Ends of the Earth Lyrics
I'm gonna see where it leads
Oh, there's a mountain that no man has mounted
I'm gonna stand on the peak
Wanna be the first to arrive
No time for ponderin' why I'm-a wanderin'
Not while we're both still alive
There's a world that was meant for our eyes to see
To the ends of the earth, would you follow me
If you will have a say my goodbyes to me
I'm gonna whistle a tune
Oh, there's a desert that size can't be measured
I'm gonna count all the dunes
Headin' out into the unknown
Well if there are strangers, and all kinds of danger
Please don't say I'm going alone
There's a world that was meant for our eyes to see
To the ends of the earth, would you follow me
Well if you want, I will say my goodbyes to me
Doesn't mean I'm ready to stay
What good is livin' a life you've been given
If all you do is stand in one place
Follow 'til I get where I'm goin'
Maybe I'm headin' to die but I'm still gonna try
I guess I'm goin' alone
I believe it is about being young and in love and excited about exploring the world and wanting desperately to do it with that person. You ask them if they would follow you to the ends of the earth, but deep down you know the answer will be no. They are stuck living in the "life [they] were given", not ready to face the unknown and embark on this adventurous journey with you, leaving you to try it alone.
Heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. There are always going to be sacrifices in life, and choosing between a potentially challenging and scary new life or a safe, possibly boring one with someone you love would be a tough choice for most people.
I love the metaphor of traveling the wide earth to discover the small world inside your soul. The protagonist obviously doesn't want to do it alone, but in the end, he ultimately does. This song is so upbeat, it's easy to miss this metaphor.
I just wanted to make a quick comment on this lyric: "If you will, have a say my goodbyes to me". Beautiful. Multiple goodbyes for an ever-growing self.
Happy listening,
Eric
I think this song is in response to the feelings and sentiments from one of his earlier songs called "In the Wind." They feature some of the exact same melodies. In "In the Wind" he is mourning the loss of someone dear to him. He says:
"I would wait for a thousand years I would sit right here by the lake, my dear You just let me know that you're coming home And I'll wait for you"
and
"Death is a wall but it can't be the end You are my protector and my best friend Well they say that you're gone and that I should move on I wonder: how do they know, baby? How do they know? Well, they don't."
In this song he's saying that he's on a river that winds on forever. I think he means life.
"I was a-ready to die for you, baby Doesn't mean I'm ready to stay What good is livin' a life you've been given If all you do is stand in one place"
is the section that makes me feel like this is a response to the other song because of the messaging and the fact that the melodies from "In the Wind" right after this. I think throughout the song he's inviting her to come with him as he experiences all that they couldn't. I think he's saying he's finally trying to move on but, sadly, he's ultimately alone.
"Maybe I'm headin' to die but I'm still gonna try I guess I'm goin' alone"
End of Community :(
As an INTP, the lyrics speak to my lifelong journey for answers to every question posed or not even considered. It can be exhausting as well as exhilarating at the same time.
@data110772 OMG, INTP here. As I have this song on repeat for an hour I was thinking the same thing. I'm 68 and can tell you the "search" never ends, when it does I die. So brother, keep growing and exploring.
@data110772 OMG, INTP here. As I have this song on repeat for an hour I was thinking the same thing. I'm 68 and can tell you the "search" never ends, when it does I die. So brother, keep growing and exploring.
To the ends of the earth would you follow me?\nI wish I had. Kevin said his goodbyes to me on May 15, 2015. I miss you more every day. This song is his song.