About The Song
“The Last Time I Saw My Heart” is a 1958 recording by legendary country artist Marty Robbins. Written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics), it was released as the B-side to the Columbia Records single “Ain’t I The Lucky One” (catalog number 4-41282). The track features orchestration and chorus conducted by Ray Conniff and has a runtime of approximately 2:39 to 2:46.
The song emerged during a productive period for Bacharach and David, whose partnership began yielding notable successes starting in 1957 with Marty Robbins’ “The Story of My Life,” which topped the Billboard country charts. “The Last Time I Saw My Heart” showcases their early style: sophisticated, melodic pop with clever romantic lyrics, adapted to Robbins’ versatile delivery. Columbia promoted the release with crossover ambitions in mind, blending country roots with broader pop appeal.
Marty Robbins (born Martin David Robinson, 1925) was already a major force in country music by the late 1950s, known for hits like “Singing the Blues.” In 1958, he explored various styles, including pop-leaning material. This track fits that experimental phase. While the A-side “Ain’t I The Lucky One” reached around #23 on the Billboard country chart in late 1958, the B-side gained airplay and recognition, contributing to Robbins’ growing catalog of diverse recordings.
The arrangement highlights Conniff’s signature lush sound, with a waltz-like feel in sections that complements the song’s theme of a love-struck moment leading to a lost heart. It later appeared on compilations such as Marty’s Greatest Hits (1959) and various Burt Bacharach retrospectives, including collections covering his 1957–1959 recordings.
Robbins’ smooth, precise vocal performance underscores his ability to handle sophisticated material alongside traditional country and western themes. Although it did not match the massive success of later hits like “El Paso” (1959), the song documents an important transitional moment in his career and in Bacharach-David’s rise before their dominant 1960s output with artists like Dionne Warwick.
Original 45 RPM pressings, including promo copies, remain collectible. The track has been reissued on CD and digital platforms (Spotify, Apple Music), preserving its place in mid-20th-century American popular music history. It stands as a charming example of early Brill Building songcraft interpreted through a country lens.
In total, the song reflects the creative cross-pollination happening in the late 1950s music industry, where country artists like Robbins helped launch songwriting teams that would later define the pop landscape.
Video
Lyric
The last time I saw my heart
Was on the way up to your lips
As I was lost in your embrace
I found myself somewhere in space
When I came down to earth again my heart was goneThe last time I saw my heart
I know that I was in your arms
And as we kissed I closed my eyes
And stumbled in to Paradise
When I returned from Paradise my heart was goneWhy did you leave
Where did you go
I can’t believe
You’d deceive someone who needs you soOh come back, I beg of you
And keep my heart, I want you to
Though I can’t live without my heart
I’ll die if we remain apartThe last time I saw my heart I fell in love
The last time I saw my heart I fell in love