When The World Ends
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics


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When the world ends
Collect your things
You're coming with me
When the world ends
You tuckle up yourself with me
Watch it as the stars disappear to nothing
The day the world is over
We'll be lying in bed

I'm gonna rock you like a baby when the cities fall
We will rise as the building's crumble
Float there and watch it all
Amidst the burning, we'll be churning
You know, love will be our wings
The passion rises up from the ashes
When the world ends

When the world ends
You're gonna come with me
We're going to be crazy
Like a river bends
We're going to float
Through the criss cross of the mountains
Watch them fade to nothing
When the world ends
You know that's what's happening now
I'm going to be there with you somehow, oh...

I'm going to tie you up like a baby in a carriage car
Your legs won't work cause you want me so
You just lie spread to the wall
The love you got is surely
All the love that I would ever need
I'm going to take you by my side
And love you tall, â??til the world ends

Oh, but don't you worry about a thing
No, 'cause I got you here with me
Don't you worry about a
Just you and me
Floating through the empty, empty
Just you and me
Oh, graces
Oh, grace

Oh, when the world ends
We'll be burning one
When the world ends
We'll be sweet makin love
Oh, you know when the world ends
I'm going to take you aside and say
Let's watch it fade away, fade away
And the world's done
Ours just begun
It's done
Ours just begun

We're gonna dive into the emptiness
We'll be swimming
I'm going to walk you through the pathless roads
I'm going to take you to the top of the mountain that's no longer there
I'm going to take you to bed and love you, I swear
Like the end is here

I'm going to take you up to
I'm going to take you down on you
I'm going to hold you like an angel, angel

I'm going to love you
I'm going to love you
When the world ends
I'm going to hold you




When the world is over
We'll just be beginning...

Overall Meaning

The song "When the World Ends" by Dave Matthews Band is a love song that speaks to the idea that everything comes to an end, but that love can remain eternal. The lyrics speak about the end of the world, with the stars disappearing, the buildings crumbling, and the mountains fading to nothing. Despite all of this destruction, the singer of the song promises to hold on tight to their loved one and to weather the end of the world together.


In the first verse, the singer speaks about collecting their things and bringing their loved one with them as the world ends. The second verse speaks of floating together amidst the destruction and churning of the world. The chorus reiterates the idea that they will be together as the world ends, watching it fade away, but theirs will just be beginning. The bridge speaks of swimming into emptiness and walking on pathless roads, but ultimately ending up in each other's arms.


The lyrics can be seen as a metaphor for the transient nature of the world and the things in it. The world itself may come to an end, but love and connection can withstand even the most catastrophic events.


Overall, "When the World Ends" is a powerful love song that speaks to the endurance of love even in the face of destruction and uncertainty.


Line by Line Meaning

When the world ends
Despite everything else that is happening in the world, they will remain together till the very end.


Collect your things
Get ready to face the end together.


You're coming with me
They are going to face the end together.


You tuckle up yourself with me
They will face whatever is coming together, supporting and holding each other.


Watch it as the stars disappear to nothing
They will watch everything end together, including beautiful things that once existed.


The day the world is over
The day everything comes to an end.


We'll be lying in bed
They will be together, cherishing each other, even during the end of times.


I'm gonna rock you like a baby when the cities fall
They will love each other and hold each other close even when everything else is falling apart.


We will rise as the building's crumble
Their love will endure through chaos and destruction, and will come out even stronger.


Float there and watch it all
Together, they will be passive observers of the end.


Amidst the burning, we'll be churning
Their love will remain even in the midst of destruction.


You know, love will be our wings
Their love will carry them through the apocalypse and beyond.


The passion rises up from the ashes
Their love will emerge out of the destruction that surrounds them.


You're gonna come with me
They will face the end together, supporting each other.


We're going to be crazy
In spite of the horrors that are happening around them, they will hold onto each other and their love.


Like a river bends
Their actions will be guided by love and affection.


We're going to float
They will stay together, no matter what happens.


Through the criss cross of the mountains
They will endure through the many obstacles that will come their way.


Watch them fade to nothing
Together, they will witness the end of everything that had held significance before.


You know that's what's happening now
They are aware that the end is near and are ready to face it together.


I'm going to be there with you somehow, oh...
They will be there for each other, regardless of what happens.


I'm going to tie you up like a baby in a carriage car
They will hold each other tightly and will not let go, even when everything else is falling apart.


Your legs won't work cause you want me so
They will hold onto each other strongly, unable to let go.


You just lie spread to the wall
They will cherish each other, holding on tight and not wanting to let go.


The love you got is surely
The love they share is real and very strong.


All the love that I would ever need
Their love is all they need in life and beyond.


I'm going to take you by my side
They will stay close to each other, through thick and thin.


And love you tall, 'til the world ends
They will love each other deeply and passionately till the very end.


Oh, but don't you worry about a thing
Everything will be okay because they have each other.


No, 'cause I got you here with me
Their love is real, and that's all they need to be happy and content.


Just you and me
They will be together with no distractions, facing the end along with their love.


