The desire to hear the last words uttered by dying musicians - whether they knew they were about to die, or were still, as Bing Crosby was, blissfully unaware - in one borne largely from morbid curiosity. There's also something poignant, moving, and occasionally hopeful within the darkness though. Click ahead to see some of the last words from some of the biggest names in music.
Barry White: Spoken to his nurse as his health rapidly declined
Chicago's Terry Kath: The guitarist was playing around with his guns in front of a friend, who suggested that he stop. "Don't worry, the clip's not even in it," he said, shortly before fatally shooting himself in the head.
Sam Cooke: Cooke was fatally shot by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel, after he reportedly broke into her office. The exact circumstance of the incident is still disputed to this day.
The Beatles' George Harrison: Spoken to his wife as he was dying of cancer.
Nirvana's Kurt Cobain: The final part of Cobain's suicide note.
Jimi Hendrix: A voicemail left on Hendrix's manager's phone the night before Hendrix took a fatal overdose.
Cozy Powell: The drummer was on the phone to his girlfriend as he hurriedly drove to her house, and crashed the car.
Elvis Presley: Presley, whose health had declined dramatically in the years before his death, died of a heart attack while in the bathroom
Amy Winehouse: Written on Twitter shortly before the singer's death at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning.
Marvin Gaye: Spoken to Gaye's mother shortly before his father shot him dead.
Bing Crosby: A nice way to go, all things considered. Crosby finished a game of golf with friends, and died of a heart attack 20 yards from the club entrance.
Tupac Shakur: After Shakur and Suge Knight were shot in a drive-by shooting, Knight turned to Shakur and asked if he was OK. Shakur underestimated his injuries, and died, while Knight - who was shot twice in the neck - survived.
Michael Jackson: The 'milk' he refers to is propofol, the powerful hospital anaesthetic on which Jackson overdosed
Prince: A week before his death, Prince made his final public appearance at a dance party. Knowing that news of his recent hospitalisation had broken, he briefly urged the crowd that he was OK. Less than a week later, he was found dead at his Paisley Park home.