End of Beginning

"End of Beginning" is a deeply introspective and nostalgic song about personal growth, identity, and the bittersweet nature of moving on from a formative period in one's life. The artist, Joe Keery (Djo), reflects on his time in Chicago during his early twenties, a period before he gained widespread fame as an actor. The city serves as a powerful symbol for a specific, transformative chapter of his life—a 'beginning' that has now concluded. The central lyrical motif, 'And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it / Another version of me, I was in it,' highlights the profound connection between place and identity. Returning to the city allows him to reconnect with a past version of himself, one that existed on the cusp of major life changes. The title itself, "End of Beginning," is a clever inversion of the common phrase 'beginning of the end,' signifying the closure of this foundational stage. It's a song about accepting that you can't go back, but that the past remains an integral part of who you are. The recurring line, 'You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man,' reinforces the idea that these formative experiences are permanently ingrained in his identity, even after moving forward. Ultimately, the song is a poignant meditation on embracing change while honoring the past that shaped you.

The narrative unfolds with the protagonist on the verge of expressing a deep-seated emotion, saving a final tear for the quiet introspection of the night. This moment of reflection is interrupted by the arrival of a 'Troubadour,' a symbolic representation of his artistic or storytelling self, who prompts a journey back in time with the words, 'Remember twenty-four.' This age marks a pivotal moment of transition, a period of life in Chicago that profoundly shaped his identity. He reminisces about this time with a sense of both fondness and distance, recognizing that the person he was then is a distinct version of himself that he can revisit in memory but can no longer fully inhabit.

The central theme crystallizes in the chorus, where returning to Chicago triggers a powerful feeling of connection to this past self. It's a place where a formative chapter of his life concluded, a 'beginning' that has now ended. Waving goodbye to the 'end of beginning' is a conscious act of acknowledging this closure. It’s a bittersweet farewell to his youth and the person he was before a significant life change, implied to be his rise to fame with 'Stranger Things'. This isn't about erasing the past but about accepting its place as a finished chapter.

The song further explores the idea of place-based identity through the recurring line, 'You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man.' This emphasizes that although he has physically left Chicago and the life he had there, the experiences and the person he became in that city are indelible parts of him. The city is not just a location but a symbol of his foundational years, a period of striving and artistic development before his career took off. The narrative concludes with a sense of peaceful acceptance. He is making peace with the fact that while he can nostalgically look back at this 'beginning,' he has moved forward into a new phase of life, forever marked by the city that defined his formative years.

"End of Beginning" was written by Joe Keery and produced by Keery alongside Adam Thein. The song was originally released on September 16, 2022, as a track on Djo's second studio album, DECIDE. Keery has stated that the song is a direct reflection on his time living in Chicago in his early twenties, after graduating from DePaul University and before his acting career, particularly his role in Stranger Things, took off. He described this period as being on the 'precipice of a big change,' working as a waiter, auditioning, and being active in the local music scene with his band Post Animal. The song was born from a feeling of nostalgia and the realization that he may not have fully appreciated that special time because he was so focused on the future. Interestingly, "End of Beginning" was the last song written for the album and was created entirely in the studio, unlike other tracks that were developed at home. It didn't gain significant traction until early 2024 when it went viral on the social media platform TikTok, which led to it being officially issued as a single on March 1, 2024. Keery found the delayed success surreal and validating, as it was a deeply personal song that resonated with a wide audience.

The song's structure creates a hypnotic, flowing feel that supports its nostalgic theme. The rhyme scheme is not strictly rigid, leaning more towards a free-verse structure within the verses, which gives it a conversational and sincere tone. The chorus, however, introduces more structure. For example, in 'And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it / Another version of me, I was in it / I wave goodbye to the end of beginning,' the lines ending in 'it' and 'beginning' create a near rhyme, providing a sense of cohesion and making the chorus memorable. The rhythm is built around a steady, mid-tempo drumbeat and a pulsating synthesizer bassline that gives the song its characteristic synth-pop drive. The vocal rhythm often floats over this instrumental backing, with Keery's delivery feeling both measured and emotive. The tempo remains fairly consistent, creating a dreamlike, almost trance-inducing state that allows the listener to drift into the song's reflective mood. The interplay between the driving electronic rhythm and the more fluid, soulful vocal melody is key to the track's emotional impact, balancing forward momentum with a sense of looking back.

