Early on, Jesse carved out an independent direction for himself in the rock genre, very different from the world music style developed by his father. He strived to express himself in the most authentic way possible and understood the importance of being able to perform live. He experimented with a number of different instruments - which included saxophone, clarinet, drums and piano – until he settled and focused mainly on guitar. By seventeen, songwriting was his chief musical focus and it was in this period and the years to follow that he honed his writing skills and put together the songs recorded on the first album.
The single "Today" which was released on radio in mid August 2008 debuted at number one on the Highveld Homebrew Chart, a considerable feat for a debut artist with a debut single and an historical first for Homebrew. The album "When I Wake Up" is due for national release on 1 October.
End Of The Rainbow
Jesse Clegg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of came to lose
I don't know why I came at all
I stood in line for hours
Nobody told me to
I think I thought I saw your face
Do you remember?
What we said we'd do
If it ever came to this
And you count the hours
Do you recall?
What we used to do
Before we lost our minds
I got to the end of the line now
Behind they're waiting for me
It felt like I'd waited thirty years
Couldn't believe what I saw
A hundred thousand lines more
We'll never get to the end of the rainbow
Can you count the hours?
In Jesse Clegg's song "End of the Rainbow," he speaks of a feeling of uncertainty and confusion. The lyrics "Some of us came to conquer, Some of us came to lose, I don't know why I came at all" suggest that he may be questioning his own purpose or intentions for whatever situation he finds himself in. He then speaks of waiting in line, possibly for an event or opportunity, for hours with no clear indication of what he is waiting for. He thinks he sees a familiar face in the crowd, possibly indicating that he is seeking connection or validation from others.
The chorus of "See the blooming flowers, do you remember? What we said we'd do if it ever came to this" suggests a past promise or commitment made with someone else. There's a sense of nostalgia for times before whatever uncertainty he's currently feeling, as he asks "do you recall what we used to do before we lost our minds?" The second verse speaks of the line finally coming to an end, but now other lines have formed, creating a never-ending cycle of waiting and disappointment. The final lines of the song act as a call to action for the listener, as Clegg asks "Can you count the hours?" suggesting that time is precious and we should use it wisely.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of us came to conquer
Some of us entered this journey or battle to win, to be victorious.
Some of came to lose
Some of us entered this journey with the recognition that we may not win, and are prepared to accept the outcome either way.
I don't know why I came at all
The singer is uncertain of their motivation for being there, possibly regretful.
I stood in line for hours
The artist waited for a long time, perhaps in a queue or in anticipation.
Nobody told me to
The artist made a choice to wait, and was not compelled or directed to do so.
I think I thought I saw your face
The singer believes they saw someone important to them, or possibly someone they have not seen in a long time.
See the blooming flowers
The singer draws attention to the beauty around them.
Do you remember?
The artist asks the listener if they recall a specific memory or shared experience.
What we said we'd do
The artist is reminding the listener of a promise they made to each other.
If it ever came to this
The promise was made with the understanding that some difficult or unexpected circumstance might arise.
And you count the hours
The singer acknowledges the listener's anticipation or sense of time passing slowly.
Do you recall?
The artist asks the listener if they remember another specific memory or shared experience.
What we used to do
The singer reminds the listener of their past actions or behaviors together.
Before we lost our minds
The singer implies that their current situation or circumstances are distressing or unexpected.
I got to the end of the line now
The singer has finally reached their destination or goal after a period of waiting or effort.
Behind they're waiting for me
Others are waiting for the artist's arrival or response, possibly impatiently.
It felt like I'd waited thirty years
The artist exaggerates the amount of time spent waiting, suggesting that it felt much longer than it was.
Couldn't believe what I saw
The singer is surprised or shocked by what they are witnessing.
A hundred thousand lines more
The singer is overwhelmed by the vastness or quantity of something - in this case, an unknown number of lines.
We'll never get to the end of the rainbow
The artist is expressing a sense of disillusionment or defeat, as the rainbow is a symbol of hope or promise that may be unattainable.
Can you count the hours?
The artist is again drawing attention to the passage of time and asking the listener if they feel the same sense of waiting or anticipation.
Writer(s): Jesse Umpiyezwe Clegg
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.