The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, doing the best you can
Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand
You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
Waiting for someone to tell you everything
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring
Maybe a diamond ring
Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right, As long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it's all right, everyday is Judgement Day
Maybe somewhere down the road aways
You'll think of me, wonder where I am these days
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays
Purple haze
Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right, if you got someone to love
Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive
I'm glad to be here, happy to be alive
It don't matter if you're by my side
I'm satisfied
Well it's all right, even if you're old and grey
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, doing the best you can
Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand
You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
Waiting for someone to tell you everything
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring
Maybe a diamond ring
Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right, As long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it's all right, everyday is Judgement Day
Maybe somewhere down the road aways
You'll think of me, wonder where I am these days
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays
Purple haze
Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right, if you got someone to love
Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive
I'm glad to be here, happy to be alive
It don't matter if you're by my side
I'm satisfied
Well it's all right, even if you're old and grey
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
Lyrics submitted by Dorthonion
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great song by a band that doesn't get nearly enough credit. To me, this song says that no matter what happens in life, it'll be alright. "If you live the life you please", then who's to tell you how to do things?
That's not to say that you can just go ahead and do whatever you want. Keep in mind that "every day is Judgement Day" and you have to "lend a hand" and "do the best you can." Nice song, fits the band perfectly.
@Nick the Bastard it's been almost 20 years but I joined this website just to say your explanation was perfect. I was thinking the exact same thing
To 50s love:
To answer your question - from Wikipedia - The death of Roy Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, but the band did continue. In tribute to Orbison, during the video for "End of the Line" at a point when Orbison sings, his photo is shown followed by a shot of his guitar in a rocking chair. Hope this helps.
Love the song as well. Especially the verse:
You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring Waiting for someone to tell you everything Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring Maybe a diamond ring
IOW, we have to create our own realities and not wait for other people to do it for us. We can rely on other people's truth (which might not work or might be disappointing), or find our own - and simply live it.
To me this song is about fate. Everything seems to point out that the person is content with the current state of his life even if he does not have the girl cause he knows that if it's meant to be it will happen. It's in God's hands not so to speak.
its my funeral song its about at the end why look back at all your fuck ups? why not cherish everything everyone makes mistakes i definatly think its about your reflection at the time of death and dont worry just live your life. its my funeral song :)
This song to me is about just enjoying the simple fact that you are alive and that you don't need to rely on someone else's standards to enjoy your life, only your own. It's also about letting other people live their lives and not imposing your standards on them. In all, a really feel good song about enjoying the life you have, no matter what, until the end of the line comes.
My favorite line is, "Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive, I'm just glad to be here happy to be alive." I drive a pretty beat up car and my friends always joke with me about it so I like the way this line in the song makes me feel.
To "Lightwing1" I agree it's a lovely tribute to the "Big O" showing his guitar in a rocking chair and his photo when he sings.
The reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd band had a similar tribute to deceased lead singer Ronnie Van Zant - everytime they performed Freebird live they would place his hat on a chair on stage.
Has anyone watched the British cop show "New Tricks"? Dennis Waterman's version of "End Of The Line" was played on the credits. It wasn't as good as the Wilburys' original but it was an appropriate song considering the age of the main characters and the nature of their work. I suspect the copyright laws eventually caught up with them because the song was removed after about 6 episodes.
i completely agree with everyone who said that this band does not get enough credit. It has so much amazing talent coming together to make music. I wish this band would have came together before 1988 because they only spent a few months with Roy Orbison before his death, and the band was not together long enough. I mean where else are you going to see Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty together! Ringo Starr and Dhani Harrison (George's son) also played a few songs with them. This song is incredible and for anyone who has seen the video i love it just as much. They're all sitting on a train jamming and it's just so fantastic!
I've always gotten a strong "recovery" vibe from this song. Many people who are in the drug and alcohol recovery community use some of the exact language found in this song. I wonder if one or more of the Willburys was in recovery, which is a pretty common thing among aging rockers (Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend to name a couple). The rest of it I think is just a mix of nostalgia and the realization that death is near, and the best thing to do is live life the best you can, focus on to today with love, forgiveness and no regrets.
Great song, and true they don't get credit but as individuals thats kinda what they wanted, everyone knows who the individual wilbury's were and i reckon they all just wanted to make great music together without the bullshit around them as legendary individuals
I'm quite surprised that not more people have left comments on such a great song. I think it's simply about living life to the fullest.