Maybe the Last Time

{{short description|1964 song by James Brown and The Famous Flames}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Maybe the Last Time

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = James Brown and The Famous Flames

| album = Out of Sight

| A-side = Out of Sight

| released = {{Start date|1964|7}}

| recorded = {{Start date|1964|6|6}}, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = R&B, soul

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=58}}

| label = Smash
1919

| writer = James Brown

| producer = James Brown

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|2AWEr_GK9Fo|"Maybe The Last Time"}}|header=Audio video}}

}}

"Maybe the Last Time" is a song written by James Brown (under the pseudonym Ted Wright)Leeds, Alan M., and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records. and recorded by Brown and the Famous Flames in 1964. It was released as the B-side of "Out of Sight" and was also included on the Out of Sight album. Brown described it as "a heavy gospel-based number, all about appreciating friends and everything while you can because each time you see somebody may be the last time, you don't know."Brown, James, and Bruce Tucker (1986). James Brown: The Godfather of Soul, 148-149. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press. It was the last studio recording Brown made with the Famous Flames, although the singing group continued to perform live with him for several more years.

"Maybe the Last Time" charted on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100, peaking at No. 7 the week of October 17, 1964.White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records. It became a frequent part of Brown and the Famous Flames' concert repertoire in the 1960s. Live performances appear on the albums Live at the Garden, Live at the Apollo, Volume II, and Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68, and in the concert film Live at the Boston Garden.

The song has gospel antecedents, particularly an earlier recording by the Staple Singers, and similarity to a later track by the Rolling Stones

called “The Last Time”, which borrowed its name and theme from the Brown/Famous Flames song.{{fact|date=May 2025}}