In The End

Album: Rabbits On the Run (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Vanessa Carlton closes her fourth studio album Rabbits On The Run with this cyclical song, which she described to Artist Direct as a "never-ending rabbit hole," then added, "There's really no end to it; it just disintegrates."
  • Carlton explained the story behind the song to Artist Direct: "The sonic message reflects the philosophical message as well. It's a little prayer that I wrote for my brother who lost someone extremely close to him. She was a mother figure in his life. I just imagine her in this field turning into diamonds. I thought it was so beautiful that I thought the idea would comfort him. It's not just for my brother though; it's for everyone."

    It's unlikely Carlton's use of the word "prayer" was meant in a religious sense as the singer expressed in a live chat on June 7, 2011, that she is an atheist.
  • One of the inspirations for the album was Richard Adams' 1972 novel Watership Down, about a small group of rabbits that are unhappy in the warren that they're in and decide to break out. The book recounts the rabbits' odyssey as they seek a place in which to establish a new home, a sort of utopian society, encountering perils and temptations along the way. Carlton described the novel to us as a "kind of the emotional bible, and I did carry it around like it was a bible." Back in 1979 Art Garfunkel recorded "Bright Eyes" for an animated film made of Watership Down. It went on to become the biggest selling single of the year in the UK.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

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.