The End

The song 'The End' is a profound reflection on the fragility of life amid adversity. The lyrics begin with the artist describing her frequent visits to the doctor, where she is diagnosed with different health problems. On Instagram in June, Halsey revealed that she has lupus and leukemia, as well as advocating for years to end the stigma around mental health disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, another condition that also affects the singer. This sequence of diagnoses symbolizes not only physical illnesses but also the emotional and psychological traumas she carries. The metaphor of the doctor's 'bag of magic tricks' suggests the constant attempt to find solutions to her problems, but without lasting success.

Halsey reveals a past marked by a difficult childhood and a feeling of being 'damaged', which demonstrates her hopelessness at times. This hopelessness is also echoed in the romantic aspect of her life, as demonstrated in the lines “And I told him I'm not bitter 'cause I finally found a lover”. However, by finding a new love, she begins to see a possibility of healing and redemption. The question 'If you knew it was the end of the world, could you love me like a child?' reflects a deep desire to be loved purely and unconditionally, even in the face of the imminence of the end. The repetition of this question throughout the song emphasizes the uncertainty and vulnerability she feels about the future and love.

The narrative unfolds with Halsey seeking medical help again, but this time with a new perspective, thanks to the love she has found and the hope it has brought her. The image of the doctor with the stethoscope 'like a snake in his hand' suggests distrust and the feeling of being betrayed by the health system and by her own body. As we know, lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's tissues and organs. This attack can cause inflammation and damage to various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.

The song culminates with the idea of building an 'ark' to navigate life's difficulties, a biblical reference to Noah's Ark. In the Bible, the wickedness of human beings had increased greatly on Earth, meaning that their hearts were continually inclined towards evil. God was therefore saddened that he had created humanity and decided to destroy all living things with a great flood. When Noah was 600 years old, the floodgates of heaven were opened and the fountains of the great deep were burst open, causing continuous rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

In Halsey's lyrics, we understand that she is safe on the ark with her beloved, which symbolizes hope and survival amid chaos, as opposed to those who doubted her symptoms and put her life at risk. In the end, Halsey recognizes that although it's not the end of the world, she still faces a personal battle - represented by her treatment - and seeks support and love to face it.