13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End

Reading Time: 16 min read

13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End features songs by Ariana Grande, Ben Harper, Conan Gray, Dua Lipa, Joesef, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift.

“Hold me close, you know tomorrow isn’t comin’ for sure,” Miley Cyrus sings, anticipating the end of the world. Per Ben Harper, it comes down to five words: “We can’t end this way.” Word… rather, words. As for Dua Lipa, she’s celebrating the end… of an era (“The sweetest pleasure / I feel like we’re gonna be together / This could be the end of an era”)! The common thread between “End of the World”, “We Can’t End This Way”, and “End of an Era” is… drum roll, please 🥁… the word, E-N-D, end! 13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End is NOT the first time the end has been explored through playlist on The Musical Hype. Take it back to 2019, when 11 Songs That Key in on The End (2019) arrived. Since then, there have been many more end-related songs recorded, as well as past ones that I hadn’t written about. 13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End features songs by Ariana Grande, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Conan Gray, Dua Lipa, Joesef, and Miley Cyrus. So, without further ado, let’s fully prepare ourselves for the end, music playlist style!

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1. Ariana Grande, “Intro (end of the world) (extended)”	2. Miley Cyrus, “End of the World”	3. Conan Gray, “Never Ending Song”	4. Dua Lipa, “End of an Era”
5. Joesef, “East End Coast”	6. Taylor Swift, “How Did It End?”	7. Halsey, “The End”	8. Cooper Bloom, “End of Time”
9. Bailey Zimmerman, “Where It Ends”	10. Fousheé, “Deep End”	11. Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, “We Can’t End This Way”	12. Beyoncé, “End of Time”
13. Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé, “Until The End of Time”

1. Ariana Grande, “Intro (end of the world) (extended)”

Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead » Republic » 2025

“How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship? / Aren’t you really s’posed to know that shit? Feel it in your bones and own that shit? I don’t know / Then I had this interaction I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout for like five weeks.” “Intro (end of the world)” commences eternal sunshine, the seventh album by Grammy-winning pop superstar and Academy Award-nominated actress Ariana Grande. Here, Grande is backed by a radiant, dreamy, and amorous instrumental. She produced the intro alongside Shintaro Yasuda, Nick Lee, and Aaron Paris. The lyrics reflect on her relationship, with Grande questioning if this is the right person, and wondering if he’s feeling and thinking the same way. Vocally, she sounds marvelous and refined. “Intro (end of the world)” sets the tone for another well-rounded pop album by Ari.

Notably, on Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, released in 2025, “Intro” reappears as the 14^th track, “Intro (end of the world) (extended)”. The extended edition adds a second verse and an outro. “Please, pay me no mind,” she sings, continuing, “While I jump into your skin and change your eyes / So you see things through mine.” It is hard to make others see your point of view sometimes. In this case, Ariana felt like her ex did not see or hear her viewpoint. Later in the verse, she sings, “Would you still be here pretending you still like me? /… Pretending you don’t regret not thinking before asking.” Divorce-related vibes, perhaps? As for the outro, she asserts, “I broke your heart because you broke mine /… So me, I am the bad guy /… ‘Cause I’d already grieved you.” At least brighter days are ahead, right?

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2. Miley Cyrus, “End of the World”

Something Beautiful » MCEO Inc. / Columbia » 2025

“Show me how you’d hold me if tomorrow wasn’t comin’ for sure.” Grammy-winning pop singer/songwriter Miley Cyrus goes on to sing, “Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world.” “End of the World” is the third track from Cyrus’ ninth studio album, Something Beautiful. The thrilling “End” features multiple songwriters and producers, including Cyrus. The song features big pop/rock vibes. These vibes suit Cyrus superbly. The driving groove from the onset catches the ears, as does a lovely palette of sounds (guitars, keys, synths/programming, strings). “End” is bright, set in a major key, despite the pessimistic song title. Expectedly, Cyrus delivers a strong vocal, with her biggest moment coming in the infectious chorus (excerpted above). There is lovely contrast during the bridge section – different harmonic progression but related lyrics. “Oh, I wanna take you to Nirvana, we can’t take it too far,” Cyrus sings, adding, “Hit the bottom of the bottle and forget who we are / Hold me close, you know tomorrow isn’t comin’ for sure.” The breakdown section also stands out, preceding the final chorus, where Cyrus asserts, “Let’s pretend it’s not the end of the world.” Miley Cyrus ‘brings it’ on “End of the World”.

