This song is incredibly personal to the artist behind Calli.

To break down the story behind it a little.

Prior to becoming Calliope Mori, the artist behind her was a huge fan of Underground Japanese Rap and Hip Hop. So much so, that she moved to Japan, and did various jobs around Japan while working her way up in the scene there.

The earlier parts of the song represent the fun times she had with her friends. Staying out all night, "laughing at our own dreams"

Eventually, covid happened. "the ladder fell and shattered every bar that we had played". Literally, a lot of the bars and venues she and her friends had performed at closed during the pandemic, and many never opened again. Many of her peers and friends had to give up their dreams, and find regular work to survive.

It was during this time that a friend of her suggested she try out for Hololive. She at first brushed it off, but later went and applied, without telling anyone.

And she made it.

Fortunately and Unfortunately, this lead to her gaining a great boost in popularity, which also turned some of her peers and friends against her. "of the villain you portrayed"

Some said she didn't deserve the instant success Hololive gave. Some were jealous that she still got to try and live her dream, albeit in a different form, and hated that they had to work "normal" jobs to survive.

She did a live stream not long after the premiere of this song, breaking down what it meant to her. The one line from that live stream I'll never forget, is Calli breaking down a bit emotionally and saying "I just wanted them to be proud of me, man.."

While I don't always vibe with all of her music, I will always support this artist. She works so damn hard to try and be the best she can.

And imagine she almost didn't release this track

“End of a Life” is a masterpiece from Calli. I love most of her music and style but this song is in a league of it’s own imo.

She’s been through a lot and worked hard and accomplished many things after she released that song. She’s already performed her 1st Solo Live concert in Japan where she lives and the tickets were sold out so it was a big success! She’s collabed with other companies/brands/ and even video games such as Metal Gear Solid! She’s done official promotional songs for Metal Gear Solid and also the popular anime, One Piece! I’ve been her fan since the beginning so seeing people listen to her songs makes me so happy 🫠🙏❤️

> An artist's first death is when the curtains close

Dude you can't do that to me I started crying in the middle of my lunch break. I've listened to this song so many times and even though I get that lump in my throat still I thought I wouldn't tear up anymore but damn your line hit me.

It's the empathy, man, I love it.

Mori is my favorite of HoloLive EN, she's got skills and has been through her own hell.  Save up to fulfill a dream and move to Japan... only for Covid to hit.  Go from being buoyed up by her favorite underground rappers to making it and then getting viewed by her heroes as a villain for "selling out."

There's real pain in these bars.

This piece is, arguably, the best piece she has written in her four years since her debut. Evocative, lyrical and eminently Calli. She does best when she writes from her heart and this song is a prime example of that.

The lines ended with "crowded place... outer space". It wasn't space and space. Good review of a good song. One of Calli's best.

This is by far my favorite of Calli's songs.  The most shocking thing she revealed about this song is that she almost did not release it at all, and that would have been a true shame.  I do like some of her others, but this one in particular, even if you know NOTHING about her circumstances or who she is, you can still get immense vibes from it and connect to it in a way that she didn't intend. It's powerful stuff, even without some of the insane bars(like the Office part) it's got this undercurrent that just connects to people in general.

With Calli, you should remember that her pen IS her voice. She has 3 distinct online presences and each are bound by contractual constructs from Hololive, Universal, UMJ, and who knows who else.
She cannot speak her real mind. EVER! Or she falls into contract crap.
This piece is an example of her speaking her own mind, while staying within those contract obligations AND expressing her feelings of loss and separation from a culture she loved. It is also a subtle dis to some of her former so-called friends for nay saying her career choices.
It is no wonder that she almost did not release it...Cover could have given her a ton of crap. But, props to them for allowing it.

Damn, I'm too drunk, aren't I?
(Editted for typos.)

I absolutely adore this song.

I never noticed before but she carried the 'underpaid' rhyme scheme through all the way to the chorus.

As much as I love Calliope Mori, I don't think she's gotten nearly anywhere close to writing another song as good as this one.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy a lot of her newer and older music as well; but End of a Life is actually a masterpiece. The only other songs of hers I can think of that even come close to this are Ijimekko Bully and Scuffed Up Age.

10:46 And "bar" as in literal bars of music. (Per Mori's own breakdown of the lyrics)

I love Calli and I still remember her deep dive.
"End of a life" is very personal to Calli, singing about herself and the friends she used to hang out with. Together singing, struggling to get their name out there. Her friends drifting away from her as time passes. Calli just wishing for them to stay longer to see if they can make it together.
Calli eventually did make it when she applied to Hololive, able to score hit after hit in her original songs, yet even at the top she wished she could share this spot with the friends she used to sing with.
Sadly these same friends only got mad at Calli for going on ahead without them, backstabbing her. All Calli wanted was for the friends (she still even now regard as her friends) to be proud of her :face-purple-crying:.

I love how relatable this song is, everyone has a moment in their life they wish would had gone differend. Personally I will always be proud of Calli <3.

カリオペは非常に将来性のあるアーティストです。

Such an amazing and deeply personal track.

This and Left for Dead Lullaby  are my 2 favorite Mori songs

Amazing video and react Anthony, really loved it. As you can see you'll be getting a lot of loyal fans in the comments now (deadbeats = fan name) Hope you keep enjoying Calli. She has anything you can think of in her music. If you want something similar to this masterpiece she made "Left For Dead Lullaby" which is like the sequel to end of a life. "Resting Power" has a similar vibe as well. Then I think as a rapper you will like both "6 feet under" and "Carousel"  if you have never heard Japanese rap then maybe even "I'm Greedy" Hope you have a great one! Much Love

Shout out to u breaking down her rhyme patterns...I can't do that ish lol! And shout out to ur editor...bless his heart🙏🏽❤️💯

she has a very wide range of music and its all so good, i hope if you do choose to listen to her more you like her as much