"End of Beginning" employs several stylistic techniques to achieve its nostalgic and dreamy atmosphere.

• Musical Style: The song is characterized as a synth-pop power ballad with elements of psychedelic pop and rock. It features a distinct 'nostalgic electro sound,' combining shimmering synthesizers, a prominent, low guitar line, and soulful vocals that build to a cathartic crescendo. This blend of retro and modern sounds creates a timeless, dreamlike quality that matches the lyrical themes of memory and reflection.
• Narrative Voice: The song is told from a deeply personal, first-person perspective. Keery's introspective lyrics and vocal delivery create an intimate and honest tone, making the specific story feel universally relatable. He speaks of his own experience in Chicago, yet the specificity is what allows listeners to project their own experiences onto the song.
• Repetition (Anaphora): The repetition of the phrase 'And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it' at the start of the chorus emphasizes the central theme and grounds the song's emotional core. The repetition of 'I wave goodbye to the end of beginning' serves as a mantra of acceptance.
• Idiomatic Inversion: The title 'End of Beginning' is a creative twist on the familiar idiom 'the beginning of the end.' This inversion immediately signals a different, more reflective perspective on life transitions, focusing on the closure of a starting chapter rather than the start of a decline.

Despite being released in 2022 on the album DECIDE, "End of Beginning" experienced a massive surge in cultural influence in early 2024 due to its viral popularity on TikTok. The song's chorus, particularly the line 'And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it,' became the soundtrack for millions of videos where users shared montages and memories of their hometowns or other meaningful places. This trend propelled the song onto global music charts. It debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 2024, eventually peaking at number 11, and reached the top 5 in the UK, becoming Djo's first major chart hit. The song's success was notable as it happened organically, driven by fan engagement rather than a traditional label push. Its popularity also brought widespread attention to the fact that Djo is the musical project of actor Joe Keery, famous for his role as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things, a discovery that surprised many new listeners. The song's viral run has cemented it as a significant cultural touchstone of 2024, demonstrating the power of social media in reshaping a song's legacy years after its initial release.

"End of Beginning" is rich with symbolism, primarily centered around place and time as anchors for identity.

• Chicago: The city of Chicago is the central and most powerful symbol in the song. It's not just a geographical location but a metaphor for a formative era in the narrator's life—a time of youth, struggle, and artistic beginning before fame. Returning to Chicago allows him to access a 'different version' of himself, making the city a symbol of his past identity.
• The Title 'End of Beginning': This phrase is a significant paradoxical motif. It inverts the common idiom 'the beginning of the end' to represent the conclusion of a foundational life chapter. It symbolizes a pivotal turning point where one phase of life (the beginning) has concluded, paving the way for the next, but with a sense of finality about that initial period.
• The Troubadour: The line 'Enter, Troubadour' introduces a symbolic character. A troubadour is historically a poet-musician. In the context of the song, this figure likely represents Keery's own artistic conscience or his musical persona, prompting him to reflect and tell the story of his past.
• 'Waving goodbye': This recurring action is a metaphor for acceptance and letting go. By 'waving goodbye to the end of beginning,' the narrator is consciously acknowledging that he has moved on from that period of his life. It's a deliberate, albeit bittersweet, act of closure.

The song is built around several powerful recurring motifs that reinforce its central themes of nostalgia and transition.

• 'And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it': This is the primary lyrical motif that anchors the entire song. Its repetition in the chorus highlights the powerful, almost physical connection between a place and a past identity. Chicago is not just a setting but a trigger for memory and feeling.
• 'I wave goodbye to the end of beginning': This phrase, also central to the chorus, functions as the song's thesis. It encapsulates the act of consciously accepting that a formative period of life is over. Its repetition signifies a deliberate, ongoing process of letting go while acknowledging the importance of that past.
• 'You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man': Repeated in the bridge, this well-known aphorism serves as a powerful motif reinforcing the idea that our past environments and experiences become an indelible part of us. It emphasizes that although the narrator has physically moved on, the influence of his time in Chicago is permanent.
• 'Another version of me': This recurring idea, explicitly stated in the chorus, is central to the song's exploration of identity. It suggests that we contain multiple selves tied to different times and places in our lives, and that looking back is like visiting a past self.