End of the Line

The Traveling Wilburys

About End of the Line

"End of the Line" is a song by the British-American supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. Released in October 1988, it was the final track on their debut album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. It was also issued as the band's second single, in January 1989. The recording features all the Wilburys except Bob Dylan as lead singers: George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison sing the choruses in turn, while Tom Petty sings the verses. The song was mainly written by Harrison and was assigned to his publishing company, Umlaut Corporation. In keeping with the collaborative concept behind the Wilburys project, however, all five members received a songwriting credit. In the United States, the single peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at No. 2 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, blocked out the top spot by "Driven Out" by The Fixx and "Working on It" by Chris Rea. The music video for "End of the Line" was directed by Willy Smax. It was filmed in Los Angeles shortly after Orbison's death in December 1988, and features Dylan's participation. To honour the loss of Orbison, a shot of a guitar sitting in a rocking chair next to a photo of him was used when his vocals are heard. 


Year:
1988
3:29
462 
#32

Lyrics currently unavailable…


The Traveling Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Originating from an idea discussed by Harrison and Lynne during the sessions for Harrison's 1987 album Cloud Nine, the band formed in April 1988 after the five members united to record a bonus track for Harrison's next European single. When this collaboration, "Handle with Care", was deemed too good for such a limited release, the group agreed to record a full album, titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. Following Orbison's death in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album, titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, in 1990. The project's work received much anticipation given the diverse nature of … more »

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11 facts about this song

Band Formation
"End of the Line" was released by the supergroup, The Traveling Wilburys, which was formed by George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. These were all massive names in music on their own, making the Wilburys a bit of a powerhouse lineup.
Impromptu Collaboration
The supergroup's plan to collaborate was actually impromptu. George Harrison and co-writer Jeff Lynne started the idea for the band when they were writing songs at Bob Dylan's studio.
Chart Ranking
After its release in 1988, the "End of the Line" song peaked at number 63 in the UK Singles Chart and number 2 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Tribute to Roy Orbison
In the official music video for "End of the Line," a chair is shown with a guitar and Orbison's photo as a tribute to him. Orbison had sadly passed away two months before the release of the album.
Album Success
The song is a part of the Traveling Wilburys' debut album, "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1," which went triple platinum in the United States and hit number 3 on the Billboard album charts.
Non-Traditional Recording
It was recorded in the house of Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. The band didn't record in traditional professional studios. Instead, they preferred to work in a more relaxed domestic setting.
Song Theme
The song’s title "End of the Line" is suggestive of the inevitability of death, yet the track has a positive tone overall, perhaps reflecting the philosophy that life should be enjoyed despite its ultimate endpoint.
Later Uses
The song has had other media exposure, including in the final scene of the 2012 film, "The Silver Linings Playbook" as well as in the end credits of the 2017 documentary, "George Harrison: Living in the Material World."
Unique Instrumental
George Harrison plays the ukulele in "End of the Line," which was one of Harrison's favorite instruments.
Harmonies
One interesting aspect of "End of the Line" is how the group shares lead vocal duties. The first two verses are sung by George Harrison, followed by Tom Petty and then Jeff Lynne. However, joining together for the choruses gives the song an amazing layered harmony. This created a unique sound that many fans loved.
Album Cover
The album cover for "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1" was shot in Los Angeles by photographer Neal Preston. It featured all five members of the band and a large sideways guitar, which added an interesting element to the album artwork.

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