I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Not a lot to say, not a lot to do
You played the game, you owe nothing to yourself
Rest today, for tomorrow you can't tell
You can't tell

I've seen the end of the day come too late
Seen the love you had turning into hate
Had to act like I didn't even care
But I did so I got stranded standing there
Standing there

It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No, it's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before

I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Like the prison dogs they set out after you
You owe nothing to the past but wasted time
To serve a sentence that was only in your mind
In your mind

It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No it's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before


Lyrics submitted by saturnine

End of the Day Lyrics as written by Beck Hansen

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

End Of The Day song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    " I've seen the end of the day come too soon" Means that he has been in relationships that had potential but ended prematurely. He goes on to say at least he was in the game; it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all...

    "I've seen the end of the day come too late" means that he has previously been in a "poison" relationship that lingers on long after it has ceased being healthy for either party involved. When he says "I got stranded there" it's like he's talking about the fact that even through the pain and intense emotions of a relationship gone sour, that somehow the status quo was good enough for them to allow the relationship to go on.

    "It's nothing that I haven't seen before" means he's previously been through all the pain and emotion that he is feeling now. But even with the knowledge that he will make it through like he did before is of no comfort to him.

    "To serve a sentence that was only in your mind" He is trapped by the pain, but he realizes that he has the power let it go and move on.

    iceberg299on August 26, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Very curious song. I don't believe there's a whole lot more meaning than the emotions experienced through listening/reading. (in school; the bell rings--) I'll have to comment further at a later time. peace.

    Greyshoeson December 17, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This one of my favorites of his. I can't believe there aren't more comments either. "You owe nothing to the past but wasted time To serve a sentence that was only in your mind In your mind" has to some of the best lyrics of any song.

    theburninator64on July 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is absolutely beautiful. I can't believe there aren't more comments.

    electricityscapeon April 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is one of becks best

    matsientston December 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, absolutely gorgeous song...

    God_Less_neson April 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    You know, I always thought 'like the prison dogs' was 'like depression dogs.' Anyhow the imagery of the verse is a perfect encapsulation of depression - the sentence served is indeed 'only' in the mind.

    clareakon December 10, 2011   Link

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