(Begin with the guitar tuned down a step and a half (i.e., E down to C#). From there, it’s tuned C#F#G#C#G#C#. An ugly one on paper but not quite as tough as it appears - the bark is worse than the bite.)

When I read of other writers’ songs “evolving” into form, this one, for me, would be a decent example of an evolution of one of my own. I started writing this on Aug. 20, 2002 and finished Nov. 20. I got caught in the barbed-wire message and wording of the bridge. I chewed on several various chorus ideas before I settled on the current edition that is on the album. I enlisted the help of my wife, Danielle, as well as good friend, Ben Shive, to tidy this up and soften the rough edges.

Danielle and I were both at a stage of helplessness about career and future. I had, at the time, been reminded of the bruised reed and the dimly burning wick that’s spoken of in the book of Isaiah. It made me wish that God could speak and say something - anything - to me about my future and my worth in this world, or at least illuminate a tiny, little corner of the dark space that, at the time, was our own. This was as much an attempt to encourage my wife as much as it was a secret admonition to steady myself, to hold onto hope as long as hope would hold onto me, and to fight some sort of good fight. The loud, rambunctious Ending will be the Beginning and the Beginning the beautiful, silent End.

today came in earnest
with a smile on its face
wry as it was cunning
pure as it was base

now my days are numbered
like the sands in the sea
I held onto hoping
as long as hope held onto me

it came with a thunder
but it made not a sound
it came down like an angel
from heaven to the cold, cold ground

don’t say it’s over when the world’s gone mad
I’ve seen the ending and it’s not so bad
don’t say it’s over when you lose your heart
cause the ending is where you start

the world lost its reason
the sky laid to waste
all that was hopeless
is borne on your face

it hurts every moment
in the fight for your life
keep your chin up hoping
it’s the life of the fight

don’t say it’s over when the world’s gone mad
I’ve seen the ending and it’s not so bad
don’t say it’s over when you lose your heart

I want to know why we fall so hard
and why hope for tomorrow can seem so far away

don’t say it’s over when the world’s gone mad
I’ve seen the ending and it’s not so bad
don’t say it’s over when you lose your heart
’cause the ending is where we start