The End

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Comments

  • SurfingSasquatch
    SurfingSasquatch Posts: 15
    "Slide on next to me, I'm just a human being!" amazing line. Gets me every time. Its like he's singing about so many of our own fears and desires about life and death in this song. "The End comes near, I'm here but not much longer...."
    “The love received is the love that is saved.”
    Key Arena - Sep 22, 2009
    Gorge Amphitheatre - Sep 01, 2005
    Key Arena - Dec 08, 2002
  • PearlOfAGirl
    PearlOfAGirl Posts: 15,993
    SurfingSasquatch wrote:
    "Slide on next to me, I'm just a human being!" amazing line. Gets me every time. Its like he's singing about so many of our own fears and desires about life and death in this song. "The End comes near, I'm here but not much longer...."

    You should use that as your sig. ;):mrgreen:

    Wish you were here...
    ♥~RIP Dad
  • My3rdEye
    My3rdEye Posts: 927
    02:48 = haunting (last breath)

    absolutely love this part...

    "I just want to hold on
    And know I’m worth your love
    Enough
    I don’t think
    There’s such a thing"

    also, the strings add so much depth to this song. just an amazing piece of music.
    My blog for your boots:
    http://inthepresenttense.blogspot.com/
  • PJSEMPRE
    PJSEMPRE Posts: 687
    This song and Unthought Known are my favourite songs from Backspacer.
    Let's say knowledge is a tree, yeah.
    It's growing up just like me.
  • DangDang
    DangDang Posts: 1,551
    weenie wrote:
    I also don't think there's a better song/music writing team than Ed and Stone anywhere today. Stone's penchant for melody is astounding. . :D:D:D

    I totally agree with you.

    I was even skeptical about the better reviews (before I heard the album), because I thought that Pearl Jam songs were so awesome, that they couldn't get any better than they already are.

    This album is unbelievable. I'm totally blown away by it, sometimes I can't take it.

    I also agree with your colon D's. I hope I don't hit the floor hearing some of these songs live.
  • patrickcarson
    patrickcarson Posts: 64
    This song is a classic example of brilliant storytelling. Lets us not forget how amazing EV & the boys are at crafting a finely tuned story (dead man, off he goes, red mosquito, given to fly...).

    It's not about Ed - Ed's telling a story about someone else. Pure. Freaking. Magic.
  • Rigg
    Rigg Posts: 11
    PearlJam24 wrote:
    I just read along the lyrics while the song was playing and I started balling...fuck that is some deep shit.

    i just left my partner, i cheated and this song to me is all about that.......it's my fault and i've been cought, a sickness in my bones. how it pains to leave you here with the kids on your own................"ouch" those words hit me!
    a man lies in his bed in a room with no door, he waits hoping for a presence, something, anything to enter....after half my life....pearl jam came along :)
  • agauthiermdphd
    agauthiermdphd Posts: 144
    Here is my interpretation of the song, which I take fairly literally, as the album was dedicated to someone who is dead, Dr. Michael Richter. I can imagine Eddie and the band seeing him before his death coming up with this song, putting themselves in the possible scenario of being given the diagnosis of cancer, even at their age.

    I am amazed by how Eddie managed to capture the emotional and physical pain that a fairly young patient (in this case I believe palliative in his early 40 or 50s with children and afflicted by bone metastases) will experience and express to his wife (sexes may be reverse). More than friends ... want to grow old (with you) ... sickness in my bones.

    I, as a physician, have seen this reality a few times. The drainage of energy from metastatic cancer is complete ... bottom of a well. I have also seen up close from one on my 44 year old friend who passed away from metastatic lung cancer (he never smoked a cigarette in is life), this, 3 years ago. My father in law also went through the same emotional an physical despair described by Eddie 3 weeks ago.

    I believe the ones that "get" this song have lost a close one. The ones that have yet to get it will one day as death of a close one inevitably will happen to them (hopefully, i.e., they will be close to another person and will not die prematurely themselves). This intense and painful emotion that come with death of a close one is important to help one grow and realize that there is a big picture, that each day should not be wasted, and there has to be life after death.

    The songs ends perfectly as palliative cancer patients die in this fashion. I have seen it many times. They take one breath, and the next one does not come.
    I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.

