Neanderthal Song in Gorham's Cave - Kid Coma Live

Kid Coma aka Dr Doug Larson performs his song "Last Man Standing" - a lament to the demise of the Neanderthals - in the cave where the last Neanderthals ever existed just 28,000 years ago; one of the highlights of the Calpe 2012 Conference on Human Origins (held once every three years in Gibraltar).

Dr Doug Larson:
"Neanderthals are now extinct. Despite new evidence that some interbreeding may have occurred between Neanderthals and so-called modern humans - it appears that such matings did not materially alter their fate. Climate change, a peaceful attitude toward the earth, and time all caught up with them. As the ice moved down on them from the north, Gibraltar was still a paradise. Imagine this: an entire wonderful human species died out in paradise! Only to be replaced by an aggressive and expansive species that appears unable to learn from its own past or those of its close relatives! Once there was just one Neanderthal man left to wander the beaches alone looking for his lost friends. Who was the last man standing?"

Dr Doug Larson, ecologist, author, musician and guitar builder was inspired to compose this song on a previous visit to Gorham's Cave. When Director of the Gibraltar Museum and Calpe Conference organizer Dr Clive Finlayson invited him back in 2012 to speak on the topic of the evolution of the human niche it was the perfect opportunity to perform the song in the place that had so inspired him and had such special significance for our Neanderthal cousins. "The goal of the song is to encourage modern humans to feel the loss of a once proud and beautiful species that could perhaps teach us something today - how to be more gentle to the earth."

For his performance Dr Doug Larson used a guitar he had constructed from historical artifacts, as part of his Storyteller Guitar project. Each artifact has a story attached to it, and each performance using the guitar recruits more stories to the project. "The Storyteller Guitar itself is the voice of the music, all I do is add the lyrics and the story line. Humans can't really understand any object or idea unless they recruit all of art and all of science as tools of exploration. The point of this performance was to unify the art and the science of the Gorham's Cave project, but at the bigger scale."

Recorded live in Gorham's Cave on the 18th September 2012

People featured from left to right:
Dr Geraldine Finlayson, Dr Clive Finlayson, Dr Doug Larson, Dr Darren Fa, Dr Richard Jennings

Many thanks to the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Museum

Video Production:
David Valentine

***

Last Man Standing Lyrics:

Pull the hood down on my face,
Feel the cold wind steel my grace,
Beg the sun to warm my back,
Beg the hunger not to attack.

Two hundred thousand years of peace,
All coming down to this,
Left here all alone, the others I will miss,
Now it’s just me, me and the abyss.

Think I’m the last man standing,
The last one to recall,
The last man standing,
Wondering, wondering, wondering.

I can recall the land was ours,
I can recall the many hours,
I spent chipping at the stone,
Now there’s nothing left, nothing left but bones.

We were hundreds just last year,
Then the cold came and the fear,
We saw Africa across the strait,
But we cannot swim and we cannot wait.

Looking south across the sea,
I see things that cannot be,
See our mark upon the land,
See our footprints in the sand.

Think I’m the last man standing,
The last one to fall,
The last man standing,
Wondering, wondering.

[ericahuntley]

Here because of Kindred: Neanderthal life, love, death and art by Dr. Wragg Sykes. Thanks!

[johnbeasley]

Yes, Kindred brought me here. Such a poignant song in honor of those long ago people. It brought a tear to my eye. Thank you!

[mickdipiano]

Thank you Dr. Wragg Sykes for bringing me here. Kindred: Neanderthal life, love, death and art. I found her and her book because of Youtuber Stefan Milo. Thanks!

[mpatry]

Thanks to "KINDRED" book for pointing to this video.

[pacorubio]

Thank you Dr. Wragg Sykes for pointing me to this special, magic moment in Gorham's Cave.

[NewsTunes]

Kindred brought me here also. I am an Asian relative - now residing in NYC. Surviving the Covid invaders

[-Maeola-]

Strange to miss a people you never knew, but I do miss them all the same.

[markyoung]

Kindred brought me here too, this song is a touching rememberence to our lost 'cousins'!

[marthaesquivel-leon]

Thanks! Kindred referred me here. Honor the long ago brave people.

[marthaives]

I'm here also because of Kindred. Decided to read it after hearing Dr. Wragg Sykes talk with Alan Alda on his podcast.

[Kingsleyjamesflint]

Kindred brought me here too. Thank you Rebecca

[danielpolston]

Thank you Dr Sykes for recommending this video! And thank you for your amazing work and time put into Kindred.

[harrietharlow]

The lyrics are especially poignant when sung in Gorham's Cave. I can't begin to imagine what it might have been that last Neanderthal, knowing that (as far as he knew) the last of his kind...all alone, there in Gorham's Cave.

[julnel]

Hey Doug, it was a pleasure to play your songs. I'm glad that you fulfilled your dream of playing this great song in such a great place.

take care my friend - Douglas T. (Gibraltar)

[entrphyst]

Thank you, Doctor. It has been one hell of a ride.

[marmarmmgirl]

could someone make a comment with the lyrics? I can’t quite make it all out

[briganro]

Ditto, came here because I picked up Kindred from the library

[НастяХомастя]

Just starting read Kindred's book. It brought me here too! So exited to explore that story. And what a nice song! Hello from Russia🇷🇺

[quelele]

Hey! I came across a reference to this song in a book and have listened it so many times! There are no words to describe it. Thank you so much for sharing 🥹
Could you by chance share the lyrics? X

[isaakandal]

Here from Kindred like so many others.