The End of the World

## Song by Lupe Fiasco

"**The End of the World**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as the twelfth and final track from his mixtape, *Friend of the People: I Fight Evil* (2011). It samples the 2011 song "Midnight City" by M83. Fiasco calls for a people's revolution with protests, peaceful movements, and looking for the truth to make the world a better place.

## Critical reception

*Consequence* stated, "While he doesn't nail it in each track, Lupe Fiasco's daring enough to explore realms your regular chain-swinging rapper is not. Who else out there could get away with both an M83 sample ("The End of the World!") and a John Coltrane sample ("Life, Death and Love from San Francisco") and pull it off?"

*Pitchfork* wrote in less positive assessment, "He also goes out of his way to show us he's keeping up with indie […] skimming some starry-eyed shimmer off the top of M83's "Midnight City". I couldn't help but wish he would stop straining and find some tracks that work as viable rap beats."

## Cultural references

* The ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict began in the mid-20th century over the homeland of Palestine, claimed as a capital by both Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Fiasco has shown support, where he condemned Israelis actions (including the bombing of Gaza Strip). He has shown the Palestinian flag at his concerts, and once said at a show, "I think it's September 23rd the Palestinian authority will be going before the UN to request [?] as a Palestinian state. Now some people are saying what they've already said it, United States of America is what is Israel will be vetoing that because they say it's not conducive to a two-state solution, right? The thing that comes that mind, for me, now I'm just a regular person, is this: Israel is already a state. So, if you let Palestine get that [?] in the UN, there will be a second state. So that's your two states right there. So, this is just my personal political view. I just so happen to have millions of fans listen to what I say. Lupe Fiasco, as a member of the human race, put in my vote for Palestine to be a newest state."
* Rachel Corrie (April 10, 1979 – March 16, 2003) was an American activist who was part of the pro-Palestinian movement, International Solidarity Movement (ISM). In 2003, she stood in front of a bulldozer to protest the demolishing of Palestinian houses and was subsequently crushed to death.
* Occupy Wall Street was a 2011 movement protesting economic inequality and political corruption.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Hook]

This world ends, this world ends

This world ends, this world ends

Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now

[Verse 1]

She love her people so much

Came to my show just to throw her flag up and

Pray to God that I saw her

Wonder if she saw my scarf for Palestine all on it

Love the struggle, Valentine all on it

Put my heart into it

Like Noah's Ark I'm too into it

Like justice I'm just too influenced not to do this to it

This one dedicated to the soldiers

Throw up peace signs in the face of bulldozers

Never bow down or wrap their body in explosives

As long as your alive, fight your whole lifetime

The Horn of Africa needs you

Calling out to all you friends of the people

Be the change that you wanna see

Tell 'em no change just ain't what it gonna be

[Hook]

This world ends, this world ends

This world ends, this world ends

Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now

[Verse 2]

Yeah, the people, united, will never be defeated

And on the People's Mic this forever be repeated

Whose streets, our streets, it'll never be deleted

No matter how many cops that you send to try and beat it

This is revolution in the making

A ragtag movement set to takeover the nation

Now isn't that fun

You just wanna make the world better, isn't that young

Well, blessings to the youth then

And don't stop, until they let the truth in

Once there, never let it leave

And protect it, they'll catch it and never set it free

And every set is free

Blood, sweat and tears, no place I'd rather be

So, let's occupy Wall Street, all day, all week

[Hook]

This world ends, this world ends

This world ends, this world ends

Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now

[Verse 3]

So again, I fight evil

This what I gotta do to live my life peaceful

So be it, outspoken and low key it

My heart big, limousine no Fiat

And you can hear it loud every time God beat it

Love always shines every time I see it

Exactly what they hated is exactly what I needed

And exactly where I started is exactly where I leave it

'Cause I ain't never ever, ever change

I say that because I ain't never felt better mane

 Beautiful LASERS as fans, do me a favor, this is how I repay ya

Friend of the peeps, free Chill, Esco at peace

Holla at me if you see me in the streets

A picture costs a dollar, First and Fifteenth

[Hook]

This world ends, this world ends

This world ends, this world ends

Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now

## References

1. ↑ Young, Alex (December 8, 2011). "Album Review: Lupe Fiasco – Friend of the People Mixtape". *Consequence*.
2. ↑ Greene, Jayson (January 18, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco: Friend of the People Album Review".
3. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Supporting Palestine". *YouTube*. September 22, 2011.