To date, Overkill has released nineteen studio albums, an album of cover songs, two EPs, one demo tape and three live albums. They were one of the first thrash metal bands to sign to a major label (having signed to Atlantic Records in 1986), and rose to fame as part of the genre's movement of the mid-to-late 1980s, along with the "Big Four" (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax) as well as Exodus and Testament. Overkill achieved their first mainstream success with its second studio album and Atlantic debut, Taking Over (1987), which peaked at number 191 on the Billboard 200. The band's next five studio albums—Under the Influence (1988), The Years of Decay (1989), Horrorscope (1991), I Hear Black (1993) and W.F.O. (1994)—were also successful on the Billboard charts, with the latter two cracking the top ten on the Top Heatseekers chart. Following their split from Atlantic in 1995, Overkill went through some label changes, but continued to enjoy moderate underground success, particularly in Europe and Japan. The band experienced a resurgence of popularity in the U.S. during the 2010s, with three of their studio albums released that decade—The Electric Age (2012), White Devil Armory (2014) and The Grinding Wheel (2017)—reaching the top 100 on the charts. Overkill has sold over 16 million records worldwide; they are also estimated to have sold more than 625,000 records in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overkill_(band)
Studio albums
Feel the Fire (1985)
Taking Over (1987)
Under the Influence (1988)
The Years of Decay (1989)
Horrorscope (1991)
I Hear Black (1993)
W.F.O. (1994)
The Killing Kind (1996)
From the Underground and Below (1997)
Necroshine (1999)
Bloodletting (2000)
Killbox 13 (2003)
ReliXIV (2005)
Immortalis (2007)
Ironbound (2010)
The Electric Age (2012)
White Devil Armory (2014)
The Grinding Wheel (2017)
The Wings of War (2019)
Scorched (2023)
End of the Line
Overkill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a good long look, and tell me what you see.
Through time passing.
Make a stand.
In your way,
Leaves way, too much for me.
On the edge,
I was there when lightning struck,
I watched the idols fall.
I could see it coming,
Could read the writing on the wall!
Time. Time after time.
The end of the line.
We stand and watch it fade away
Sign of the time's the end of the line.
It's your move.
So play, it right.
Sometimes you get just one chance.
Superstitious.
No!
If I had the time I still wouldn't dance.
I was there when lightning struck,
And yes I kept my head.
I could feel them coming,
Could feel the living dead!!! Dead! Dead!!!
Save your breath,
Don't pray for me, pray for yourself.
Through time, keeling.
It's the end.
It snuck up
Quick and took you by surprise.
The waiting's over.
I was there when lightning struck,
I watched the idols crawl.
It was the second coming.
It was written on the wall!
The song "End of the Line" by Overkill is a song about the end of an era, the passage of time, and the inevitability of change. The lyrics encourage us to take a good, long look at our lives and contemplate what we see. The singer insists that it is time to make a stand, but acknowledges that it is easier said than done. He claims to have been there when lightning struck, to have watched the idols fall, and to have seen the writing on the wall. He knows that time is passing, time after time, and that eventually everything comes to an end.
The song expresses a sense of resignation and acceptance, as if the singer is aware that there is nothing he can do to stop the passage of time. He encourages the listener to make their moves and play their cards right, but admits that there are no guarantees in life. He refuses to be superstitious, knowing that dancing or praying will not prevent the inevitable. He warns us to save our breath and not to pray for him, but to pray for ourselves.
Overall, the song leaves the impression that the end of the line is coming, and that we should be ready for it. The lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, but they provide a deep and meaningful reflection on the nature of change, the importance of taking a stand, and the inevitability of the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look.
Take a good long look, and tell me what you see.
Through time passing.
Reflecting on how time has passed and how that has led to the current moment.
Make a stand.
Take a stand and make your position clear.
In your way,
If there are obstacles in your way,
Leaves way, too much for me.
If the obstacles are too much to handle for me.
On the edge,
Standing on the brink of something.
Standing.
Standing up for what you believe in.
I was there when lightning struck,
I have experienced significant events in the past.
I watched the idols fall.
I have seen figures of authority or significance lose their power and status.
I could see it coming,
I was aware that something significant was about to happen.
Could read the writing on the wall!
I could see the signs of change that were about to occur.
Time. Time after time.
Events keep happening, one after the other, regardless of our behavior or efforts.
The end of the line.
This is the end result of our actions or the state of the situation.
We stand and watch it fade away
We are witnessing something disappear or come to an end.
Sign of the time's the end of the line.
The situation we are in is a clear indication of the larger issue or problem at hand.
It's your move.
You need to take an action or make a decision.
So play, it right.
Make the correct decision and do not take unnecessary risks.
Sometimes you get just one chance.
Some opportunities are rare and will not come back again.
Superstitious.
Belief in superstitions or magical thinking will not help in this situation.
No!
Refuting the idea of using superstitions or magical thinking in decision-making.
If I had the time I still wouldn't dance.
Even with more time, I would not waste it on frivolous actions.
And yes I kept my head.
I was in control of my emotions and actions during a stressful or chaotic event.
I could feel them coming,
I had an intuition or sense that something dangerous or harmful was approaching.
Could feel the living dead!!! Dead! Dead!!!
I could sense the presence of people who were alive, but their actions or behavior made them seem like they were already dead inside.
Save your breath,
Do not waste your time or energy trying to convince me.
Don't pray for me, pray for yourself.
Focus on your own issues and do not worry about mine.
Through time, keeling.
Through the ages, we have been brought down to our knees.
It's the end.
This is the end of the line, the closing of a chapter.
It snuck up
The end came unexpectedly or without warning.
Quick and took you by surprise.
The end was sudden and unforeseeable for many people.
The waiting's over.
The anticipation or anxiety that accompanied waiting for this event to unfold is now gone.
I watched the idols crawl.
I have seen those in power reduced to a lower state, without the majesty or authority they once held.
It was the second coming.
The situation or event was a repeat or continuation of what came before.
It was written on the wall!
The signs of what was about to happen were clear and unmistakable.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrCouchAddict96
Bobby Gustafson is such an underrated guitar player, his abilities are excellent and it’d be sick if he was still playing with Overkill today. Personally he’s one of my favorite guitarists, and it really is a shame that after Overkill his talent was wasted as he never really made it big with another band.
@derekobs
There is nothing amazing about his guitar playing who imitated James Hetfield for most of his life compared to a lot of other quality thrash acts
@franbabic5682
@Rotten to the Core! This asshole and other guy called Derekobs exist on this planet only to shit on every Overkill song.... They are miserable...
@JW-wq7sh
@Fran BABIĆ I see that asshole Derekobs on every Testament video too!
@JabbatheHut5
@@derekobs how did he imitate Hetfield?
@philramone3905
@@derekobs What are you even basing that statement on, are you equating the two on the basis they both played Explorer shaped guitars? Please. In this very example, if you can't hear that the primary influence is Iron Maiden you probably should actually study your history! Not to mention that Hetfield is a rhythm player and Bobby G was a lead player. What exactly is he supposed to be imitating?
@valerizaykov179
that solo at the middle its f** amazing
@neckcheese1356
@@mamindhive I've always loved it as well.
@evanencell7421
Get a taste for it at 3:15 eases down then at 4:20 , unleash hell!
@Trahzy
@@evanencell7421 Always loved that about this song specifically, one of the best songs from a musical standpoint in thrash ever. Brilliantly written. Never understood how this band was so underrated.