The last time i saw her, Original song

 

The Last Time I Saw Her: Frank Watkinson’s Heartfelt Ode to Loss and Memory

An intimate ballad that resonates deeply with listeners navigating grief and love.

In a world brimming with grandiose productions and overproduced melodies, Frank Watkinson’s raw, unadorned musical style cuts through the noise like a quiet revelation. At 71, the English singer-songwriter continues to craft deeply personal songs that feel like conversations with an old friend. The Last Time I Saw Her is one such track—a hauntingly beautiful ballad that chronicles the delicate final moments between a boy and his dying mother.

This poignant song is more than a reflection on loss; it’s a meditation on the fleeting nature of time, the permanence of love, and the regrets that often accompany the passage of life. It’s no wonder that Watkinson’s music has become a haven for listeners grappling with their own grief and memories, as evident in the heartfelt comments his fans leave behind.

Frank Watkinson Talks Slipknot Cover, Being the Internet Grandad & More | Bat Chats Interview

 

Please be advised this transcript is AI-generated and may not be word for word. Time codes refer to the approximate times 

Frank Watkinson: The Accidental YouTube Star

Raw Authenticity in the Age of Digital Perfection

An In-Depth Interview by Matt Tighe

In this revealing conversation, Frank Watkinson, the British musician who unexpectedly found fame on YouTube, discusses his journey from casual guitar player to internet sensation. With over 413,000 subscribers and 16 million views, Frank's honest approach to music and life has resonated with audiences worldwide.

1. [00:00] What inspired your initial roast of my British accent attempt? "Don't try to do an English accent. I've heard it's rubbish. It's getting close to the Dick Van Dyke's version," Frank chuckles, setting the tone for his characteristic dry humor.
2. [01:23] How did your musical journey begin? "I've had a guitar for as long as I can remember, and I play just as good now as I did when I first picked one up. I should be an Eric Clapton or anything like that, but laziness - I put it down to laziness. I won't say lack of skill because it's both. I've always liked to play when you hear a song. I want to play that, I love that song, and you find what the chords are and realize you can't play it. The older you get, you start learning things, then you start thinking I don't actually need to play those hard chords, I can make this simple."
3. [03:16] How did you start your YouTube journey? "I'd almost given up the guitar; it was just an occasional thing. Have you heard of Passenger? I like the way he played, but I was never going to play like him. I liked his songs, so I started to cover a few Passenger songs. I posted a few, and then I posted some of my own songs. I don't think much of my songs at all, but I started posting them. Trouble with songwriting is in the moment it's the best song you've ever heard until you've posted it and listen again and think, 'What was I doing?'"
4. [04:58] How did you approach covering Slipknot's "Snuff" and other unexpected genres? "I don't often listen to those bands. I've got so many other things of my own to listen to. But when people suggest these ones, I listen to it, and I have to listen through all the electric effects because what might mean a lot to somebody, and that's fair enough because everyone's got different tastes."
5. [05:34] How do you choose which cover requests to take on? "If I don't like the song, I find it hard to cover. I can't get into something if it doesn't mean anything to me. It could be any song - if I don't like it, it's very difficult to cover in an honest way."
6. [06:23] What are your thoughts on creating a studio record? "I don't think I could do that because I haven't got that perfectionist mentality. What you get with me is here in this room, picking up the guitar, thinking I'll do a song this morning. I've never played a concert, I've never played anywhere in front of anybody, and then I find myself playing in front of thousands of people around the world."
7. [07:20] How do you handle having such an impressive subscriber count? "It is hard to sort of get to grips with, but the sad thing about it is anyone else, a professional, would monopolize on that. They'd be making a lot of money. I don't - I make pocket money on it, and it's because I'm not a businessman really. I'm not in it for that. If I'd have thought it was going to get this popular, I should have got a manager."
8. [08:08] Can you tell us about the "This Could Be My Last Song" incident? "I had to change the title. I accidentally click-baited it and kind of sent everybody into a frenzy. Everyone's like 'don't go, don't stop playing music.' That's what I love about you - you're not trying to go viral, and here you are. It's special; that doesn't happen on the internet very often."