Floating through the empty, empty
Together, they will observe the end of everything.


Oh, graces
Their love will hold them somewhat above the destruction that will surround them.


When the world ends
Together, they will be brave and face the apocalypse.


We'll be burning one
They will be having some moments of passion and love even during the end.


We'll be sweet makin love
They will love each other just as passionately and sweetly as they always have.


I'm going to take you aside and say
They will face the end together, and be their true selves through it all.


Let's watch it fade away, fade away
They will observe the end come and go together, cherishing their love that will survive beyond it.


And the world's done
The end has come, and everything is over for the world.


Ours just begun
However, their new beginning has just started, and they will face it together.


We're gonna dive into the emptiness
They will face the end together and explore the end of everything.


We'll be swimming
In spite of the bleak surroundings, they will still be themselves and cherish their love.


I'm going to walk you through the pathless roads
They will be together, no matter where the end takes them.


I'm going to take you to the top of the mountain that's no longer there
Together, they will brave anything, no matter the obstacles in the way.


I'm going to take you to bed and love you, I swear
Their love will carry them through anything, even beyond the end of everything else.


Like the end is here
They will face the end, holding onto their love and each other.


I'm going to take you up to
Together, they will brave anything, no matter the obstacles that get in their way.


I'm going to take you down on you
Their love will remain strong, making everything else fade into insignificance.


I'm going to hold you like an angel, angel
Together, they will hold onto each other tightly, no matter what happens during the end.


I'm going to love you
Their love will not falter, even during times of great hardship and destruction.


When the world ends
As everything falls apart, their love will hold them together and make everything okay.


I'm going to hold you
Their love for each other will hold them close, no matter what challenges they may face.


When the world is over
At the end of everything, they will still be together, and their love will endure.


We'll just be beginning...
Even as everything else is ending, their love will be the beginning of something new and wonderful.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, GLEN BALLARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

GrandSchemeFC

When the world ends
Collect your things
You're coming with me
When the world ends
You tuckle up yourself with me
Watch it as the stars disappear to nothing
The day the world is over
We'll be lying in bed
I'm gonna rock you like a baby when the cities fall
We will rise as the building's crumble
Float there and watch it all
Amidst the burning, we'll be churning
You know, love will be our wings
The passion rises up from the ashes
When the world ends
When the world ends
You're gonna come with me
We're going to be crazy
Like a river bends
We're going to float
Through the criss cross of the mountains
Watch them fade to nothing
When the world ends
You know that's what's happening now
I'm going to be there with you somehow, oh...
I'm going to tie you up like a baby in a carriage car
Your legs won't work cause you want me so
You just lie spread to the wall
The love you got is surely
All the love that I would ever need
I'm going to take you by my side
And love you tall, â??til the world ends
Oh, but don't you worry about a thing
No, 'cause I got you here with me
Don't you worry about a
Just you and me
Floating through the empty, empty
Just you and me
Oh, graces
Oh, grace
Oh, when the world ends
We'll be burning one
When the world ends
We'll be sweet makin love
Oh, you know when the world ends
I'm going to take you aside and say
Let's watch it fade away, fade away
And the world's done
Ours just begun
It's done
Ours just begun
We're gonna dive into the emptiness
We'll be swimming
I'm going to walk you through the pathless roads
I'm going to take you to the top of the mountain that's no longer there
I'm going to take you to bed and love you, I swear
Like the end is here
I'm going to take you up to
I'm going to take you down on you
I'm going to hold you like an angel, angel
I'm going to love you
I'm going to love you
When the world ends
I'm going to hold you
When the world is over
We'll just be beginning...



All comments from YouTube:

W G

This Central Park concert does something to my soul that nothing else can. It's a wild and unbelievable feeling. I've never been to New York, but I've seen at least 20 nights of Dave live in concert. I still have every ticket.

TK

It touches my soul, too! I bought this album the day it came out, and it's crazy to think that it is almost 20 years old now. I was 23, single, and a fresh college grad then. Now I'm 42 with 3 kids. This concert is literally the fabric of my adult life.

Lance Laney

If you haven't seen DMB at the Gorge...then you're missing a great chance to vibe out with 40k Dave fans for a whole weekend...its definitely a must do for any DMB fan...just bought tickets for our 5th trip this year....wouldn't miss it. Just got home from Cancun to see Dave and Tim.....first time there and was also awesome time...see them while u still can...our lifeblood during these crazy times. 🤪

Derin Catalbas

Severely underrated song

Jeffrey Tawney

Got to see them in May. Nashville. Opened with this song. Love it!

Garett Gee

Top 5 for me. Love this song so much.

Blonde Haired Girl JKT

One of my favorite DMB songs. Amazing band!

Angel Tears

All the words to all the songs needs to be collected & published in a series of books to be available for study/discussion, especially by students. I started writing this comment on another song & the playlist switched to this song, and of course this is one of my favorite performances.

Jakub Kurpiński

I have litteral goosebumps listening to the chorus...

"Well I'mma rock you like a baby
When the cities fall"

Hank Conroy

This song hits different when you realize where and when this performance happened

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