Fifteen released their first record in 1991 on Lookout records. It was singer/guitarist Jeff Ott's vision to create music that didn't just rock, but had something important to say as well. After four records on Lookout, two on Grass Records, three on Sub City Records, and three more on indefinite self-published labels, Fifteen were viewed as the leaders in the political-punk music scene. They tackle such burning issues as homelessness, drug abuse, needle exchange, environmental destruction and the government's use of counterintelligence measures to violate activist's civil rights. Fifteen first broke up in 1996 after the self-released "extra medium kickball star."
They reformed in 1998 and released Hush and Survivor then disbanded 2000 with Jeff Ott stating that the anti-commercial DIY ethics of punk rock made it too expensive for him to have a band while raising a family.
The band had a total of fifteen members during its existence: Jeff Ott, Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan, John Ogle, Jessie Wickman, Joe Cable, John Quintos, Scott Pierce, Jim Prior, Lisa D. and Vanessa Bain.
The End
Fifteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the last wall torn down
When we're done putting back
What we took from the ground
When the last republican and bureaucrat and liberal
Can admit to being a Human Being
When the last stubborn man stops refusing
And there will come a day when there will be
No more enemy, and no one left to hate
And on this day, the Earth will stand up and walk away
When the last line on all the maps
Has been erased
When the last person learns to derive the simple pleasure
Of seeing another's smiling face
When we lose the reasons for divisions
And the separation has gone away
When we know the love will stay
When all the songs have been heard
And all the books have been read
When all the hate is gone and dead
And there will come a day when there will be
No more enemy and on one left to hate
And on this day the Earth will stand up and walk away
The song "The End" by Fifteen speaks about the end of division, hatred, and ultimately, the end of the world as we know it. The lyrics start with the idea of cleaning up the mess left behind from tearing down walls and taking things from the ground. This sets the stage for a bigger meaning of cleaning up the mess of division and hate that people have caused.
The song then goes on to talk about a future where political affiliations no longer matter, and people can admit to being human beings. This is followed by the hope that individuals will learn from their encounters with others, leading to an end of stubbornness and a willingness to learn.
The chorus talks about a day when there will be no more enemies left to hate. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where everyone is unified, and love prevails over all else. The imagery of the Earth standing up and walking away emphasizes the idea of tectonic changes that will occur in society for this unity to occur.
The song's message is clear - peace and unity can be achieved only when people let go of hate and division. It speaks to the resilience of love and the possibility of coming together despite differences.
Line by Line Meaning
When we're done cleaning the rubble
Once we have cleaned up the debris and destruction caused by previous conflicts
From the last wall torn down
From the last remnants of barriers that separated us
When we're done putting back
Once we have restored all that we have taken from the earth
What we took from the ground
The natural resources that we have exploited and taken advantage of for our own benefit
When the last republican and bureaucrat and liberal
When politicians and individuals of different ideologies can acknowledge their shared humanity
Can admit to being a Human Being
Can acknowledge and recognize their common humanity, regardless of differences in beliefs or values
When the last stubborn man stops refusing
When the final person who is resistant to acceptance and change learns from the people and experiences they encounter
To learn from who he's met and what he's seen
To be open to learning from others, even if they hold different beliefs or come from different backgrounds
And there will come a day when there will be
A time will come when
No more enemy, and no one left to hate
When all hostility and animosity between individuals or groups have ceased to exist
And on this day, the Earth will stand up and walk away
A metaphorical representation of the world moving beyond conflict and hatred towards a better future
When the last line on all the maps
When all borders and boundaries have dissolved
Has been erased
When all divisions between people and nations have been eliminated
When the last person learns to derive the simple pleasure
When the final individual comes to appreciate the joy that comes from
Of seeing another's smiling face
The happiness that comes from witnessing the joy of others
When we lose the reasons for divisions
When we no longer have reasons to create lines of separation between people
And the separation has gone away
When all divisions and differences have disappeared
When we know the love will stay
When we are confident that love, acceptance, and respect will endure
When all the songs have been heard
When all cultures, melodies, and stories have been shared and appreciated
And all the books have been read
When everyone has had access to education and information
When all the hate is gone and dead
When destructive emotions and attitudes have no place in society
And there will come a day when there will be
A time will come when
No more enemy and on one left to hate
When animosity and aggression have been eradicated from society
And on this day the Earth will stand up and walk away
A figurative expression of the world moving towards peace, unity, and mutual respect
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind