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The End Lyrics

Came in together, but you held me
The process walking right through that door, at the entry
I can't seem to remember, the lights were so bright
And the discoball blurred in the turn of that night
But it was perfect I was told the tux was starched and all
Grabbed the glass of punch nervousness, structured by that wall
Arms folded, myself I didn't know yet
Until you came over, stood by me, you posted
You put your hand out like I was stranded
Tried to pull me on that dance floor
I stepped backwards
See I wasn't ready yet, but you were my medicine
Showed me that trust through that love that you held me with
our backs against the wall as the DJ would spin
The soundtrack had changed as he played that mix
Our lives flashed in front of us, just a glimpse
We were together and experience this

You finally pulled me up, I didn't want to
But you filled me up, from the bottom of my heart
And as we walked through that gymnasium that I'd been watching
Feeling like my chest would explode from my heartbeat
To the middle of the floor I almost panicked
You put your hand out and I fearfully grabbed it
The most beautiful thing that I'd seen on this planet
She laughed 'cause you could tell that I didn't know how to dance yet
We started moving
And I, didn't know what I was doing
You whispered, "don't you love music
it's such a gift and I'll give it to ya
But you gotta use it"
I strayed
You brought me back in
trying to sneak a flask outside of that gym
She said "You don't need that, look within"
She hugged me, looked into my eyes, she gave me a kiss
And she said "I can't help you, if you don't let me
You're here to live just be, don't forget me
The end of this dance you don't want to regret me, live
'Cause tonight you'll all be set free"

Last dance the Dj yelled
looked into her eyes and I could see myself
Slow motion, frozen, toast of this moment
Like there is no morning, like there is no morning
No emotions, you on my shoulder
Me lead and you follow
As we circle the floor like the globe
Through this infinite mass
Makes us seem so small
With you in my hand like the skyline holds the stars
not letting go, but I can't hold on
Fading through my fingertips, watching us fall
I try to catch you with my arms
I would never take you for granted when I had you in my palms
To all I ever wanted, please play my song
And put the record to the needle, don't ever touch that off switch
You are perfect, forget that prom dress
My God, seconds away from God yes
Somebody turned the heat on in this party
Or we're becoming one because I'm melting into your body
one being, heartbeating, universe falling
The ground split right between us and that concrete
Separated my love, I could hear her calling
Separated, but I could hear her calling
Goodbye forever, never see you again
Winterball 2012, The End
Song Info
Submitted by
hunterann On Aug 12, 2010
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7 Meanings

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Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

First off, this song is incredible. Unreal symbolism and meaning.

In my humble opinion, The dance is a real and metaphorical at the same time. Macklemore makes it seem as he is reminiscing of a real life event, and at the same time alludes to a more broad sense of life. The girl in the song represents love and inner ambitions. She is there, she is kind, she is encouraging, she is beauty. Some times you need a push to get going, that a lover or supporter can provide.

I really love your interpretation- it's open, giving the song infinite meanings as opposed to some of the other opinions here which are closed and restrict the song's possible meaning. And, yes. This, Song. Is. Brilliant.

Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

Has to be the most soulful, thoughtful and beautiful rap (?) songs I have heard, with something like sorrow bleeding throughout and a thoroughly mystifying ending. Read he description of this ep here: http://www.indieshuffle.com/macklemore-x-ryan-lewis-the-vs-ep/#! And you get a great idea of what this artist is about.

This song is about a youth encountering the love of his life at a dance - but she represents much more than love: healing and redemption but at the last... a goodbye. All in one night? I injected my own vision for the ending: that a redemptive love story becomes an allegory for some kind of apocalypse. "Goodbye forever, never see you again"

Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

In response to Robert, I agree. Most powerful rap song I have ever heard. On the note of the apocalyptic end, it refers to predictions of the end of the world, supposedly on december 21st, 2012, if i am not mistaken. Winterball proves that it is probably in winter, unless its pure coincidence.

Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

the budo remix of this is dope i cant put into words how awesome this song is.. guys a genius.

Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

I just actually wrote an essay on my interpretation of this song. Here's the googledoc if anyones interested: https://docs.google.com/open?id=1aSiLtT_ufcntbxE0VRDeGmyw_6VWE5Fdn7yiINY-3wo

Link(s)

I read your essay, I agree with most of what you've written. But I don't think this is just about a prom night a boy and a girl, this goes.... further. The feeling of the song takes you to a place where your feel vulnerable, where you are just like any other human with no major significance to humanity.

Mr. bobcat11 I definately loved reading your interpretation of this song. You pointed out some parallels i missed out on or just didn't even think about it in the way you did. For me, the song is about his deep love with a women, and his drug use. This women got to the real him, and she influenced change in his life. She was the only bright star in his universe. He was in love, though life broke them apart. I felt he expressed this short story metaphorically through his prom night with her. I agree with you on the 2012 theory,...

I would love to read your essay but the link doesn't seem to work for me. Help me out? Thanks.

Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

I'm going to try to break down this song as much as I can, so here it goes. Macklemore going to prom is simply a metaphor for his life. The girl trying to get him on stage is probably the girl that pushed him to rap, break his shell and go for it. She is also the one he loves because she did this for him. She also helped him break his habits when she says he doesn't need the flask. She wants him to be successful and not hold him back even though they love each other dearly. Last dance and Winterball alludes to the idea that it is winter. Winter in poetry represents death and the end. The Winterball here represents how he lost her, even though she made him what he was. But it wasn't in haste, they both knew it was coming and she was sure of it, just happy she helped him through everything.

My Interpretation
Cover art for The End lyrics by Macklemore

I agree with a lot of what people are saying, but I feel the entire premise of the ball is a metaphor for our lives. In particular I see the woman as a personification for god. God because she is "perfect" and when she says " you love music, it's such a gift and I'll give it to ya", she will give him the gift of music, but only if she can be sure he will use such a powerful tool. She sets up the initial plan to life gives him words of encouragement and guidance, but in the end he must take control, which he does when he leads in the dance, holding her close, "never taking her for granted" but leading the dance, leading his own life. I feel when she says "You're here to live just be, don't forget me, The end of this dance you don't want to regret me, live" adds to this. The end of the dance, being life, I don't want you to regret me, how many regret god, regret their lives. I know this may be stretching it a bit, but I found this song to be so profound in this way.

My Interpretation