swan song
Final creative act
A swan song is a final performance, work, or act before death or retirement.
The phrase comes from an ancient belief that swans, silent throughout their lives, sing beautifully just before dying.
Now it refers to any notable farewell: The album was his swan song before leaving the music industry.
Often carries a sense of culminating achievement or poignant ending.
Departing salutation
- partingAct of leaving another
- adieuFormal leave-taking
- departureAct of going away
- leave-takingAct of saying goodbye
exit · send-off · final bow · curtain call · last hurrah · valediction · retirement · finale
Mournful expression of grief
- requiemMass for the deceased
- dirgeMournful commemorative music
- threnodyMemorial song of grief
- eulogyTribute for the dead
tribute · memorial · homage · remembrance · last testament · valedictory · epitaph · farewell address
Creator's supreme achievement
- tour de forceExceptional feat of skill
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- masterworkSupreme creative achievement
- pièce de résistanceOutstanding item in collection
opus · pinnacle · culmination · capstone · triumph · landmark · legacy · final statement
goodbye
Departing salutation
leave-taking · exit · send-off · final bow · curtain call · last hurrah · valediction · retirement · finale · coda
lament
Mournful expression of grief
eulogy · tribute · memorial · homage · remembrance · last testament · valedictory · epitaph · farewell address · final words
magnum opus
Creator's supreme achievement
- tour de forceExceptional feat of skill
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- masterworkSupreme creative achievement
pièce de résistance · opus · pinnacle · culmination · capstone · triumph · landmark · legacy · final statement · defining moment
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- endingsending, the end, finish, close, final
- music expressionsmusic to my ears, in tune, out of tune, play it by ear, strike a chord
- swan songsfinal performance, last performance, farewell concert, farewell tour, final bow
- finalesfinale, grand finale, final curtain, curtain call, final bow
swan songdebut
First public appearance
maiden voyage · opening act · premiere · starting point · origin story
swan songprelude
Introductory piece or event
introduction · prologue · overture · opening chapter · genesis
swan songdebut
First public appearance
first attempt · trial run · juvenilia · learning curve · rough draft