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3. Conan Gray, “Never Ending Song”

Found Heaven » Republic » 2024

“Tried to turn the page, but our story wasn’t stoppin’.” Oh, Conan Gray! The handsome, incredibly talented gift that keeps on giving, particularly on the brief but potent single, “Never Ending Song”. “Never Ending Song” is the second track from his third studio album, Found Heaven, released in 2024. Following the intro featuring crescendoing pummeling drums, “Never Ending Song” settles into 80s-style production which embraces New Wave and synthpop cues. Notably, Gray collaborates with producers ILYA and Max Martin.  The result is a match made in heaven.  Gray serves up awesome lead vocals. The melody is incredibly tuneful in the verses. The verses are brief, but the personality that Gray exhibits is #GIVING.  Of course, the centerpiece is the simple, catchy chorus: “And it goes on, and on, and on / Like a never-ending song.” While the chorus and the production that accompany are arguably the crème de la crème of “Never Ending Song,” the bridge is a vibe too. During the bridge, there is a nice contrast served up – “Can you make us stay forever? / Are we done? Can you make it play?” I love how Gray ascends into his upper register at the end of it, before returning to familiar territory with the chorus.  His performance is a bit freer post-bridge, incorporating some more ambitious vocal ad-libs. Gray can do no wrong! Short but sweet, “Never Ending Song” marks another winner for Conan.

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4. Dua Lipa, “End of an Era”

Radical Optimism » Warner UK » 2024

“In the clouds, there she goes / Butterflies 🦋, let them flow (End of an era).” Grammy-winning, English Albanian pop singer/songwriter Dua Lipa began a new era with her third studio album, Radical Optimism. Following up a juggernaut (Future Nostalgia was the sugar, honey, iced tea) is a challenge. Much less heralded and less hyped than Future Nostalgia, Radical Optimism still had some genuine bops, including “End of an Era”. “End of an Era” is the album opener. Lipa, Danny L Harle, Caroline Ailin, Kevin Parker, and Tobias Jesso Jr. wrote “End.” Harle and Parker produced it. The backdrop is lit with its dope, percussive groove, assertive rhythmic guitars, and the colorful, gorgeous keys and synths. The fuel for the fire is evident from the start before Dua sings one note. Let the new era begin!

“What is it about a kiss that makes me feel like this? / Makes me an optimist, I guess,” Dua Lipa sings in the first verse, continuing, “I always jump too quick, hopin’ this one might stick / Hopelessly romantic.” Those pesky but all too relatable matters of the heart. To all the hopeless romantics out there, Dua Lipa is speaking to us! Done with it, in the second verse, she’s turning over a new leaf. She admits, “One chapter might be done, God knows I had some fun./ New one just begun.” Preach, sis! In the chorus, the centerpiece, the crème de la crème of “End of an Era,” her radical optimism shows:

“The sweetest pleasure

I feel like we’re gonna be together

This could be the end of an era

Who knows, baby? This could be forever, forever.”

Indeed, Dua Lipa, indeed! She shows us this new era on the post-chorus where her head is in the clouds, and she has butterflies. On the bridge, she asserts, “I’ve lost all my senses /… Is this my happy ending?” As always, Dua Lipa brings the heat vocally – she’s ready-made for pop music with her husky, robust instrument. Over the sleek, rhythmic backdrop, she excels. The “End of an Era” is pretty sweet!

Appears in:

Dua Lipa, End of an Era: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 52 (2025)

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5. Joesef, “East End Coast”

Permanent Damage » Bold Cut / AWAL Recordings Ltd » 2023

Queer Scottish, soul-pop musician Joesef is on an emotional rollercoaster on most of his 2023 debut album, Permanent Damage. That includes the third track, single, “East End Coast.” “East End Coast” encompasses a tempestuous relationship (his words) and moving from his hometown, Glasgow, to London. The songwriting is honest and incredibly poetic. “Separately comatose / Smoking green and doing blow,” he sings in the first verse, continuing, “We broke into the stately home / But I wish you would take me home.” Throughout, there is emphasis placed on an unbreakable bond despite the wild relationship, highlighted brilliantly in the second verse (“Kiss me as the casket’s closed”). Admittedly, the singer is homesick, which he reveals during the bridge, also asserting that he feels “permanently on my own.” Joe’s pain = our listening pleasure!

