Skeeter Davis Reminding us of Life’s Questions in ‘The End of the World’

This is one of those songs I remember singing along to when I was a child and little did I know about its country origins.  Well, at least I know now that it had a country version of it among many others. This song enjoyed massive success in the ‘60s when Skeeter Davis recorded it, not only in America but also in Australia and in the United Kingdom.

Skeeter’s Version

It was sung in the key of B flat, the song modulates up by a half step to the key of B, where Skeeter speaks the first two lines of the final stanza, before singing the rest of the stanza, ending the song.

She recorded the song on June 8, 1962, in Nashville. RCA Records released it in December 1962. By March 1963, it reached no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Billboard country singles, No. 1 on Billboard’s easy listening, and No. 4 on Billboard’s rhythm and blues. It is the first, and, to date, the only time that a song cracked the Top 10 on all four Billboard charts. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 3 song of 1963.

It was indeed a phenomenal success that transcended through time as the song was remade by other famous singers, featured by TV shows, video games and a number of films.

The End of the World Lyrics

Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
‘Cause you don’t love me anymore

Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

I’m sure ya’ll couldn’t stop yourselves from singing along with this song, like I did. I personally love this song. Do you too? Leave your comments below.