Hello, I know there's someone out there who can understand
And who's feeling the same way as me
I'm twenty-four and I've got everything to live for
But I know now that it wasn't meant to be
'Cause all has been lost and all has been won
And there's nothing left for us to save
But now I know that I don't want to be alone today
So if you find that you've been feeling just the same

Call me now it's alright
It's just the end of the world
You need a friend in the world
'Cause you can't hide
So call and I'll get right back
If your intentions are pure
I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world

I've got a photograph I'll send it off today
And you will see that I am perfectly sane
Not for a lifetime or forever and a day
'Cause we know now that just won't be the case
There will be no commitment and no confessions
And no little secrets to keep
No little children or houses with roses just the
End of the world and me
'Cause all has been gone and all has been done
And there's nothing left for us to say
But we could be together as they blow it all away
And we can share in every moment as it breaks

Call me now it's alright
It's just the end of the world
You need a friend in the world
'Cause you can't hide
So call and I'll get right back
If your intentions are pure
I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world.



Lyrics submitted by Ruthie7

Track duration: 04:41

"Preaching the End of the World" as written by Chris Cornell

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Preaching The End of The World song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:That movie completely ripped off this song.
    Flag poopfetishon January 12, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:That movie completely ripped off this song.
    Flag poopfetishon January 12, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I'm hearing a theme of someone that he loved dearly left him. He's looking to replace the void in his heart:

    If your intentions are pure,
    I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world

    The end could be depression leading to suicide.

    This is really dark, depressing stuff that Chris wrote. Really good music.
    Flag PickSlideon August 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I read in an interview once where Chris said this song was inspired by watching one of those late night Televangelism programs where people are often "saved" or "healed", and where you can call in to make donations to fund the church and stay in the good graces of the Lord. I don't remember many details beyond that. But I do remember him saying that he was angry at how some people will use something like impending doom or the end of the world to make a quick buck off the believers. It's pretty much his response to that idea. Great tune.
    Flag CMan0928on January 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:While I appreciate the poetic license taken in these comments, let me be the first to make a fairly straight forward suggestion: He's talking about the end of the world.


    Hello, I know there's someone out there who can understand
    And who's feeling the same way as me

    ***The elites of the world are preparing for a global catastrophe.
    the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a dead give away. George Bush
    buying up land in the mountains of a foreign country, etc. Chris
    knows it's coming, and figures other people do as well.

    I'm twenty-four and I've got everything to live for
    But I know now that it wasn't meant to be

    ***Because the end of the world as we now recognize it, is coming soon.

    'Cause all has been lost and all has been won
    And there's nothing left for us to save

    ***There is a cyclic pattern of destruction recorded in history
    from the floods of Noah and Gilgamesh to the destruction of Atlantis.
    This has all happened before and will happen again and again.

    But now I know that I don't want to be alone today
    So if you find that you've been feeling just the same

    Call me now it's alright
    It's just the end of the world
    You need a friend in the world
    'Cause you can't hide

    ***nobody will be safe from the destruction that is to come.
    Nobody can hide from it and makes Chris sad to think about it.
    He wants other people who know whats up to collaborate with.

    So call and I'll get right back
    If your intentions are pure
    I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world

    ***He's got some contingency plan and he's looking for
    people to hole up with when the doo doo hits the fan.

    I've got a photograph I'll send it off today
    And you will see that I am perfectly sane

    ***The photograph is likely a picture of what is going to cause
    the destruction. Planet X, the destroyer planet is my guess.

    not for a lifetime or forever and a day
    'Cause we know now that just won't be the case

    ***The end is extremely nigh.

    There will be no commitment and no confessions
    And no little secrets to keep
    No little children or houses with roses just the end of the world and me
    'Cause all has been gone and all has been done
    And there's nothing left for us to say
    But we could be together as they blow it all away
    And we can share in every moment as it breaks

    ***More discussion of the total destruction to be caused.

    Call me now it's alright
    It's just the end of the world
    You need a friend in the world
    'Cause you can't hide
    So call and I'll get right back
    If your intentions are pure
    I'm seeking a friend for the end of the world

    ***If you're calling him because you are a crazed fan, he doesn't
    need you, but if you are calling because you have a plant to deal with
    the end of the world, then he'll get back with you as soon as possible...
    Flag AMFYoYoon April 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I like what r bloodworth said. What kind of person would you want to share the end of the world with? What kind of people are we really when we are stripped of all the business of being people and there is really no concievable future to gamble on, no obligation, no achievement to chase? What would any of us want to do if all there was left was to watch the end of the world play out into oblivion. We have a spirit that connects us with the unknown beyond that and a soul that connects us with another human being.
    Flag icensnowon September 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:As mentioned before, I think that the whole 'end of the world' concept was only a certain way to express his need to 'fill some void'. Maybe it was inspired by the 'apocalyptical hype' around the end of century? Any way, the lyrics fantastically describe the need of having somebody near in harder times... just for the sake of not beeing alone.

    "not for a lifetime or forever and a day
    'Cause we know now that just won't be the case
    There will be no commitment and no confessions
    And no little secrets to keep
    No little children or houses with roses just the end of the world and me"
    Flag myse1fon July 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the idea behind this song is that Chris just wants someone to talk to him while he's feeling all lonely and depressed. He's desperate, he doesn't even need them to be at all friendly with him, he doesn't need their love. All he wants is to know he has their company.
    "There will be no commitment and no confessions
    And no little secrets to keep
    No little children or houses with roses just the end of the world and me"
    Flag cristealon June 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think its about getting to a certain point (judgement day???) and taking a look around and realizing you are alone... very sad... my favorite chris cornell song... i saw him do it on leno and have been hooked ever since
    Flag adrock1011on October 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song wasnt released all that long after jeff buckley's death, and knowing how close they were i wonder if he was still trying to fill the void
    Flag durkaxdurka90on June 03, 2007   Link

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