The End of the World (As We Know It)

[billroper]

One advantage of a day off is that I actually got to pick up the guitar and finish this. (I had the full chorus and a melody for the verse earlier in the week, but hadn't had a moment to think about it.) And, after posting, daisy_knotwise and I can pack up the picnic dinner and head out for the local fireworks. (Here's hoping for dry weather at the right moment.)

Words and Music: Bill Roper
Copyright 2005

The End of the World (As We Know It)

You think you’re living a normal day,
A day just like so many before,
But how you gonna feel when the clock strikes twelve
And tomorrow isn’t there any more?
They tell you look to the future,
But what if there’s no future to see?
The final chime marks the end of time
And eternity is ceasing to be.

(Chorus)

This is the end of the world as we know it.
This is the end of the river of time.
And today will go where the wind won’t blow
And tomorrow is not on the line.

Yesterday I stood on tomorrow’s edge.
I was gazing forward at the abyss,
Watching entropy unwind in her robes of black
And she tried to take me with her dark kiss.
The river of time stood below me,
Its water rushing over the brink.
Thought I might survive if I took the dive,
Hit the falls and I started to sink.

Yesterday I woke on tomorrow’s day
‘Cause tomorrow had not yet ceased to be.
Tomorrow I will wake up on yesterday
As the river flows away from the sea.
For entropy is unwinding
Taking our tomorrows away
And I’ll tell you yesterday of tomorrow’s death
‘Cause yesterday’s tomorrow’s today.

I am lost in the river’s flow
For entropy has cast me away.
And yesterday I’ll remember you,
But you will not remember today.
And I might still save the future
If I only had a place I could stand,
But day by day it all slips away
And yesterday I’m starting again.

(Chorus twice)
This is the end of the world as we know it.

Comments

[phuphuphnik.livejournal.com]

cool, but for some reason it really gives me the creeps. I'm reminded of Wells' description of time travel. The scene in the text section of Leauge of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the comic, not the movie, naturally) with the chrononaut comes up too.
very nice.
Love to hear it to music.

[billroper]

daisy_knotwise thinks it's creepy too. This is probably good. :)

[jalapenoman.livejournal.com]

I just saw War of the Worlds today. Your song just takes on some weird overtones. I definately don't hear REM singing that in my mind.

Definately makes you think. Nice.

[billroper]

Thanks. I'm not likely to see WotW soon for a variety of reasons, but it's an interesting juxtaposition.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Reading the lyrics, I'm afraid I don't get it.

[billroper]

You need to parse the lyrics carefully. :) Hint: yesterday, today, and tomorrow are all relative terms.