" has become a popular idiom, and people have come to know that it is not about a swan dying after all. Instead, it is a final appearance or a series of final appearances before people move on to something else.

"Swan song" is such a common expression that some record companies are named after it. There are also albums, and other things dealing with music that have some connection to the familiar phrase.

Today's Meaning

The expression "swan song" is used quite frequently today. However, it is used figuratively—not to indicate someone's death. It commonly refers to successful singers, musicians, and other performers embarking on farewell tours or final performances.

There has been a long list of swan song appearances over the years. For example, Nellie Melba was a famous Australian operatic soprano whose swan song lasted eight years from 1920 to 1928 when she performed final concerts all over the world. The 70-year-old well-known singer performed up until her death with many "swan song" appearances.

The British singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer Elton John is on a three-year global "swan song" tour. It will be the end after nearly 50 years of performances around the world. The 75-year-old's final tour “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” started in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 8, 2018 and ended 2021 after 300 shows in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Australasia.

Everybody's Swan Song

If the truth is told, almost everyone has had, or will have a "swan song" experience. When you think of it meaning the last act, farewell, or performance of something, then lots of people have had "swan songs."

Leaving high school and college can be seen as swan songs after taking the last tests and graduating. Completing a major project at work before moving into a higher position could be described as the employee's swan song.

A "swan song" is not limited to retirement or death. The truth of the matter is that if you have not had a swan song experience, you probably will have one when you transition from one phase of your life to another. One thing we have learned to be true is that no swan will literally sing to mark the occasion.