    Montreal 20/06/03, Montreal 15/09/05, Ottawa 16/09/05. Montreal 1 (EV) 09/08/08; Albany 2 (EV) 09/06/09.
    Toronto 21/08/09; Cleveland 9/05/10; Buffalo 10/05/10. Montreal 7/09/11; Toronto 11/9/11; Toronto 12/9/11; Ottawa 14/9/11.
    London 16/07/13; Pittsburg 11/10/13; Buffalo 12/10/13. Moline (No Code) 17/10/14, St Paul 19/10/14, Milwaukee (Yield) 20/10/14.
    Quebec City 5/5/2016, Ottawa 8/5/2016; Toronto (Binaural) 10/5/2016, Toronto 12/5/2016 (Completed Ten, finally got Oceans).
    London 18/7/2018, London 19/7/2018 :(, Boston 2/9/2018.
    Quebec City 1/9/2022; Ottawa 3/9/2022; Hamilton 6/9/2022, Toronto 8/9/2022.
  • acrossssSsssshittt
    acrossssSsssshittt Posts: 1,014
    To Augauth...

    that was nice...very sensitively put... i appreciated that...
  • sesame
    sesame Posts: 22
    agauthiermdphd wrote:
    Here is my interpretation of the song, which I take fairly literally, as the album was dedicated to someone who is dead, Dr. Michael Richter. I can imagine Eddie and the band seeing him before his death coming up with this song, putting themselves in the possible scenario of being given the diagnosis of cancer, even at their age.

    I am amazed by how Eddie managed to capture the emotional and physical pain that a fairly young patient (in this case I believe palliative in his early 40 or 50s with children and afflicted by bone metastases) will experience and express to his wife (sexes may be reverse). More than friends ... want to grow old (with you) ... sickness in my bones.

    I, as a physician, have seen this reality a few times. The drainage of energy from metastatic cancer is complete ... bottom of a well. I have also seen up close from one on my 44 year old friend who passed away from metastatic lung cancer (he never smoked a cigarette in is life), this, 3 years ago. My father in law also went through the same emotional an physical despair described by Eddie 3 weeks ago.

    I believe the ones that "get" this song have lost a close one. The ones that have yet to get it will one day as death of a close one inevitably will happen to them (hopefully, i.e., they will be close to another person and will not die prematurely themselves). This intense and painful emotion that come with death of a close one is important to help one grow and realize that there is a big picture, that each day should not be wasted, and there has to be life after death.

    The songs ends perfectly as palliative cancer patients die in this fashion. I have seen it many times. They take one breath, and the next one does not come.

    I totally agree! I even hear the shortness of breath that I can sense from such a disease, but I've never met a cancer patient or known someone close that has passed away. I just feel so strongly for this song though. I understand what it is like to want to live, but you're can't anymore. And then to die. It's just an amazing song to capture something so difficult to contemplate or discuss,. I love the change half way through, that my wife pointed out - that the patient (he/she) says I just wanted to grow old, and then I want to grow old - it's like they were somewhat nostalgic about their past, but now this is the present. Why can't they grow old? It's so sad. I think in someways it relates to the song sad, about that closeness with someone else, but then death changes everything - how do you move on? Only this song is completely from the eyes of the person who dies. You're left imagining the other person with the kids and the sadness of losing their partner, but this songs not about them - listen to sad for that :)

    Heaps of Love,
    Dean.
  • agauthiermdphd
    agauthiermdphd Posts: 144
    Hi Dean. I think we agree on how amazing this song is at capturing the brutal reality of cancer steeling away the life of a person and the extreme emotional impact it has on that person, and their close ones.
    Peace and may you grow old with your love ones.
    Alain.
    I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.

