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who is "the end" about

primitiveshirts.comprimitiveshirts.com Posts: 176
edited September 2009 in The Porch
probably the saddest song eds written, is it about that mike richter guy? who was he? did he have cancer?

"its my fault, now i've been caught, a sickness in my bones"

great song.
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Comments

  • solace23solace23 Posts: 704
    Michael Richter was hit by a car whilst walking his dog. They were both died. I actually think the end is about Johnny Ramone
  • pjtradekingpjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    solace23 wrote:
    Michael Richter was hit by a car whilst walking his dog. They were both died. I actually think the end is about Johnny Ramone

    Wasnt Come Back about Johnny? While it is possible, I am thinking not...imho. :-)
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  • achildofthe70sachildofthe70s Posts: 73
    That song could be about anyone. Ed or someone else in the band, a friend of someone in the band, or no one at all. Unless Ed talks about it we will likely never know the truth.
  • JebberJebber Posts: 41
    Quote from Eddie about "The End" if you haven't already read it.

    The End

    “I got a phone call from a friend, from Spain. I couldn’t pick up the phone because I was recording the guitar part. When I checked his message, he had said something that enabled me to write the second verse, and in 20 minutes, it was done.”
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    I think it is about Obi Won Kenobi, right before he goes to fight Darth Vader for the last time.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    obviously, there really is no 'wrong' take on it, but i just wonder...why do so many take songs so literally? i mean, the song doesn't have to *be* about anyone specific, at all. it could be anyone or no one. i mean, really, we all are going to die someday, so if you are a gifted song writer, especially one getting older, have a family you love and adore...i definitely think these thoughts would enter your mind, and thus, enter into your song writing.


    and 'sickness in my bones'......can mean a whole host of different things........
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • CantKeepMeHereCantKeepMeHere Posts: 2,177
    Ed said way back nearly 20 years ago that he would never give the literal lyrical interpritations of his lyrics out to the world... Its like the Bible, we will never know for sure... I hear the song to be Ed singing to everyone else in the band with "us" the audience listening. Even the line about leaving you with the kids all alone, like he is singing to the rest of the music business... we are the kids, not his wife and their kids... Pearl Jam is that rare friend who has heart and soul - doesn't matter the song, THEY MEAN IT each time the play it or even put down for recording the first time - There aren't enough artist out like that - The last line in the end is Ed telling us that Pearl Jam is coming close to reaching the off ramp on their interstate of life - It can all be taken literally as well, the sickness in the bones his is yearning to be the way he is and too not be that way at the same time.. yeah yeah yeah I babble - Doesn't matter it is a beautiful song
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  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    cantkeepmehere wrote:
    Ed said way back nearly 20 years ago that he would never give the literal lyrical interpritations of his lyrics out to the world...

    I think Ed has changed his mind since 20 years ago ... because he won't shut up about what some of these new songs mean ;) (In fact, in the RS interview where Ed declines to give the meanings to his songs ... well, he goes on to tell everyone what Alive means).

    Anyway, I think it's pretty clear The End is about life and death. In general. I don't think it neccesarily HAS to be about any one person in particular. Life and death are two fairly common threads throughout the human condition.

    Think about it ... if a member of Pearl Jam knowingly had a terminal disease, do you really think they'd be on the road right now, playing 2 1/2 hours a night? Look at the Beastie Boys ... they had to take some time off to deal with Adam's cancer. I've never had a terminal disease (obviously), but I think it would be quite difficult to do what these guys do with one.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • blondieblue227blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    i know. it is strange because of what he said many moons ago. people change thou. it is kinda nice because there's no wondering/agruing about lyrics now.

    interview about backspacers song meaning
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  • potnikpotnik Posts: 461
    slightofjeff wrote:
    I think it is about Obi Won Kenobi, right before he goes to fight Darth Vader for the last time.

    I like this interpretation.
  • adele bottomleyadele bottomley Posts: 1
    i also agree with the obi wann kanobe theory..
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