5SOS “End Up Here” is Lashton AF
(From Self titled album, released 2014)
Credits: Ashton, Michael, Alex Gaskarth, John Feldmann
LYRIC ANALYSIS
You walked in
Everyone was asking for your name -Luke had garnered a bit of early celebrity online as he was known for posting covers of songs from his bedroom to his own youtube channel. Michael had known about it from being at the same school. Ash, being a drummer who played local gigs, had known from being in the local musician network and was an early subscriber to Luke’s channel before he was in the band.
You just smiled
And told them "trouble"
My head spins -feels confused or dizzy by this person
I'm pressed against the wall -being “against the wall” is to have limited options of actions
Just watching your every move -in awe of this person so much he can’t approach this person, just study them.
You're way too cool -Ash had been in a few bands before meeting the 5sos guys and was frustrated by those not becoming more serious than they ended up. And again, Luke had already attracted a bunch of attention on his YouTube.
And you're coming this way, coming this way -I think there’s a double meaning to this line. It could literally be Ash and Luke finally meeting (of which they’ve told the story of Ash rescuing Luke from bullying many times). It could also be referencing, Ash seizing the opportunity when he was approached to join the band (was to become 5sos). It meant Luke and Ash were brought closer together aka into each other’s lives.
How did we end up talking in the first place -Reflecting back on how they made connection
You said you liked my Cobain shirt -Ash has worn multiple Nirvana shirts (Kurt Cobain was the frontman), and Ash has since even covered “Heart Shaped Box” for his Superbloom live show.
Now we're walking back to your place
You're telling me how you love that song
About living on a prayer - reference to Bon Jovi’s song “Livin’ on a Prayer”, one of Luke’s most favorite bands, “onion” shirt, Luke has said in an interview it's his karaoke song. Luke included Jon into the #TeethChallenge, Luke chose “You Give Love A Bad Name” by JBV as a song they would cover during an interview. The 1986 rock anthem is the story of Tommy and Gina, a working class couple who struggle to make ends meet and vow to "hold on to what we've got."
I'm pretty sure that we're halfway there -double meaning of physical distance to his house, and reference to the lyric of “Livin’ on a Prayer”.
And when I wake up next to you I wonder how
How did we end up here
How did we end up, how did we end up here
Next day out
Everybody thought you were so insane
'Cause you were so far out of my league -Luke’s bit of local youtube celebrity for his doing guitar covers of songs, and Ash being so enamored by him.
My friends say I should lock you down
Before you figure me out and you run away -feeling intimidated about how wonderful Luke is in his eyes that Ash feels a bit of a fraud. (This is interesting because Luke has this same theme show up on his own solo album).
But you don't and you won't as you kiss me - The connection they have is so strong.
And you tell me that you're here to stay (here to stay) -Luke says he wants to be with him. The feelings are mutual.
How did we end up talking in the first place
You said you liked my Cobain shirt
Now we're walking back to your place
You're telling me how you love that song
About living on a prayer
I'm pretty sure that we're halfway there
And when I wake up next to you I wonder how
How did we end up here
Call me lucky 'cause in the end
I'm a six and she's a ten -first use of a gendered pronoun, “she-ing” is using the pronouns of a heterosexual partner when covering a closeted relationship, there’s proof that 5sos switch around pronouns (examples: Luke let it slip that “She Looks So Perfect” was originally “You Look So Perfect”, Luke has called Ash his girlfriend). He’s thinking much more highly of this partner (Ash thinks so highly of Luke that to this day he will go out of his way to say beautiful things about him in interviews. (Example: During Superbloom promo interview, he waxed poetic talking about how Luke is “one of the best singers in pop since fucking forever”, “one of my favorite singers”, when they met, blessed to be in a band with him, never wants to sing over him, etc etc etc.)
She's so fit, I'm insecure -“fit” is slang for “gorgeous” in the UK (5sos have spent a lot of time in the UK songwriting and touring, moved to London from Australia)
But she keeps coming back for more (more) -no matter what Ash thinks about himself “insecure”, Luke still stays by him “keeps coming back”.
How did we end up talking in the first place
You said you liked my Cobain shirt
Now we're walking back to your place
You're telling me how you love that song
About living on a prayer
I'm pretty sure that we're halfway there
And when I wake up next to you I wonder how
How did we end up here
How did we end up, how did we end up here
How did we end up, how did we end up here