    Montreal 20/06/03, Montreal 15/09/05, Ottawa 16/09/05. Montreal 1 (EV) 09/08/08; Albany 2 (EV) 09/06/09.
    Toronto 21/08/09; Cleveland 9/05/10; Buffalo 10/05/10. Montreal 7/09/11; Toronto 11/9/11; Toronto 12/9/11; Ottawa 14/9/11.
    London 16/07/13; Pittsburg 11/10/13; Buffalo 12/10/13. Moline (No Code) 17/10/14, St Paul 19/10/14, Milwaukee (Yield) 20/10/14.
    Quebec City 5/5/2016, Ottawa 8/5/2016; Toronto (Binaural) 10/5/2016, Toronto 12/5/2016 (Completed Ten, finally got Oceans).
    London 18/7/2018, London 19/7/2018 :(, Boston 2/9/2018.
    Quebec City 1/9/2022; Ottawa 3/9/2022; Hamilton 6/9/2022, Toronto 8/9/2022.
  • metelvis
    metelvis Posts: 3
    These lyrics really make me wonder if Ed is Okay. It's a truly beautiful song on many levels. If it's not autobiographical Ed is quite simply one the most moving songwriters of his time.

    Backspacer is easily PJ's best album since Vitalogy and in my opinion makes them the most important active American band today. "The End" will be the crowning jewel of the lot. The song isn't a hit yet but it will be. Too beautiful to simply sit at the end of a CD. It might be a slow burn, they probably won't release it as a single but it will find it's way to the radio eventually. Where else can you find a song that hits this close to the bone. It's an anthem, it's a kiss goodbye a reason to cry and smile. These are things we all need. Thanks Ed, I sincerely hope you are Okay. Can't wait to see you again in Texas.
    don't it make you smile...
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    metelvis wrote:
    These lyrics really make me wonder if Ed is Okay. It's a truly beautiful song on many levels. If it's not autobiographical Ed is quite simply one the most moving songwriters of his time.

    Backspacer is easily PJ's best album since Vitalogy and in my opinion makes them the most important active American band today. "The End" will be the crowning jewel of the lot. The song isn't a hit yet but it will be. Too beautiful to simply sit at the end of a CD. It might be a slow burn, they probably won't release it as a single but it will find it's way to the radio eventually. Where else can you find a song that hits this close to the bone. It's an anthem, it's a kiss goodbye a reason to cry and smile. These are things we all need. Thanks Ed, I sincerely hope you are Okay. Can't wait to see you again in Texas.
    I think he IS the most moving songwriter of his time. I think he has what we all strive for- great empathy and he can express our feelings from this. He is truly gifted and we blessed to have him in our lives.
  • ColinAllCars
    ColinAllCars Waterbury, CT Posts: 54
    ha the first few listens i thought the line was "and buried beneath the stove", and i actually liked it. i guess it's definitely a stretch, but i had this visual of like a locket or an old photo that accidentally ended up under the stove, forgotten about until one moves it. ha, dumb, i know.

    i also think the lyric "give me something to echo in my unknown future's ear" is hypnotic. definitely my favorite line on the album
    10/2/96- Hartford, CT; 9/13/98- Hartford, CT; 9/15/98- Mansfield, MA; 9/4/00- Columbia, MD; 7/8/03- NY, NY; 7/9/03- NY, NY; 9/28/2004- Boston, MA; 5/4/06- NY, NY; 6/14/08- Manchester, TN; 6/27/08- Hartford, CT; 6/30/08- Mansfield, MA; 6/9/09- Albany, NY (Ed solo); 10/31/09- Philadelphia, PA; 5/15/10- Hartford, CT; 10/25/13- Hartford, CT
  • inlet13
    inlet13 Posts: 1,979
    I don't think the song is about Ed, exactly. First, if you recall, there were two songs that were going to be on Backspacer called Cigarette Song 1 and Cigarette Song 2. Let's face it, Ed's great at putting himself in other people's shoes... listen to daughter or elderly woman for proof. In this scenario, I think he put himself in the guise of a cancer patient. Perhaps, this cancer was developed through cigarettes? I don't know. I'm just putting two and two together. But, I think the song is about Ed (putting himself in a terminal cancer patients point of view) and writing about it.

    In my mind, these are the best lyrics he's ever written. I've never cried so much regarding music in my life as I have to this one song.

    This song is not only about death, it's about life. Yet, at the same time, it's the perfect ying to yang with Just Breathe. I love Backspacer.
    Here's a new demo called "in the fire":

    <object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt; <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
  • unlost dogs
    unlost dogs Greater Boston Posts: 12,553
    This week I had one of those abrupt health care scares _ a quick visit to my primary care physician and next thing you know I'm getting the multithousand dollar workup _ ultrasound, CT, etc. In that interval after the diagnostics were done, and before I heard the results (everything appears to be fine, whew), I was on the train listening to this song and next thing you know I'm sitting there trying to hide the fact that I'm crying...

