End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys song)

"End of the Line" is a song by the British-American supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. It was the final track on their debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, released in October 1988. It was also issued in January 1989 as the band's second single. The recording features all the Wilburys except Bob Dylan as lead singers; George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison sing the choruses in turn, while Tom Petty sings the verses. The song was mainly written by Harrison and was assigned to his publishing company, Umlaut Corporation.[2] However, all five members of the group received a songwriting credit in keeping with the collaborative concept behind the Wilburys project.[3]

"End of the Line"
Single by Traveling Wilburys
from the album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
B-side"Congratulations"
Released23 January 1989
GenreFolk rock, country rock
Length3:30
LabelWilbury
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
George Harrison
Jeff Lynne
Roy Orbison
Tom Petty[1]
Producer(s)Otis Wilbury, Nelson Wilbury
Traveling Wilburys singles chronology
"Handle with Care"
(1988)		 "End of the Line"
(1989)		 "Nobody's Child"
(1990)
Music video
"End of the Line" on YouTube

In the United States, the single peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 2 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, blocked from the top spot by both "Driven Out" by The Fixx and "Working on It" by Chris Rea. In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at No. 52 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]

The music video for "End of the Line" was directed by Willy Smax and filmed in Los Angeles shortly after Orbison's death in December 1988. Set in a moving steam locomotive train carriage, it features Dylan playing guitar and session musician Jim Keltner (credited as Buster Sidebury on the albums) playing brushes.[5] To honour Orbison, a shot of a guitar sitting in a rocking chair and a photo of him are shown when his vocals are heard.[6]

Legacy

The song was used over the end credits of the final episode of the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave and the American comedy Parks and Recreation.

"End of the Line" appeared in the George Harrison-produced cult comedy Checking Out.

A version sung by Dennis Waterman was used as the theme tune for the pilot of the BBC production New Tricks. The song has also been included in TV spots for the 2004 film The Terminal, as well as the trailer for the 2007 hit comedy Knocked Up.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played this song live during their 2008 North American tour.

Harrison was honoured in the parody song "No Where Near the End of My Time" by radio on-air personality Bob Rivers.

The song was used on the end credits of the Australian family comedy film Red Dog: True Blue in 2016 and for an episode of HBO's Crashing in 2018.

Charts

Year-end charts
Chart (1989) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 65

Track listing
7" single, Cassette single
A "End of the Line" (LP Version) – 3:30
B "Congratulations" (LP Version) – 3:30
12" single, 3" CD single
A "End of the Line" (Extended Version) – 5:34
B "Congratulations" (LP Version) – 3:29

Personnel
  • George Harrison – lead vocals (1st, 4th, and 7th choruses), acoustic guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
  • Tom Petty – lead vocals (verses), acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeff Lynne – lead vocals (2nd, 5th, and 6th choruses), electric guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Roy Orbison – lead vocals (3rd chorus), acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Bob Dylan – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Keltner – drums, backing vocals

References
  1. "ACE Repertory: End of the Line". ASCAP. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  2. Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. pp. 475, 477. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
  3. Van der Kiste, John (2015). Jeff Lynne: The Electric Light Orchestra, Before and After. Stroud, UK: Fonthill Media. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-78155-492-0.
  4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 for 19 March-25 March 1989" – via UK Singles Chart.
  5. Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. p. 477. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
  6. "The Traveling Wilburys - End Of The Line (Official Video)". Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. 23 December 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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