Don't Let It End

Don't Let It End
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

What can I do
Pictures of you still make me cry
Trying to live without your love
It's so hard to do

Some nights I'll wake up
I'll look at your pillow
Hoping that I'll see you there
But I get up each day, not much to say
I've nowhere to go

Loneliness fills me up inside
'Cause I'm missing you

So if you'll give us a chance to remember
The love we had once together
Wait and see
Time is all that we really need
I'm praying you won't say no
I mean to tell you

Don't let it end
Baby we could have so much more
Don't let it end
Honey please don't walk out that door

I'm telling you baby, I made my mistakes
But I'll make you this promise to do what it takes
I'll be there to protect you and hold you tight
You got my lovin' baby every single night

Don't let it end
I'm begging you, don't let it end this way
Don't let it end
I'm begging you, don't let it end this way

Don't let it end
Baby we could have so much more
Don't let it end
Honey please don't walk out that door
Don't let it end
I'm begging you don't let it end this way
Don't let it end
I'm begging you don't let it end this way, no, no, no
No, no, no

What will I do
If you say we're through
I need you to stay, honey
Don't let it end this way.

Interpretation

From the album liner notes:

THE PAST
Dr. Everett Righteous, founder and leader of the MMM, (The Majority for Musical Morality) became influential in American politics through the use of his own cable T.V. network. He spoke about the evils of rock 'n' roll music, and how its permissive attitudes were responsible for the moral and economic decline of America. He was charismatic, entertaining, and above all, he understood the media. The MMM soon gained enough power to have rock 'n' roll banned.

Robert Orin Charles Kilroy was a world famous rock 'n' roll star. As this new law was passed, Kilroy and his band were finishing a national tour. Their last performance, at the Paradise Theatre, would serve as the test case. On the night of the concert, as Kilroy played to a packed house, the MMM marched in and stormed the stage. When it was over, a MMM protester was dead...Kilroy was convicted of murder and sent to a prison ship with other rock 'n' roll misfits...

THE PRESENT
...is a future where Japanese manufactured robots, designed to work cheaply and endlessly, are the caretakers of society. "Mr. Robotos" are everywhere, serving as manual labor in jobs that were once held by humans.

Dr. Righteous enforces his own morality by holding nightly rallies where crowds hurl rock 'n' roll records and electric guitars into huge bonfires...Jonathan Chance, the rebel leader of an underground movement to bring back rock 'n' roll, has made Kilroy the symbol of his cause. Meanwhile, Kilroy has spent a number of years in prison. With no hope of release, he is subjected to the humiliation of mind control via the MMM cable network. 

While in prison, Kilroy's only hope is the thought of one day seeing his wife/girlfriend again. After he escapes, he makes his way home and finds it just as he left it when going on tour before being framed for murder and taken to prison.  Eventually, he tracks her down, and discovers that she has moved on with her life. She has believed the propaganda and doesn't trust him. Still, she comes over to talk.  He is seeking reconciliation, but she is resisting.

Outside of the context of the story, the lyrics are relevant to any relationship in which one is seeking reconciliation after making mistakes that bring the relationship to a breaking point.