    I worry about the cigarette issue and I thought the same thing about Eddie and "The End." Especially the "sickness in my bones" reference. But I think, as you all know, he is such a master at articulating observations. I am going to believe that he's been in close proximity to someone who's gone through this and now, as a father of two in a stable, loving relationship, he's channeling that other person's experience and adding his own imagined heartbreak.

    And the other thing is... someone with cancer that's metastasized to the bones is unlikely to be fronting a band going on an extensive US and European tour.
    15 years of sharks 06/30/08 (MA), 05/17/10 (Boston), 09/03/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/04/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/30/12 (Missoula), 07/19/13 (Wrigley), 10/15/13 (Worcester), 10/16/13 (Worcester), 10/25/13 (Hartford), 12/4/13 (Vancouver), 12/6/13 (Seattle), 6/26/14 (Berlin), 6/28/14 (Stockholm), 10/16/14 (Detroit)
  • BhagavadGita
    BhagavadGita Posts: 1,748
    acrossOceans wrote:
    Let us all please just pray... that things are ok... cuz at least for me, there's little else...

    A muse and a guardian angel are hard to find..

    If death is what we are talking about.., you won't be alone with your feelings. I've felt this for 17 years and having little else to hold onto is very frightening indeed.

    We will all die someday and if Ed goes first, well, maybe he would be there, waiting for you/us/all on the other side. Makes death less scary... :cry:

    For now, we will pray this is not the case.

    Be well AcrossOceans. :cry:
  • BhagavadGita
    BhagavadGita Posts: 1,748
    pandora wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    I got the CD in the mail from 10C yesterday and after reading the words to The End, got totally depressed. Sounds like Ed's really ill. Not trying to be Debbie Downer here but read the words to The End.

    It also seems like one of the themes of this CD art is memories..... band member memories, and how the guys are all so connected to one another. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm concerned. The idea of dying too soon and leaving people behind seems to wind through a couple other songs too.

    When you think about how they structured this tour and the Target thing, it all seems to fall into place.
    I really hope I'm wrong.
    Somebody on here had a good perspective- "the sickness in the bones" is the need to get out and tour- an addiction to entertaining. I'm choosing to believe this cause I couldn't accept anything else

    :arrow: Pandora, you are a very comforting person and as empathetic as Ed...Just needed to say that.

    One thing I have noticed is the first album started with Once....Once upon a time...
    This album ends with The End.

    Is there a bigger, bigger story here than many of us can see? Pull back the camera....is this genius work a huge rock opera?
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    BhagavadGita wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    weenie wrote:
    I got the CD in the mail from 10C yesterday and after reading the words to The End, got totally depressed. Sounds like Ed's really ill. Not trying to be Debbie Downer here but read the words to The End.

    It also seems like one of the themes of this CD art is memories..... band member memories, and how the guys are all so connected to one another. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm concerned. The idea of dying too soon and leaving people behind seems to wind through a couple other songs too.

    When you think about how they structured this tour and the Target thing, it all seems to fall into place.
    I really hope I'm wrong.
    Somebody on here had a good perspective- "the sickness in the bones" is the need to get out and tour- an addiction to entertaining. I'm choosing to believe this cause I couldn't accept anything else

    :arrow: Pandora, you are a very comforting person and as empathetic as Ed...Just needed to say that.

    One thing I have noticed is the first album started with Once....Once upon a time...
    This album ends with The End.

    Is there a bigger, bigger story here than many of us can see? Pull back the camera....is this genius work a huge rock opera?
    Thank you for your kind words
    Cool idea you have, really a beautiful thought....I wonder.... and they do love the Who.

    I really missed him singing it in KC. He did Off He Goes,that made my husbands night, then Just Breathe and I was ready for The End, which I have grown to love so much.
    The song, for me, is about appreciating what we have here. I didn't always appreciate life, I took it for granted, like some with seniority and good seats for a concert ;) . But now I "just want to grow old" really whatever the terms. Life is very beautiful but we often don't see that until its too late.

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