In The End
by Rush

Album: Fly By Night (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song opens with Alex Lifeson playing an acoustic guitar, then switching to an electric after the intro. He did this again on the song "Trees" from their 1978 album Hemispheres.
  • In the live version recorded for "All the worlds a stage" (1976) At 1:48 into the intro, before Alex starts the main guitar riff, you can hear Geddy slowly count in echo "one...two...buckle my shoe." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2

Comments: 11

  • Guy from Shoreline, WaI always thought it was the 7/8 time signature for thevcount in for the next part if the song… ie, 1, 2, (3)buck (4)le (5)my (6)shoe (7)… Alex starts riff …

    Also gives Alex time to swap guitars.
  • Carl from Lincolnshire UkI think this song intro on acoustic is played in a different key or guitar tunes down. Song book says start with chard C. But I think this is incorrect . Can anybody tell me what charts are played on acoustic intro and is the acoustic guitar tunes down and is electric guitar tunes down?
  • Kirk from Santa CruzThe Guitar intro is on a 12 string.
  • Rusty from Oahu, HiNeil Peart did not write the lyrics of "In The End." The album credits Geddy Lee with the lyrics and Lifeson/Lee with the music.
  • Rufus from Wheeling, WvOne of my favorite early Rush songs, this and Here again off the first release.
  • Arthur from Ktichener, OnDuring the solo, Geddy Lee is singing with the guitar starting at 4:23 until near the end of the solo.
  • Kent Lyle from Cincinnati, OhMy LP pressing of _Fly By Night_ credited "In the End" to Lee and Lifeson, and Wikipedia has also taken that path. However, there are some sources which seem to list "Lee/Lifeson/Peart", so maybe there is some controversy. If Peart did write those lyrics, he certainly wasn't trying very hard.
  • Justin from Montpelier, VtThe opening guitar on this song is an acoustic tuned down a whole step, if you try to play the intro in regular tuning it'll sound way too sharp.
  • Robert from Schaumburg, IlKent from CA look at the credits| lyrics by Peart
  • Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaUndoubtedly a holdover from their pre-Peart days. The lyrics are of the same throwaway nature as those of the first album.
  • Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WashingtonIn the live version recorded for "All the worlds a stage" (1976) At 1:48 into the intro, before Alex starts the main guitar riff, you can hear Geddy slowly count in echo "one...two...buckle my shoe".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.