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6. Taylor Swift, “How Did It End?”

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY » Taylor Swift » 2024

“We hereby conduct this post-mortem / He was a hot house flower to my outdoorsman.” Taylor Swift is a terrific songwriter. Despite her many Grammys, it is surprising she has yet to win a Grammy for her songwriting. “How Did It End?”, the 21^st track from her 2024 album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY, is no exception to her gift of pen. She wrote and produced “How Did It End?” alongside Aaron Dessner. Notably, the song does not appear on the standard, 16-track edition of the album. “End” is primarily a piano ballad, characterized by its sublime arpeggiations. As the song progresses, the sound palette and color expand but not too much. Swift sings in her lower register. Beyond her expressive lead, singing sweet, poetic lyrics (“We were blind to unforeseen circumstances / We learned thе right steps to different dancеs / And fell victim to interlopers’ glances / Lost the game of chance, what are the chances?”), there are nice, warm background vocals that accentuate the color. Beyond the elite lyricism, and the tuneful, varied choruses, the harmonic progression catches the ear.

“Come one, come all, it’s happenin’ again

The empathetic hunger descends

We’ll tell no one except all of our friends

But I still don’t know

How did it end?”

But, what is the answer to the question: “How Did It End?” In Swift’s own words: “I still don’t know.”

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7. Halsey, “The End”

The Great Impersonator » Columbia » 2024

“If you knew it was the end of the world / Could you love me like a child?” Halsey (she/they) asks in the chorus of “The End”, the sixth track from their 2024 album, The Great Impersonator. “Could you hold me in the dark? / If you knew it was the end of the world,” she continues singing, showcasing authenticity and vulnerability. “The End” comes after trials and tribulations for the singer/songwriter, who has experienced a host of health-related issues, including endometriosis, Lupus, and T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. They share their journey on the self-penned, emotional single. Halsey produced “The End” alongside Alex G and Michael Uzowuru. Vocally, they sing marvelously. Their tone and the personality they bring to the table are compelling. Lived experiences ‘up the ante’ on “The End.” The accompaniment, guitar (Alex G), and keys (Sir Dylan) are perfectly suited for Halsey’s voice. The songwriting is the crème de la creme. Halsey addresses their medical issues. “Every couple of years now, a doctor says I’m sick,” they sing in the first verse, adding, “Pulls out a brand-new bag of tricks, and then they lay it on me / And at first, it was my brain, then a skeleton in pain.” Heavy. In the second, it is clear they have an arduous relationship with medicine: “So I ran into the clinic, and I asked to see the man / With his white coat and his stethoscope like a snake around his hand.” Biblical allusions appear throughout, with references to the snake and the Great Flood. In the outro, they address their treatment for Lupus and the rare T-cell disorder. “The End” is stunning – a song that leaves you speechless. Halsey put their heart and soul into this one.

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8. Cooper Bloom, “End of Time”

“End of Time” » Cooper Bloom » 2023

“If asteroids come rolling in / The atmosphere in our world came to an end / Whether it’s years or it’s minutes / Just know I’ll be in it / To the end of time.” Those are truly dedicated and sweet lyrics by the handsome and talented Cooper Bloom. They appear on the Canadian pop singer’s (with a dash of western flavor) 2023 single, “End of Time”. A warm instrumental fuels his fire. The guitar-driven timbre shines, providing that country-western vibe. As for Cooper, his vocals are on-point – gorgeous to the nth degree. The richness of his tone stands out, as well as his authenticity and nuance. The theme and lyrics give Bloom reason to sing sublimely. The dedication – the feels – are turned up, and it’s delightful. Early on, Cooper sings, “You’re the north star in the sky / When I don’t know where to go / Turn my darkness into light / When my light is running low.” Aww 🥰, Cooper! Later, in the second verse, he addresses his partner (presumably) “With you there is no gravity / My feet won’t touch the ground / You’re the cloud that I’ve been floating on / And I’m never coming down / No, I’m never coming down.” He acknowledges the imperfections of the relationship, ultimately confirming that he will always be there. Oh, the beauty of love, first and foremost, as well as the utter beauty of “End of Time”.

