End on End

Rites Of Spring's song 'End on End' delves into the repetitive and often monotonous cycles of life. The lyrics paint a picture of days that blend into one another, where 'nothing changed cause nothing began.' This sense of stagnation is emphasized through imagery of 'restless movement in an empty room' and 'gathering shadows of a darkened blue,' suggesting a feeling of being trapped in a loop of inactivity and emotional numbness. The repetition of 'end on end' underscores the relentless nature of these cycles, where time seems to follow a predictable, unchanging pattern.

The song also explores the internal struggle of trying to break free from these cycles. The narrator describes a 'feeling from end to end' and the futile attempts to 'catch it before it started again.' This suggests a desire to escape the monotony but being unable to do so, leading to a sense of frustration and helplessness. The line 'pushed it away to force a laugh, but inside I didn't have the breath' highlights the superficial attempts to mask this inner turmoil, only to find that the underlying issues remain unresolved.

Despite the bleakness, there is a glimmer of acceptance and understanding. The narrator claims to have 'got the rhythm down,' indicating a recognition of these cycles and perhaps a newfound ability to navigate them. The acknowledgment that 'if one wave stops, another begins' suggests an acceptance of life's inherent ebb and flow. The song's repetitive structure and lyrics mirror the endless cycles it describes, creating a powerful reflection on the human experience of time, change, and the struggle for meaning within it.