“End of the Line” by the Traveling Wilburys stands as more than just a catchy tune from the late 1980s supergroup. It’s a song brimming with optimism, a testament to collaborative songwriting, and, perhaps most poignantly, an unintentional farewell to one of its beloved members, Roy Orbison. Born from a casual jam session and imbued with a spirit of camaraderie, the song became a hit single and a lasting fan favorite, encapsulating the Wilburys’ unique charm and musical synergy.
The Genesis of Optimism: Crafting “End of the Line”
The story of “End of the Line” begins, as many great songs do, with a simple chord progression. George Harrison, during a break, started strumming a D chord and singing the phrase, “Well, it’s alright.” Jeff Lynne recalled the moment, stating, “George started one off. He was strumming along and singing, ‘Well, it’s alright.’ And it was great because everybody went, ‘Wow! What is it?’ He say, ‘I don’t know. I just made it up.'” This spontaneous beginning sparked immediate interest from the other Wilburys – Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Lynne himself. The collaborative nature of the band quickly took over, with everyone joining in to shape the nascent song.
Harrison himself described his initial inspiration, connecting it to his skiffle roots and a desire to evoke a Bob Dylan-esque feel. “I mean, back to my roots, skiffle, really. But also I was trying to think of, well… That’s the good thing ’bout when there’s other people in the group, you know, and I was trying to think of a song that would feel a bit like something of a Bob Dylan tune. So naturally I got on D, the chord D.” This blend of Harrison’s musical foundation with a nod to Dylan’s style highlights the diverse influences that converged within the Traveling Wilburys.
The songwriting process was a true group effort. Lynne noted, “George actually came up with the idea for [End Of The Line], like the main chord sequence. And we all contributed words to it. And little bits of the song were put in by other people like Tom and Bob put a few of the chords in as well. But George came up with the initial idea of it.” Tom Petty added to this picture of collaborative creation, “Or End Of The Line, I remember George having the chorus. [Sings] ‘It’s all right…’ And then the rest of us came up with the words, I think Bob and I came up with that verse. And it was like that, piecing things together. There was always a kind of group meeting around the lyrics.” This piecemeal approach, with each Wilbury contributing their individual talents, is a hallmark of the band’s creative dynamic, resulting in a song that feels both unified and diverse.
A Message of Hope and Resilience
“End of the Line” is lyrically characterized by its optimistic and life-affirming message. The recurring phrase “Well, it’s alright” acts as a mantra of resilience and acceptance. As George Harrison humorously put it, referencing Carl Perkins, “Sort of like Carl Perkins says on a lot of his songs, ‘Well, it’s alright.’ So if you’re gonna be an optimist then it’s gotta be alright. If you happen to be a peg-legged old pirate who’s trying to make a Wilbury album, it’s still alright.” This inherent optimism is woven throughout the lyrics, touching upon themes of contentment, forgiveness, and living in the present moment.
Ellis Amburn, in his biography of Roy Orbison, interpreted the song through the lens of recovery, suggesting, “By the end of the [Volume One] album, in End Of The Line, the boys sound like old-timers in AA, singing about helping others, giving up worrying over the future, renouncing enslavement to diamond rings and all material things, trying to live on day at a time, expecting the best instead of the worst, being grateful just to be alive, being happy even if they’re alone and not in love with anyone, being contented even if they’re old, beginning to live and let live, practicing forgiveness on a daily basis, and, finally embracing death– the end of the line– as the entryway to eternal life. These beliefs are recognizable as those learned in recovery programs for alcohol and drug addiction.” Whether intentionally or not, the song’s themes resonate with messages of personal growth and finding peace, adding depth to its seemingly simple message.
Kit O’Toole from Something Else! highlighted the song’s core message, noting, “Every member of the Traveling Wilburys, except Dylan, takes turns singing lead, with their vocals perfectly blending at various points. Guitars jangle and the chugging rhythm (courtesy of master drummer Jim Keltner) compliment the jaunty lyrics celebrating life. ‘Well it’s all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay,’ Lynne sings. But the crux of the tune comes during Petty s part: ‘Don’t have to be ashamed of the car I drive; I m just glad to be here, happy to be alive,’ he drawls. Harrison sings of the joys of ‘riding around in the breeze’ and living ‘the life you please.’ Orbison s section now sounds eerie, considering he would die a short time after its recording: ‘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 will work out fine. Well, it’s all right, were going to the end of the line.'” This analysis emphasizes the individual contributions of each Wilbury, while collectively painting a picture of gratitude and acceptance.
Chart Success and Critical Acclaim
Released as the second single from their debut album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, “End of the Line” achieved commercial success, reaching the Top 60 in both the UK and US charts. Andrew Whiteside in Face The Music fanzine noted its UK chart performance: “The second single, The End Of The Line [sic], just reached the Top 60 over here [in the UK], despite the added attractions of a CD single and a free sheet of Wilbury stickers with some copies of the 12-inch, with came with a slightly amended sleeve.” While not a chart-topping smash, its solid performance underscored the song’s broad appeal.
Critically, “End of the Line” was widely praised as a highlight of the album. Andy Gill of The Independent stated, “Harrison’s Handle With Care and End of the Line were the obvious standout tracks, both charting as singles.” Philip J. Reed from noisetosignal.org lauded the song’s dual nature, “the latter of which is both dismal and triumphant at once…and contains probably the best-delivered vocal in all of Petty history.” He further elaborated on the song’s thematic depth: “The entire song is an admittance that this group of musicians is…well…past their prime. They all realize that their biggest albums are in their past…that there’s only so much left up ahead for them…but it’s fuelled by such a driving satisfaction with a life well-lived that you can’t help but smile…sing along…and, you know what? Everything’ll work out fine. It’s all right. We’re going to the end of the line…” This critical appreciation highlighted the song’s ability to resonate on multiple levels, from its catchy melody to its deeper lyrical themes.
A Poignant Tribute: The Music Video and Roy Orbison’s Absence
Tragedy struck shortly after Volume One was recorded with the sudden death of Roy Orbison in December 1988. The music video for “End of the Line,” scheduled to be filmed just days after Orbison’s funeral, became an unexpected and deeply moving tribute. As Jeff Lynne recounted, “The End Of The Line [sic], we did like a tribute to Roy by doing the video with just a rocking chair with his guitar in it and that was our symbol for Roy– a tribute. And it’s pretty poignant really. Roy’s not with us anymore which is a tragedy.”
The video, directed by Willie Smax, featured the remaining Wilburys performing in a train car, but during Orbison’s vocal parts, the screen focused on an empty rocking chair with his guitar resting on it, followed by a brief shot of a framed photograph of Orbison. Ron Hart in Billboard described the atmosphere on set: “It was a strange and sad experience shooting the video,’ the drummer describes. ‘It was surreal, actually, because you’re there for hours and hours doing multiple takes, and there was that chair with the guitar on it the whole time by itself.'”
Tom Petty reflected on the emotional weight of filming the video so soon after Orbison’s passing: “[Roy’s] funeral was only about a day before the [End Of The Line] video. But we just tried to go on and hope that we did him justice. And it turned out to be a curious song for the next single, you know, ‘the end of the line.’ But I think it– You write these songs and then it’s funny how events come down and later on when you hear the song it can mean so much more than when you were writing it.” The unintended irony of “End of the Line” becoming a farewell to Orbison deepened the song’s emotional resonance and solidified its place in music history as a poignant memorial.
A Lasting Legacy of Optimism and Camaraderie
Decades after its release, “End of the Line” continues to be celebrated as a classic Traveling Wilburys song and a testament to their unique musical chemistry. Brendan Keane of the Wexford Echo noted its timeless quality: “End of the Line was a major hit for the band and the re-mastered version contained on this release underlines the incredible fact that the song still sounds fresh today almost 20 years after it was originally recorded.”
The song’s enduring appeal lies in its infectious melody, its message of hope, and the bittersweet context of its release and music video. As Whitney Pastorek in Entertainment Weekly poignantly wrote, “End of the Line, which I’ll always associate equally with the death of Roy Orbison and the sad realization, while filling out my proposed schedule for high school, that I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.” This personal connection to the song, linking it to both loss and life’s uncertainties, speaks to its universal themes and emotional depth.
In conclusion, “End of the Line” is far more than just another song in the Traveling Wilburys’ catalog. It is a symbol of their collaborative spirit, a beacon of optimism, and a lasting tribute to the irreplaceable Roy Orbison. Its journey from a casual jam to a hit single and a poignant memorial underscores the unpredictable and often deeply moving power of music. “End of the Line” remains a testament to the enduring appeal of the Traveling Wilburys and their ability to craft songs that are both joyful and profoundly meaningful.
