The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I've had days of end on end
Where nothing changed 'cause nothing began
Restless movement in an empty room
Gathering shadows of a darkened blue
And oh, it feels so strange
Oh, it feels strange when it comes again
Cycles of end on end
Edges begin to blend
Time following time
A pattern becomes defined (go)
I had a feeling from end to end
Tried to catch it before it started again
Pushed it away to force a laugh
But inside I didn't have the breath
And oh, it feels so strange
Oh, it feels strange when it comes again
But I've got it now
Yeah, I've got the rhythm down
Cycles of end on end
And if one wave stops, another begins
End on end, go
Well, I think I've got it now
Yeah, I think I've got it down
Yeah, I think I've got it down
It's end on end, the cycles begin
The cycles begin, it's end on end
It's end on end, the cycles begin
It's end on end, it's end on end
The cycles begin, watch it begin
But you can't stop, you can't stop what's coming
Stop what's coming, tell me what's coming
It's end on end, it's end on end, it's end on end
End on end, watch it begin
End on end, it's end on end, it's end on end
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember
To write a piece about a solemn pagan rite
Wise elders proceeded in a circle
Watching a young girl dance herself to death
They were sacrificing her to proficiate the god of Spring
Where nothing changed 'cause nothing began
Restless movement in an empty room
Gathering shadows of a darkened blue
And oh, it feels so strange
Oh, it feels strange when it comes again
Cycles of end on end
Edges begin to blend
Time following time
A pattern becomes defined (go)
I had a feeling from end to end
Tried to catch it before it started again
Pushed it away to force a laugh
But inside I didn't have the breath
And oh, it feels so strange
Oh, it feels strange when it comes again
But I've got it now
Yeah, I've got the rhythm down
Cycles of end on end
And if one wave stops, another begins
End on end, go
Well, I think I've got it now
Yeah, I think I've got it down
Yeah, I think I've got it down
It's end on end, the cycles begin
The cycles begin, it's end on end
It's end on end, the cycles begin
It's end on end, it's end on end
The cycles begin, watch it begin
But you can't stop, you can't stop what's coming
Stop what's coming, tell me what's coming
It's end on end, it's end on end, it's end on end
End on end, watch it begin
End on end, it's end on end, it's end on end
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember, seems I can't remember
Seems I can't remember
To write a piece about a solemn pagan rite
Wise elders proceeded in a circle
Watching a young girl dance herself to death
They were sacrificing her to proficiate the god of Spring
Lyrics submitted by open_veins
End On End Lyrics as written by Michael Scott Fellows Edward Janney
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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So, i think i know what this song is about, really specifically. Or at least, i know what part of my own life it makes me recall. There's this period right after you break up with someone you were very involved with when you realize the person you spent the majority of your time with is now spending it with someone else and you have nothing at all to do. All the time that used to be spent with someone is suddenly now spent alone and empty, without purpose, and End on End is about that period of boredom and depression that results from that.
"To write a piece about a solemn pagan rite, wise elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death. They were sacrificing her to proficiate the god of spring."
it's end on end it's end on end
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Being bi-polar this song represents, to me, the constant pinball of emotion that comes with it. "Tried to it before it started again/pushed it away forced to laugh/but inside I didn't have the breath/and oh-it feels so strange-when it comes again," to me sounds a lot like trying to be happy or pruvey hapiness but being misrable on the inside. Or if happiness does come you try to hold on longer knowing that eventually you'll be depressed later.