Buckingham was arguably the principal creative force behind the 70s version of Fleetwood Mac. He is not only one of the main singer/songwriters, but also producer, leading them on an unusual journey from the commercial heights of 1977's Rumours (still among the biggest-selling albums ever) to the quirkily experimental double album Tusk in 1979.
Buckingham is also recognized as a unique & influential guitarist. Unlike many rock guitarists, Buckingham does not use a plectrum/pick, instead, he uses his fingers and fingernails.
Buckingham has recorded 6 studio albums and two live albums with Fleetwood Mac, and 6 studio albums and three live albums as a solo artist. The In Our Own Time Songfacts reports that Buckingham's sixth solo album, Seeds We Sow, was recorded at his LA home and he played most of the instruments himself. The record came out on September 6, 2011 and was his first to be self-released. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Initially after joining Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham used a Gibson Les Paul guitar. Before the band, a Fender Telecaster was his main guitar, and was used on his first Fleetwood Mac album. In 1979, he worked with Rick Turner, owner of Renaissance Guitars to create the Model One. He has used it extensively since, both with Fleetwood Mac and for his solo efforts. He uses a Taylor Guitar 814ce for most of his acoustic performances and has also used an Ovation Celebrity in the past.
End Of Time
Lindsey Buckingham Lyrics
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Seems like it never ends
When we get to the other side
Maybe then we'll make amends
It's the end of time
The end of time
Can you feel it?
It's the end of the line
It's the end of time
Swing low sweet chariot
Give us back our youth
When they finally come to bury us
Maybe then we'll tell the truth
It's the end of time
The end of time
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
It's the end of the line
It's the end of time
Always keep me in your heart
Even though I may be dead and gone
And though we may be far apart
My love for you is strong
It's the end of time
The end of time
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
It's the end of the line
It's the end of time
The end of time
The end of time
The first verse of this song by Lindsey Buckingham portrays a sense of endlessness as the singer sliding down the corner slide never comes to a stop. It’s a metaphor for how life seems to be “sliding down the corner slide” until we reach the end of our life, which is the “other side”. On the other side, perhaps we will “make amends” for any mistakes and regrets we might have. The chorus indicates that it is the end of time- the end of the line- and invites the listener to question if they can feel it too. The second verse brings up the old folk hymn “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” which is a slave song sung by people who were anticipating and singing about the moment of their own death. This verse speaks of how people might wish to be young again when they reach the end of their lives, for a final chance to live life more fully. The final verse is a promise of love, “always keep me in your heart, even though I may be dead and gone.”
Overall, the song presents a bleak but introspective look at the end of life. It’s a rumination on what it means to face the end of life, the possibility of regret for missed opportunities, and the power of love to transcend time and distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Sliding down the corner slide
Life is like a playground slide that never seems to stop turning or slowing down
Seems like it never ends
The passage of time can seem endless, like an unbreakable cycle
When we get to the other side
If we can wait for the end of this journey, perhaps we can finally move on
Maybe then we'll make amends
At the end of life, we may finally reconcile with those we've wronged and those who have wronged us
It's the end of time
The artist believes they are approaching the end of their life
Can you feel it?
The singer is asking if the listener shares their sense of impending mortality
It's the end of the line
The singer has reached the end of their journey, and there is no going back
Swing low sweet chariot
The artist is calling out for a divine presence to guide them through the end of their life
Give us back our youth
The artist is lamenting the loss of their youth, perhaps wishing they had more time to experience life
When they finally come to bury us
The artist knows that their end is approaching, and is embracing it as inevitable
Maybe then we'll tell the truth
The end of life can bring clarity and honesty, and the singer is suggesting they may finally tell the unvarnished truth at that point
Always keep me in your heart
The artist is urging their loved ones to remember them and their love after they have passed
Even though I may be dead and gone
The singer knows they will die, but wants to know they will still be remembered
And though we may be far apart
Even in death, the singer feels a connection to their loved ones
My love for you is strong
Despite death, the singer's love for their loved ones remains powerful and enduring
The end of time
The artist is repeating their belief that their end is approaching
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind