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Finding Beauty at the End: Miley Cyrus “End of the World”

Miley Cyrus has never shied away from capturing the raw, fleeting nature of life in her music and “End of the World” is a testament to that artistry. Produced alongside Molly Rankin (Alvvays), the song carries a dreamy, indie-infused quality that feels both nostalgic and urgent, as if it exists on the edge of time itself.

Rather than dwelling on fear or despair, it transforms the concept of an impending end into something exhilarating—a reason to love harder, live louder, and embrace the moment while it lasts.

Lyrical Depth: A Celebration in the Face of Uncertainty

At its core, “End of the World” is a song about defiance, not in a rebellious sense, but in a deeply emotional one. It begins with a moment of vulnerability—a partner confessing their sorrow, feeling as though the world is crumbling around them.

“Today you woke up and you told me that you wanted to cry
The sky was fallin’ like a comet on the Fourth of July“

But rather than succumbing to that fear, Cyrus offers an alternative: What if, instead of mourning, they chose to celebrate? What if, instead of being paralyzed by the unknown, they used it as a reason to be completely and unapologetically present?

“Baby, you’ve been thinkin’ ’bout the future like it’s already yours
Show me how you’d hold me if tomorrow wasn’t coming for sure“

This sentiment runs throughout the song, transforming what could be a melancholic lament into an anthem of reckless joy. Cyrus urges her partner to spend every last dollar, to dance with abandon, to hold each other as if there is no tomorrow—because, after all, tomorrow is never guaranteed.

The Power of Pretending

One of the song’s most poignant ideas is the act of pretending. “Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world” she repeats, almost like a mantra. The phrase isn’t just about denial; it’s about finding power in perspective. Even if the sky is falling, even if everything feels uncertain, there is solace in choosing love over fear.

“Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)“

In this way, the song mirrors the way humans cope with existential dread—by finding meaning in the smallest joys, by leaning on each other, by turning devastation into something beautiful.

“Let’s spend the dollars you’ve been savin’ on a Mercedes-Benz
And throw a party like McCartney with some help from my friends“

This approach is woven into the imagery of the song. Rather than focusing on destruction, Cyrus paints a picture of adventure and spontaneity: driving a Mercedes-Benz with no regard for savings, throwing a party like Paul McCartney, losing themselves in the streets of Paris, painting the city like Picasso. These moments are not just acts of escapism; they are declarations of life. If everything must end, why not make it spectacular?

Conclusion

As the song builds toward its conclusion, the tension between inevitability and resistance grows stronger. Cyrus sings about hitting rock bottom, drinking to forget, seeking transcendence in Nirvana—both the state of being and, perhaps, the legendary band that famously embodied existential angst. But even in these moments of recklessness, there’s an underlying message: love is what makes it all worthwhile. The real tragedy is not the end itself, but the moments wasted in fear of it.

“Ooh, let’s go to Paris, I don’t care if we get lost in the scene
Paint the city like Picasso would’ve done in his dreams
Do the things that we were way too terrified of before
Ooh, I wanna take you to Nirvana, we can’t take it too far“

Ultimately, “End of the World” is not about destruction—it’s about embracing life while it’s still ours to hold. Cyrus reminds us that every moment is fleeting, that nothing lasts forever, and that perhaps the most beautiful way to live is to pretend, if only for a little while, that it does.

For those who wants to hear the song firsthand, the song is available on Youtube with a music video.

Miley Cyrus – “End of The World” Lyrics

[Intro]
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

[Verse]
Today you woke up and you told me that you wanted to cry
The sky was fallin’ like a comet on the Fourth of July
Baby, you’ve been thinkin’ ’bout the future like it’s already yours
Show me how you’d hold me if tomorrow wasn’t coming for sure

[Chorus]
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

[Verse]
Let’s spend the dollars you’ve been savin’ on a Mercedes-Benz
And throw a party like McCartney with some help from my friends
Yeah, let’s go down to Malibu and watch the sun fade out once more
Show me how you’d hold me if tomorrow wasn’t comin’ for sure

[Chorus]
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
(I can see it coming down)
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)

[Bridge]
Ooh, let’s go to Paris, I don’t care if we get lost in the scene
Paint the city like Picasso would’ve done in his dreams
Do the things that we were way too terrified of before
Ooh, I wanna take you to Nirvana, we can’t take it too far
Hit the bottom of the bottle and forget who we are
Hold me close, you know tomorrow isn’t coming for sure

[Breakdown]
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Let’s pretend, it’s not the end (Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world)
Let’s pretend, it’s not the end (The sky is falling, like the end of the world)
Let’s pretend, it’s not the end, end, end

[Chorus]
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
I can see it coming down