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9. Bailey Zimmerman, “Where It Ends”

Religiously. The Album. » Warner Music Nashville / Elektra » 2023

“And I’m breakin’ down / You were lyin’ when you said that you were tryin’ to work things out / But now I’m broken down.” Oh, snap! This is “Where It Ends!” “Where It Ends” is the 12^th track on Religiously. The Album., the debut album by country singer Bailey Zimmerman. Zimmerman sounds clear, commanding, and youthful in “Where It Ends.” He may be young, but he knows it’s time to call it quits when it comes to her. In the second verse, he admits, “Red flags said I shoulda walked out that door.” Despite the love-induced pain experienced, he possesses a strong and captivating voice. The powerful chorus marks the best moment of the song.

“You’re the last thing that I thought I’d lose

All I ever wanted was to be loved by you

I let you back in and I gave you a second chance

And like a jet plane on a clear blue sky

Sun came shinin’ down on all your lies

I got too much pride to let that happen again

So, this is where it ends, ends, ends

Yeah, this is where it ends.”

Beyond great vocals and relatable songwriting, “Where It Ends” benefits from tuneful melodies. The musical accompaniment marks another selling point with its heavy-handed guitars, banjo, and tasty guitar riffs. Ultimately, “Where It Ends” is country, but also features some more contemporary production tricks (a dash of synth, but non troppo).

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10. Fousheé, “Deep End”

“Deep End” » 2020

Fousheé seems destined to do big things, period. The R&B singer is on autopilot from the start of “Deep End”. This brief record – a mere two minutes and 21 seconds – is incredibly potent. Backed by a vibe-filled backdrop, “Deep End” is fresh, moody, and set in a minor key. Primarily R&B, with hip-hop sensibilities that only make things fresher. It begins with an intro, which eventually evolves into the chorus (the crowning achievement).

“I been trying not to go off the deep end

I don’t think you wanna give me a reason…”

Fousheé gives us commanding, expressive, and nuanced vocals. Furthermore, she conveys a big personality, which speak to her artistry. She’s classy but also unafraid to bring in some ‘stank.’ Sung vocals dominate, however, she’s equally effective when she ‘busts a rhyme.’ Also, worth checking out is the brief but potent “Deep End Freestyle”, attributed to Sleepy Hallow and Fousheé.

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11. Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, “We Can’t End This Way”

Get Up! » Ben Harper / Concord Music Group, Inc. » 2013

Five words: “We can’t end this way.” No, sir, we can’t! As an exemplification of an eclectic music enthusiast, I have a soft spot for blues and gospel music. Ben Harper (1969 – ) and renowned ‘harp’ player Charlie Musselwhite (1944 – ) made my musical heart melt with their retro-tinged, collaborative blues-gospel song, “We Can’t End This Way”. “We Can’t End This Way” is the third track from their 2013 collaborative, Grammy-winning blues album, Get Up!. 15 nominations in, Mr. Musselwhite won his first and only Grammy for this project. Harper, on the other hand, earned his third win. Both the song and the album were among my favorites from that year. Harper wrote and produced “We Can’t End This Way.”

“We Can’t End This Way” is like listening to a little piece of heaven. It is a special song from the beginning. Embracing an old-school sound and vibe, it feels and sounds organic and rootsy to the nth degree. Music in the 2010s did not sound like this track, hence, a sizable part of its charm – the throwback, retro aesthetic. Ben Harper is locked in, giving his all with his gritty, soulful, and high-flying, soulful vocals. His authenticity and sincerity are impressive as he brings the tuneful melodies to life. His gospel experience shines through the socially conscious lyrics:

“There’s a man on the corner

Beggin’ for help

There’s a man that walks past him

And he’s drownin’ in wealth

Who doesn’t understand?

Who doesn’t understand?

How disappointment destroys the soul.”

During the chorus, excerpted earlier, Harper gets a mighty assist from the soulful, gospel-tinged background vocalists. His vocal ad-libs, riffs, and runs are nothing short of masterful. Adding to the excellence is Musselwhite’s elite harp playing, solidifying the blues. Charlie, like Ben, not only explores a different musical genre but also helps to take us back to a starkly different musical era. The big takeaway is that “We Can’t End This Way” is a surefire gem.

