End
Phil Manzanera Lyrics
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This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of everything that stands
The end, no safety no surprise
The end, I'll never look into your eyes again
Can you picture what we'll be
Desperately in need of some stranger's hand
In a desperate land?
Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the King's highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west
Ride the snake
Ride the snake to the lake
The ancient lake
The snake is long, seven miles
Ride the snake
He's old and his skin is cold
The West is the best
The West is the best
Get here and we'll do the rest
The blue bus is calling us
The blue bus is calling us
Driver, where're you taking us?
The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went to the room where his sister lived
And then he paid a visit to his brother
And then he, he walked on down the hall
And he came to a door and he looked inside
"Father?" "Yes, son?"
"I want to kill you. Mother, I want to..."
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end, it hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end
The song "End" by Phil Manzanera featuring Robert Wyatt is a melancholic and poetic tribute to the end of a relationship, possibly a friendship or a romantic connection. At the same time, it manages to convey a sense of unease, uncertainty, and even despair, through the use of surrealistic and sometimes ominous images and metaphors. The first verse, for instance, begins with a declaration of finality ("This is the end, beautiful friend"), which is repeated twice for emphasis, and then moves on to describe the end of a grand scheme or aspiration ("the end of our elaborate plans"). The last line of the verse, "I'll never look into your eyes again," suggests a profound loss and loneliness, paired with a realization that what was once familiar and reassuring is now gone forever.
The second verse continues on a more cryptic note, inviting the listener to "picture what we'll be / so limitless and free / desperately in need of some stranger's hand / in a desperate land." These lines conjure up a sense of the unknown, the abstract, and the ambiguous, as if the singer were struggling to make sense of a new reality or a new identity after the end has come. The reference to a "Roman wilderness of pain" is both specific and metaphorical, evoking a sense of historical distance and cultural contrast, as well as a shared experience of suffering and alienation. The line "all the children are insane / waiting for the summer rain" is perhaps one of the most iconic and memorable in the song, capturing the sense of youthful rebellion, idealism, and angst that characterized the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the song was written.
The last part of the song features a series of surrealistic and disjointed images, including a dangerous edge of town, a king's highway, a goldmine with weird scenes, a mysterious blue bus, and a killer who roams the halls and contemplates patricide. These images are filled with contrasting emotions and themes, such as freedom and danger, temptation and fear, hope and despair, and so on. The repeated refrain, "come on, baby, take a chance with us / and meet me at the back of the blue bus," seems to offer a last bit of seduction or hope to whoever is listening, before the final and definitive "This is the end."
Overall, "End" is a song that works on multiple levels of meaning and emotion, from personal to cultural, from poetic to apocalyptic, and from optimistic to fatalistic. It remains a classic of the psychedelic rock era, and a testament to the power of music to express and connect the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the end, beautiful friend
The end of something that was previously beautiful and enjoyable
This is the end, my only friend
The end of the only close relationship the singer had
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of a carefully thought-out or intricate scheme
The end of everything that stands
The end of everything that was once meaningful or stable
The end, no safety no surprise
The end of a situation that had provided safety and stability without warning
The end, I'll never look into your eyes again
The end of an important relationship, leaving no more opportunity for eye contact
Can you picture what we'll be
Asking someone to imagine what the future may hold
So limitless and free
The future is full of endless possibility and freedom
Desperately in need of some stranger's hand
Feeling lost and in need of help from someone unfamiliar
In a desperate land?
Questioning if the world is in chaos and despair
Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
Feeling trapped and isolated in a time of suffering
And all the children are insane
The youth are seen as irrational or out of control
Waiting for the summer rain
Anticipating a refreshing change or new beginning
There's danger on the edge of town
Implying that trouble or danger lies just beyond the city limits
Ride the King's highway, baby
Suggesting that one should follow the path of power or leadership, regardless of the risk
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Unusual or surreal experiences within a profitable enterprise
Ride the snake
Riding on danger or taking risks
Ride the snake to the lake
A metaphor for going all the way with the danger, even if it ends in disaster
The ancient lake
A reference to something that has lasted for a long time
The snake is long, seven miles
The danger or risk is significant and far-reaching
He's old and his skin is cold
The danger has been around for a long time and is no longer lively or new
The West is the best
Suggesting that the western way of life is superior to others
Get here and we'll do the rest
Inviting someone to come to the west and everything will be taken care of
The blue bus is calling us
A creative and unusual way of calling someone to a new adventure or experience
Driver, where're you taking us?
Questioning the fate or outcome of the new adventure
The killer awoke before dawn
Introducing a new and ominous character
He put his boots on
Preparing for action or violence
He took a face from the ancient gallery
The killer is taking on the persona of someone from the past and using it for his own ends
And he walked on down the hall
Leading the reader to a sense of anticipation and dread
He went to the room where his sister lived
Revealing the killer has someone close to him who is a potential victim
And then he paid a visit to his brother
The killer seems to have a vendetta against his family members
And then he, he walked on down the hall
Continuing the sense of dread and anticipation
And he came to a door and he looked inside
Building suspense and suggesting violence is about to happen
"Father?" "Yes, son?"
Implies a violent confrontation between family members
"I want to kill you. Mother, I want to..."
Reveals the darkest intentions of the killer, creating a sense of horror
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
An invitation to take a risk or embrace the unknown, for better or worse
The end, it hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end
The singer is saying goodbye to a close relationship or situation that won't be missed, and possibly was harmful
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: LEIF JORDANSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djunalu
I hadn't heard this song for about 36 years. Talk about memories. I was a 13 yer old runaway in Michigan, and this friend I was stying with played this record to cheer me up.
I never forgot it.
@grundid44
In Peru we've lengthened the day, and strengthened the dollar, miles of golden beaches, excellent wines and features, penitent monks to stare at, colonial dons in old straw hats,
Taking our time before it's through, passing our day in old shoes. Amazing song, amazing Chorus. I always played this song when I had a band, and they always laughed at me. Well I was brought to this country from Argentina in 1960, so I can relate well to this song. Well done Phil.
@GEAsolar
Bella historia, Gabriel
@ProfessorLoco
One of my favorite albums. This song sent me to South America for two years.
@TheSoundvisionary
this song is a hidden gem for Eno fans like myself that have heard all of his solo stuff until my ears bleed.
@bigboyblue88
Bought this the day it came out. I lived in UK in 1972-1974 intermittently, sold all of my gear except for a D28, a Strat, an SG, a Rhodes and a Super Reverb. I went there to play blues, I wanted to be Jimi, but when I got there Glam was in full swing, Bowie had a two or three story banner in Pickidilly, and one night I walked into a club for 50 p and Roxy Music was on the bill. In love ever since, especially Brian Eno. What is so ironic, in that day, many chided and derided Eno for the costumes and weird noises, but failed to see the melodies and lyrics that he soon produced, and though I love Brian too, Eno in my book is light years ahead in terms of creative genius. Long live Roxy, Eno, Ferry, Manzanera, and Andy MacKay for that matter. Creativity trumps educated skill every time.
@PRIVATEAYEIEYE
What a joy! I only wish Eno liked singing as much as I like listening to him!
@tojoinbobdylan
But he does!
@duncsflix
...in Peru we've lengthened the day, In peru we've strengthened the dollar... so many wonderful lines in these lyrics
@Krabadaque
Indeed!