(PCM) While death is not a pleasant topic to ponder, many find themselves curious as to what they would choose to utter as their last words on this earth. Sadly, when death comes knocking many do not get the chance to utter any phrases of significance, however there has been a multitude of times when people have had the opportunity and many of their last words have reached a level of infamy.
We have included some examples of infamous last words below. Some are funny, some are philosophical, some are sad, while others are just downright strange. Heck, some have even been turned into pop culture catchphrases! Either way, these infamous last words have gone done in history as some of the most memorable.
In 1928, when criminal George Appel was about to executed via the electric chair, his famous last words were “Well, folks, you’ll soon see a baked Appel!”
When singer Elvis Presley died while on the toilet in 1977, his finance at the time Ginger Alden revealed that Presley’s last words were “I’m going to the bathroom to read.”
Famous Italian painter Raphael’s last word was a very simple “Happy”.
Blues performer Bessie Smith famously uttered the following phrase upon her death bed saying, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.”
Composer Jean-Philippe Rameau was angered about a song being sung at his bedside. He said, “What the devil do you mean to sing to me, priest? You are out of tune.”
It is claimed that performer Frank Sinatra uttered “I’m losing it” right before he passed away.
William Henry Seward, architect of the Alaska Purchase, was asked if he had any final words. He replied, “Nothing, only ‘love one another.’”
Birth control advocate Margaret Sanger’s last words were, “A party! Let’s have a party.”
In a move that was a bit cheeky, philosopher Nostradamus made his final prediction saying, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here”.
Marie Antoinette stepped on her executioner’s foot on her way to the guillotine. Her last words: “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.”
Author Herman Melville died saying, “God bless Captain Vere!” referencing his then-unpublished novel Billy Budd, found on his desk after he died.
Banking multimillionaire Richard Mellon had an ongoing game of tag that was played with his younger brother for several decades. Upon his death bed, he called over his brother and said, “Last tag”. His brother Andrew was “it” until his own passing four years later.
When Harriet Tubman was dying in 1913, she gathered her family around and they sang together. Her last words were, “Swing low, sweet chariot.”
When Sir Isaac Newton died, he was humble. He said, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world. But as to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”
Painter Leonardo da Vinci, whose paintings famously hang all around the word never felt his work was good enough. His last words were “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have”.
Louise-Marie-Thérèse de Saint Maurice, Comtesse de Vercellis farted while she was dying. She said, “Good. A woman who can fart is not dead.”
Drummer Buddy Rich died after surgery in 1987. As he was being prepped for surgery, a nurse asked him, “Is there anything you can’t take?” Rich replied, “Yeah, country music.”
Richard Feynman, a physicist, author, musician, professor, and traveler, died in Los Angeles in 1988. His last words? “This dying is boring.”
As Benjamin Franklin lay dying at the age of 84, his daughter told him to change position in bed so he could breathe more easily. Franklin’s last words were, “A dying man can do nothing easy.”
Murderer James W. Rodgers was put in front of a firing squad in Utah and asked if he had a last request. He replied, “Bring me a bullet-proof vest.”
Convicted murderer Thomas J. Grasso used his last words to complain about his last meal. He said, “I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s; I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.”
Football coach Vince Lombardi died of cancer in 1970. As he died, Lombardi turned to his wife Marie and said, “Happy anniversary. I love you.”
Humphrey Bogart’s wife Lauren Bacall had to leave the house to pick up their kids. Bogart said, “Goodbye, kid. Hurry back.” Not quite, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” but close enough.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill was born in a room at the Broadway Hotel on what is now Times Square. He died at age 65 in a Boston hotel. His last words? “I knew it! I knew it! Born in a hotel room and, goddamn it, dying in a hotel room.”
Charles Gussman was a writer and TV announcer, who wrote the pilot episode of Days of Our Lives, among other shows. As he became ill, he said he wanted his last words to be memorable. When he daughter reminded him of this, he gently removed his oxygen mask and whispered: “And now for a final word from our sponsor—.”
When Groucho Marx was dying, he let out one last joke saying, “This is no way to live!”
Blues guitarist Leadbelly said, “Doctor, if I put this here guitar down now, I ain’t never gonna wake up.”
Sir Winston Churchill’s last words were, “I’m bored with it all.”
Derek Jarman was an artist, writer, and filmmaker. His last words: “I want the world to be filled with white fluffy duckies.”
Singer James Brown said, “I’m going away tonight.”
There you have it! This is only a minuscule list of noteworthy final words, but there are definitely some great ones in here! May they all rest in peace!