Mitski Miyawaki (born Mitsuki Laycock) is a Japanese-American singer and so… Read Full Bio ↴Mitski Miyawaki (born Mitsuki Laycock) is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter. Born in Mie Prefecture, Japan to an American father and a Japanese mother, she moved frequently while growing up due to her father's job at the United States Department of State, living in Turkey, China, Malaysia, the Czech Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo before settling in the United States. She sang in a choir in high school and was 18 when she wrote her first song on the piano.

She self-released her first two albums, Lush and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, while studying studio composition at Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. The albums were originally made as her senior project. Her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, was released in 2014 on the label Double Double Whammy.

Mitski signed with Dead Oceans in 2015 and released Puberty 2, Be the Cowboy and Laurel Hell , the last of which made the top ten in several countries. In 2022, The Guardian dubbed her the "best young songwriter" in the United States. That same year, she co-wrote "This Is a Life" for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, was released in 2023.

The End
Mitski Lyrics

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"This is the kind of job that needs a bastard to see it through
And as luck would have it
The biggest bastard to ever walk the earth
Just so happens to be right here"

"I don't know what to say about any of this
Just that it's been a pleasure to meet each of you"

"Just 'cause you're dead

Doesn't mean your mission is done"

Overall Meaning

Mitski's song "The End" is a song that talks about the end of a journey that one has dedicated their life to. The singer notes that their job requires a "bastard" to complete, and they just so happen to be that kind of person. It seems like they're reaching the end of their journey and are reflecting on what led them there. The first two lines of the song suggest that the singer recognizes that they're not a good person, but that they're willing to accept that because it's what they need to be in order to get the job done. The third line suggests that the singer is confident in their ability to complete the task at hand.

The second verse contains a tone of resignation, where the singer seems to be ready to accept what is coming. They don't have much to say about the journey or the people they have met along the way. They simply say that it has been a pleasure to meet each of them. There is a sense of finality to these lines, where the singer has come to the end of a journey and is ready to accept what comes next.

The final line of the song, "just 'cause you're dead doesn't mean your mission is done," adds an interesting twist to the story. It suggests that the singer's journey might not truly be over, even after they've completed their task. It leaves the listener wondering what the singer's mission was and how it will continue even after they're gone.

Line by Line Meaning

This is the kind of job that needs a bastard to see it through
This task requires a ruthless individual to carry it out successfully.

And as luck would have it
Ironically, fate has brought the perfect person for the job.

The biggest bastard to ever walk the earth
The most cruel and heartless person imaginable.

Just so happens to be right here
Coincidentally, that person is present among the group.

I don't know what to say about any of this
I am at a loss for words and do not know what to express about the situation.

Just that it's been a pleasure to meet each of you
Despite the unfortunate circumstance, it was a delight to have met everyone.

Just 'cause you're dead
The fact that you have passed away

Doesn't mean your mission is done
Does not imply that your purpose or objective has been accomplished.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mitsuki Laycock

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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