Last Train Home (John Mayer song)

"Last Train Home" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, and featured uncredited guest vocals from American country singer Maren Morris.^[1] It was released on June 4, 2021 as the fourth single from his eighth studio album Sob Rock. John Mayer wrote the song and produced it with Don Was. The song is Mayer's first new release in nearly two years since "Carry Me Away" (2019).^[2] The song was used in the first season of the TV show The Bear.

"Last Train Home"
Single by John Mayer
from the album Sob Rock
Released	June 4, 2021
Genre	Soft rock, synth-pop
Length	3:07
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	John Mayer
Producer(s)	John Mayer Don Was
John Mayer singles chronology
"Carry Me Away" (2019) "Last Train Home" (2021) "Shot in the Dark" (2021)
Maren Morris singles chronology
"Bigger Man" (2021) "Last Train Home" (2021)
Music video
"Last Train Home" on YouTube

Background

John Mayer began teasing his new album with a series of TikTok videos that previewed new songs. The first song clip was "Last Train Home" on March 23, 2021, but only the first eight bars with no indication of the title. This led British musician Mary Spender to record an entire predictive version of the song the next day and release it on her YouTube channel, leading to international coverage.^[3] Meyer saw the video that day and posted his approval of the "new" version,^[4] sending Spender the official version ahead of the song's release to review before anyone else.^[5]

Mayer released "Last Train Home" on June 4, 2021, and announced that Sob Rock would be releasing on July 16 of the same year. On release day, Mayer shared four-track song lists, and he made "Last Train Home" as the lead single to release, and expressed it is "a slick rock production with an '80s polish, filled with keyboard stabs that remind of Toto, and guitar licks galore."^[6]

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mayer explained the reason of the song '80s elements: "I asked myself, 'What music makes me feel like everything's going to be OK? And it's the music I listened to growing up in the '80s. There's a security-blanket aspect about that sound that reminds me of a safer time."^[7]

Composition

Rob Costa of Music talkers described the intro features "an 80's style synth Steve Winwood would be proud of, and conga drums mixed into the production, which is reminiscent of Toto’s mega 80s hit, 'Africa.'"^[8]

Music videos

An accompanying "80s vibe" music video was released on June 4, 2021, directed Cameron Duddy and Harper Smith. It also features Mayer's band, including Toto's percussionist Lenny Castro and former Toto member Greg Phillinganes.^[9] The video shows Mayer, Morris and the band "recording their live performance of the song" at Union Station, located in Los Angeles, California.^[10][11] The video is highly reminiscent to that of Forever Man by Eric Clapton. The video won the Best Rock Video at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, It was the first MTV Award for Mayer.^[12]

Mayer released a second video of a "ballad version" on October 28, 2021, shot at Henson Recording Studios, where Sob Rock was recorded.^[13]

Credits and personnel

• John Mayer – vocals, guitars, keyboards, producer, composer
• Don Was – producer
• Maren Morris – background vocals
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
• Sean Hurley - bass
• Aaron Sterling – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Last Train Home" Chart (2021–2024) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 88 Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 103 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 20 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[18] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 91 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[20] 1 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 13 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[22] 29

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Last Train Home" Chart (2021) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 43 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[24] 70

References

1. Lavin, Will (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer takes it back to the '80s in video for new single 'Last Train Home'". NME. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
2. Raeburn, Brandon (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer previews forthcoming album 'Sob Rock' with new single 'Last Train Home' — listen". Bandwagon. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
3. Breathnach, Cillian (2021-03-29). "Mary Spender finishes writing John Mayer's new song ahead of its release". Guitar.com. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
4. Martin, Rachel (2021-03-29). "John Mayer Loves Mega Fan's Version Of 1 Of His New Songs". NPR. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
5. Owen, Matt (2021-06-07). "John Mayer sent Mary Spender his new single before anyone else got to hear it". Guitar World. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
6. Brandle, Lars (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer Drops 'Sob Rock' Single 'Last Train Home': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
7. Bienstock, Richard (June 1, 2021). "Why John Mayer Teased His New Single, 'Last Train Home,' on TikTok". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
8. Costa, Rob (June 23, 2021). "Review: Last Train Home - John Mayer". Music talkers. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
9. Kiefer, Halle (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer Is Toto-ly in Love With You in New 'Last Train Home' Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
10. Legaspi, Althea (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer Drops New 'Last Train Home' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
11. Michaud, Sarah (June 4, 2021). "John Mayer Drops 'Last Train Home' — and Reveals Why Having Maren Morris Sing on It Is a 'Real Honor'". people.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
12. MTV NEWS Staff (June 4, 2021). "2021 MTV Video Music Awards Winners". MTV. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
13. Zemler, Emily (October 29, 2021). "John Mayer Gets Intimate on 'Last Train Home (Ballad Version)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
14. "John Mayer Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
15. "John Mayer Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
17. "John Mayer – Last Train Home" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
18. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 14, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
20. "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
21. "John Mayer Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
22. "John Mayer Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
24. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.