Appears in:

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, We Can’t End This Way: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 53 (2025)

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12. Beyoncé, “End of Time”

4 » Columbia » 2011

“Come take my hand, I won’t let you go / I’ll be your friend, I will love you so deeply.” Woo! Even music superstars have underrated and undervalued albums and songs. For Beyoncé, that underrated album came in 2011 with 4 (her fourth studio album). 4 was still a massive success for the Grammy-winning diva; it was certified quadruple platinum in 2022 by the Recording Industry Association of America. Yet, for whatever reason, this jam-packed LP seems to get less notoriety. One of the songs from 4 that I even underrated back during the album cycle was the single, “End of Time”. I was not the only one not to give the seventh single from the LP love. To be fair, when you’re on an album’s final single, the allure of the project is wearing off. But it is shocking that “End of Time,” which was certified platinum in 2022, failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. That is very un-Beyoncé-like 👀!

Thanks to our favorite viral app, TikTok, “End of Time” got new life. But, revisiting this song before the addictive, entertaining app, it deserved more love regardless of its virality. Bey, The-Dream, Diplo, and Switch produced this ear-catching number. What makes it ear-catching, you ask? Primarily, it is the mammoth-sounding drums and those biting, menacing, mean-sounding horns. The horn arrangement is superb. The ear candy is R-E-A-L! Not only does the instrumental scream ‘bold,’ but so is Beyoncé. The girl is F-I-E-R-C-E, fierce, hunty! Following the kick-ass instrumental intro, she impresses with the chorus (excerpted earlier), vowing, “I will be the one to kiss you at night / I will love you until the end of time,” and encouraging him to, “Say you’ll never let me go.” Later, in the breakdown section, she keeps imploring him to NEVER let her go. Bey has love on her mind, encouraging him in the second verse, “Baby, come on, get up on it / Show me that you really want it.” Can I get a hell yeah? More could be said about “End of Time”, but the big takeaway is that this epic pop and R&B should have gotten its ‘just due’ in 2011. It speaks to the artistry of Beyoncé, who always has many musical tricks up her sleeves.

Appears in:

Beyoncé, End of Time: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 54 (2025)

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13. Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé, “Until The End of Time”

***FutureSex/LoveSounds* (Deluxe Edition) » Zomba Recording LLC » 2006**

Yes, Justin Timberlake did a damn good job of bringing “SexyBack” in his 2006 sophomore album, FutureSex/LoveSounds. However, it wasn’t merely that dominant number one hit or the other number one hits that exuded sexiness. His duet with Beyoncé, a remix of “Until The End of Time”, is a sexy winner too. It didn’t top the charts, but securing a top-20 hit is always a win. “Until The End of Time” features smooth, contemporary R&B-styled production by Timberlake, Danja, and Timbaland – what a formidable team! Timberlake and Beyoncé deliver top-rate vocals – exquisite! Timberlake sings the first verse: “There’s so much darkness in the world / But I see beauty left in you girl / and what you give me lets me know that I’ll be alright.” Aww, the feels 🥰! Beyoncé responds in the second verse, “I just wanna spend time bein’ your girl / And what you give me lets me know that we’ll be alright.” See what she did there 😜? The memorable chorus is one of the biggest selling points of this 13^th track on FutureSex/LoveSounds deluxe edition (also Timberlake’s best album in my opinion):

“‘Cause if your love was all I had

In this life

Well, that would be enough

Until the end of time

So, rest your weary heart

And relax your mind

‘Cause I’m gonna love you, girl

Until the end of time.”

The five-and-a-half-minute, love-oriented slow jam never gets hurried, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Also, shout out the collaborative bridge section where JT and Bey trade lines. “Until The End of Time” = an aughts pop bop.

Appears in:

13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs (2024)

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13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AWAL Recordings Ltd, Ben Harper, Bold Cut, Columbia, Concord Music Group, Inc., Cooper Bloom, Elektra, MCEO Inc., Republic, Taylor Swift, Warner Music Nashville, Warner UK, Zomba Recording LLC; Adenir Figueiredo Carvalho from Pexels AcatXIo, Colleen ODell, Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay]

13 Entertaining Songs Concerned About the End | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on July 23, 2025July 23, 2025