“Don’t cry for me, for I go where music is born.”
These were the deathbed words of Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous composer and musician of the late Baroque period. Bach was 65 years of age when he suffered a stroke and died a few days later in his hometown of Leipzig. The stroke was caused by complications resulting from unsuccessful eye surgery.
“What’s that? Do I look strange?”
The novelist and poet uttered these final words to his wife Fanny Stevenson, before collapsing from a brain haemorrhage and dying a few hours later. Stevenson passed away at the age of 44 in the village of Vailima on the Pacific island Upolu part of the Kingdom of Samoa.
“I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!”
Near the time of his death, Chris McCandless took a picture of himself waving while holding a written note with these last words on it. The 24 year old hiker and adventurer, who went by the pseudonym Alexander Supertramp, died of starvation and his body was found by a hunter in an abandoned bus on the Stampede Trail Alaska. Inspired by the details of McCandless’s story a biography was published which was later adapted into a movie ‘Into the Wild.’
“Yes. I’m not going to die tomorrow.”
These were the final words of the famous children’s author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by the pen name Dr Seuss. Geisel passed away from cancer at his home in the La Jolla community of San Diego at the age of 87.
“Pam, are you still there?”
These were Jim Morrison’s last words according to his longtime girlfriend Pamela Courson. The 27 year old singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of rock band the Doors, was found dead in the bathtub of his Paris apartment. The official cause of death was listed as heart failure, although no autopsy was performed as it was not required by French law.
“But the peasants.. how do the peasants die?”
According to some sources, the author and moral philosopher spent the last hours of his life preaching love, non-violence, and Georgism to fellow passengers on his train; and asked this final question of a station master in whose home he died. Leo Tolstoy passed away at the age of 82 from pneumonia at Astapovo railway station Russia.
“Bob, I don’t feel so good. I think I’m OD’ing.”
These were River Phoenix’ last words to musician and friend Bob Forrest inside The Viper Room a nightclub in West Hollywood. The actor and musician passed away at the age of 23 from acute multiple drug intoxication, specifically a lethal combination of cocaine and heroin, which led to a fatal drug overdose.
“I’m going to be with Gloria now.”
The iconic movie actor spoke these final words to his children as he lay on his deathbed, referring to late wife Gloria who passed away three years before. James Stewart died of a heart attack at 89 years of age in his Beverly Hills home surrounded by family.
“Don’t cry for me. I’m going to be with your father now.”
Jackie Onassis delivered these last words to her children Caroline and John, referring to former husband President Kennedy. The one-time first lady of the United States passed away aged 64 at home in New York City, she had been suffering from a terminal cancer of the blood.
“Thank you.”
The flamboyant singer and songwriter, lead vocalist for rock band Queen, thanked his close friend Peter Freestone before slipping into a coma and dying shortly after. Freddie Mercury was 45 years old when he died at home in Kensington London, the cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
