Famous Last Words
October 28, 2005 8:49 AM   Subscribe

Famous last words

and a famous last ramble

"Hey, Jimmie! The Chimney Sweeps. Talk to the Sword."
posted by Mr T (26 comments total)
 
The last words of Dutch Schultz was the basis for a story by William S. Burroughs and an avant garde short
film. Strangely the film is itself Dutch.
posted by Mr T at 8:50 AM on October 28, 2005


"The Vice President is doing a great job as a member of this administration and the President appreciates all that he is doing."
posted by 327.ca at 8:59 AM on October 28, 2005


"Crito, I owe a cock to Asclepius; will you remember to pay the debt ?" — Socrates (c.469-399BC).

In case anyone doesn't get this--I didn't for a while--one is supposed to sacrafice a cock to Asclepius after recovering from an illness.
posted by Citizen Premier at 9:16 AM on October 28, 2005


"Rosebud."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:29 AM on October 28, 2005


About halfway down your "last" link:

"Oh, shit !" — Jim Madsen ( -1968), when rappelling off the end of his rope on El Cap's Dihedral Wall.

I suspect quite a few other folks have uttered that as their last words. I have a cousin who is an airline pilot. He said "shit" is the last word frequently recorded on cockpit voice recorders.
posted by marxchivist at 9:34 AM on October 28, 2005


Metafilter: I owe a cock to Asclepius
posted by found missing at 9:37 AM on October 28, 2005


I like Pancho Villa's last words. What kind of moron writes that down as literal last words though? You'd think they'd cut him a break.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:37 AM on October 28, 2005


"Hey guys, watch this !" — Todd Poller (2001), who tried to swallow a live perch.

I think this one might be pretty common too.
posted by Mr T at 9:49 AM on October 28, 2005


I think this one might be pretty common too.

"I gotta piss," is probably pretty common as well. I heard once that 60-odd percent of drowning victims in BC died with their flies open.
posted by 327.ca at 9:52 AM on October 28, 2005


Unknown general overlooking a battle:
"Don't worry Major, they can't hit us at this range."
posted by Marky at 9:52 AM on October 28, 2005


Marky, according to the first link, that was General John Sedgwick, and the quote was "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...."
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:00 AM on October 28, 2005


I love Lou Costello's -- "That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted."
posted by alumshubby at 10:07 AM on October 28, 2005


"If you send for the doctor, I'll see him now." --Emily Bronte.

I used to quote that to my doctor-phobic ex-husband when he was dragging his heels about going to appointments.
posted by jokeefe at 10:08 AM on October 28, 2005


What do any of you think your last words will be?

I'd like mine to be "mmm pancakes."
posted by Peter H at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2005


"That took entirely too long."
posted by alumshubby at 10:21 AM on October 28, 2005


"I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis." - Humphrey Bogart

Brings a tear to my eye.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 10:30 AM on October 28, 2005


Thanks for posting this. I've been spending all morning obsessively reading them.
posted by xmutex at 10:33 AM on October 28, 2005


What do any of you think your last words will be?

"I wish I had spent more time at the office."

Just so I can shut up the idiots who say, "No one on his deathbed ever said, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:39 AM on October 28, 2005


"This is too fast."
posted by Tacitus at 12:02 PM on October 28, 2005


I don't so much worry about what my last words might be, as much as that I either have the time and patience to select them with care just before I go, or that I die so quickly I don't have a chance to say anything (or, hopefully, to feel much pain).

(please note that if I die immediately after posting this, consider the above words my final ones, rather than the inevitable correction to my own misspelling that will follow this post.)
posted by davejay at 12:22 PM on October 28, 2005


Still Alive! W00t!
posted by davejay at 12:22 PM on October 28, 2005


"Freeeedom!!!" -An Eviscerated Mel Gibson
posted by Oddly at 12:25 PM on October 28, 2005


Mel Gibson's should really be an apology instead of a statement.
posted by Peter H at 12:43 PM on October 28, 2005


"I'll never forget his last words: 'What the?!'"
/Cheers
posted by Sibrax at 2:52 PM on October 28, 2005


I love Kirk's final words in Generations (I think that's the one.) Simply, "Oh my."

I should actually plan out, memorize, and practice under stress, my dying words. I don't want them to be something dumb.
posted by Netzapper at 3:29 PM on October 28, 2005


Oscar Wilde still has my favorite,
"Either that wallpaper goes, or I do."

killer.
posted by Busithoth at 4:21 PM on October 28, 2005


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