Last Night

Chris De Burgh's song "Last Night" paints a vivid picture of a post-war celebration in a harbor town, capturing the complex emotions of a community welcoming their soldiers back home. The song begins with the protagonist walking through the harbor, where the fishing boats lie on the shore, and the news of the soldiers' return has spread quickly. The mayor's speech and the crowd's cheers reflect the collective joy and relief of the townspeople as they celebrate the glory of the boys coming home from the war. This scene is filled with music, dancing, and a sense of communal pride, symbolizing the end of a difficult period and the hope for a brighter future.

As the night progresses, the song shifts to a more intimate setting, where Margarita, a woman with long black hair, waits inside a house in the old town. Her presence under the red light and her smile for the returning soldiers add a layer of personal connection and warmth to the celebration. However, the song also hints at the unchanged nature of the soldiers, who claim that nothing has changed since yesterday. This repetition underscores the internal struggle and the new kind of hunger that the protagonist feels, suggesting that the war has left an indelible mark on their souls.

The final verse takes a somber turn as the protagonist walks through the shadows, away from the festivities. Here, he encounters a soldier and a woman in black, silently mourning a boy left behind in the war. This poignant moment highlights the lingering pain and loss that accompany the joy of the soldiers' return. The song's refrain, "nothing will make us change in any way," contrasts with the underlying sense of a new hunger and the need for satisfaction, revealing the deep emotional scars and the complex reality of life after war. Through its evocative lyrics and rich imagery, "Last Night" captures the duality of celebration and sorrow, heroism and loss, in the aftermath of conflict.