Love Is The End

Keane's "Love Is The End" is a poignant ballad that delves into the themes of love, loss, and the finality of certain life chapters. The song begins with a reflection on a time of comfort and success, suggesting a period in life where everything seems to be going right. The lyrics paint a picture of idyllic moments, such as singing with your feet on the dashboard, which are symbolic of carefree happiness and the small, cherished memories that one holds onto.

However, the chorus introduces a stark contrast with the line 'Cause love is the end,' implying that despite these moments of joy, love can lead to an end of a phase, a relationship, or a particular state of being. The repetition of this line throughout the song emphasizes the inevitability and permanence of this ending. The imagery of running to the ocean and being baptized anew suggests a desire to start over, to cleanse oneself of the past, yet even in this act of seeking renewal, the protagonist is haunted by the memory of a loved one.

The latter part of the song is a plea to not let the love die, to fight against the encroaching darkness that the end brings. It's a struggle between accepting the end of love and the desire to hold onto it, to depend on the person you love. The song concludes with the acceptance that the only path left is the one that leads home, a metaphor for returning to one's roots or to what is familiar, even if it means acknowledging that the time shared with a loved one is over. The repeated plea to not say the words that signify the end highlights the difficulty of letting go.