On this program , we explain American English expressions a little more in depth . Like many languages , English has many expressions that come from the world of animals . Today , we hear about a beautiful bird that gives us a rather sad expression . Christopher Jones Cruise brings us that story . It floats quietly on the water , unable to sing sweet songs like most other birds . In ancient times , however , people believed that the swan was given a special gift of song at the end of its life . They believed a swan sings a most beautiful song just before it dies . The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates talked of this more than 2,300 years ago . Socrates explained that the swan was singing because it was happy . The bird was happy because it was going to serve the Greek god Apollo . Swans were holy to Apollo , the god of poetry and song . The story of the swan's last song found a place in the works of other writers , including the early English writers Chaucer and Shakespeare . And , the expression "swan song " has long been a part of the English language . At first , "swan song " meant the last work of a poet , musician or writer . Now , it means the final effort of any person . Someone's swan song usually is also considered that person's finest work . A political expression with a similar meaning is the "last hurrah ." The expression may be used to describe a politician's last campaign -- his final attempt to win the cheers and votes of the people . The "last hurrah " also can mean the last acts of a politician before his term in office ends . Writer Edwin O'Connor made the expression popular in 1956 . He wrote a book about the final years in the political life of a long-time mayor of Boston , Massachusetts . He called his book The Last Hurrah . Some language experts say the expression came from a name given to noisy supporters of Andrew Jackson , America's seventh president . They cheered "hurrah !" so loudly for Andy Jackson during his presidential campaign that they became known as "the hurrah boys ." Jackson's hurrah boys also played a part in the election to choose the next president . Jackson's choice was his vice president , Martin Van Buren . So , President Jackson really heard his last hurrahs in the campaign of another candidate , the man who would replace him in the White House . Join us again next week as we explore more common expressions in American English !