The End
[Verse 1]
Every couple of years now, a doctor says I'm sick
Reveals a cycle of illness, where she faces frequent diagnoses.
Pulls out a brand new bag of tricks, and then they lay it on me
Doctors try different treatments, implying uncertainty or experimentation with her health.
And at first, it was my brain, then a skeleton in pain
Describes past diagnoses, suggesting both mental and physical struggles.
And I don't like to complain, but I'm saying sorry
She acknowledges her suffering yet apologizes, perhaps for appearing weak or burdening others.
[Pre-Chorus]
When I met you, I thought I was damaged goods
Expresses self-perception as broken or flawed when entering a relationship.
Had a f**ked-up childhood
Alludes to a troubled past, hinting at early trauma.
And there's poison in my brain and in my blood
Suggests both mental and physical pain, possibly a mix of inherited or developed issues.
[Chorus]
If you knew it was the end of the world
Poses a hypothetical, asking if love could withstand an apocalyptic scenario.
Could you love me like a child?
Seeks unconditional, innocent love—something pure and untainted by adult complications.
Could you hold me in the dark?
Yearns for comfort and closeness, especially in difficult, fearful moments.
If you knew it was the end of the world
Would you like to stay a while?
Wonders if her partner would choose to remain with her even when things get tough.
Would you leave when it gets hard?
Questions whether their love would endure hardship or end when challenges arise.
[Verse 2]
So I ran into the clinic and I asked to see the man
Describes seeking medical help, perhaps urgently or desperately.
With his white coat and his stethoscope like a snake around his hand
Portrays the doctor as both a figure of authority and ambiguity, with a “snake” symbolizing both healing and danger.
And I told him I'm not bitter 'cause I finally found a lover
Expresses contentment, finding joy in love that offsets her medical struggles.
Who's better for my liver, and now I'll finally recover
Hints at finding a healthier relationship, one that supports her well-being.
[Pre-Chorus]
When I met him, I thought I was damaged goods
From a real bad neighborhood
Describes feeling unworthy or affected by her difficult background.
So we wrestled in the mud
Indicates facing life’s messiness together, finding companionship in shared struggle.
And I told him he could stay right where he stood
But I don't know if he should
She offers him a choice to stay but questions if he should endure her burdens.
'Cause once my God destroys the flesh, then there's the flood
Suggests a sense of impending doom or inner chaos, possibly referencing judgment or cleansing.
[Chorus]
If you knew it was the end of the world
Could you love me like a child?
Could you hold me in the dark?
If you knew it was the end of the world
Would you like to stay a while?
Maybe we could build an ark
Imagines a partnership in which they could face the end together, perhaps surviving by building an “ark” of their love.
[Bridge]
We could sail on broken driftwood through the sopping wet terrain
Visualizes surviving chaos and devastation together, even if their means are fragile.
And count the buildings and the bodies getting swallowed by the rain
Depicts a scene of destruction, emphasizing loss and the power of nature.
And in the water, there's the doctor who didn't listen to my claim
Suggests a betrayal or disappointment in medical help, with the doctor symbolically “drowned” or helpless.
What a shame, he's circling a drain
Expresses a dark satisfaction or resignation about the doctor’s ineffectiveness or demise.
[Outro]
When I met you, I said I would never die
References youthful confidence or denial of mortality.
But the joke was always mine 'cause I'm racing against time
Admits to facing mortality sooner than expected, seeing her belief as naive.
And I know it's not the end of the world, but could you pick me up at 8?
Ends on a mundane note, asking for companionship during a challenging time.
'Cause my treatment starts today
Refers to beginning a new medical treatment, combining a hopeful yet serious moment.
