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The Ironic Truth: 5 Hidden Meanings In "If The World Was Ending, You'd Come Over, Right?" Lyrics

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Since its release in late 2019, the duet "If the World Was Ending, You'd Come Over, Right?" by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels has resonated globally, becoming an unexpected anthem for connection during times of isolation. The song's simple, yet profound question—asking if an ex-lover would set aside their differences during a global crisis—taps into a universal human desire for final, honest connection. As of late 2025, the track remains a staple on playlists, its meaning evolving with the passing years, especially in light of the artists' own romantic journey.

The track is a masterclass in emotional vulnerability, a stripped-back pop ballad that uses the ultimate apocalyptic scenario as a metaphor for removing all the petty, protective barriers that keep people apart. What many listeners don't realize is the deep, almost cruel irony woven into its history: a song about a hypothetical reunion with an ex-lover is what brought its two writers together, only for them to later become the ex-lovers the song describes. This fresh context adds a heavy, poignant layer to every single line, transforming the song's query from a hopeful wish into a tragic, self-fulfilling prophecy.

JP Saxe & Julia Michaels: The Duet That Sparked a Romance (and a Breakup)

To truly appreciate the depth of the "If the World Was Ending" lyrics, one must understand the complicated, beautiful, and ultimately heartbreaking relationship between the two artists, Canadian singer-songwriter JP Saxe and American singer-songwriter Julia Michaels.

  • JP Saxe (Jonathan Percy Saxe): A Canadian artist known for his piano-driven, emotionally raw pop songs. He released his debut EP, Hold It Together, which featured the hit single.
  • Julia Michaels (Julia Carin Cavazos): An incredibly prolific American singer and songwriter, who has penned hits for artists like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Fifth Harmony. Her solo career is marked by candid, conversational lyrics.
  • Song Release Date: October 17, 2019.
  • Inspiration: The song was originally inspired by the 2019 Los Angeles earthquake, prompting JP Saxe to reflect on who he would call if the world was truly ending.
  • Relationship Timeline: The two began dating shortly after writing the song in 2019. Their relationship was a central theme in their subsequent work.
  • Grammy Recognition: The song earned a prestigious nomination for Song of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.
  • Breakup: Saxe and Michaels officially split in 2022 after approximately three years of dating.

The irony is inescapable: a song written as a hypothetical conversation with an ex-lover became the foundation of their real-life romance, and now, after their separation, the lyrics have circled back, making them the very ex-lovers contemplating that final, world-ending phone call.

Decoding the "Fictional Cataclysm" in Every Verse

The genius of the lyrics lies in their use of a fictional cataclysm—a world-ending event—as a device to strip away all the trivial reasons for not speaking. It’s not about the apocalypse; it’s about the courage to be honest when nothing else matters.

Verse 1 (JP Saxe): The Earthquake and the Excuse

The song opens with a specific, grounded event that immediately establishes the central metaphor:

"I was distracted and in traffic / Didn't feel it when the earthquake happened / But it must have been a bad one / 'Cause half of the city is in ruins"

JP Saxe confirmed the Los Angeles earthquake was the initial spark. This verse sets the scene, grounding the fantasy in reality. The "distracted" line is key: it suggests that in normal life, we are too preoccupied to notice the world shaking or to prioritize what truly matters. The question that follows is the core intention of the song: "All our fears would be irrelevant." The everyday 'fears' are the social anxieties, the pride, the new partners, and the unspoken resentments that prevent ex-lovers reconciliation.

Verse 2 (Julia Michaels): The Unanswered Question and the Shared History

Julia Michaels' verse provides the counter-perspective, filled with the specific, painful details of a shared past:

"I heard you on the news / Saying they found a way to fix it / And that they're all in a safe place / So I guess that I was wrong / And you're not coming over"

This verse introduces a new layer of psychological complexity. The news of the world *not* ending is almost a disappointment, because it means the "excuse" for the reunion is gone. The line "I guess that I was wrong / And you're not coming over" is the true heartbreak. It confirms that without the looming threat of death, the everyday reasons—the pride, the past mistakes—are still powerful enough to keep them apart. It's a raw look at the unsent letters of a breakup.

The Ultimate Lyrical Question: "Would You Love Me for the Hell of It?"

The chorus is the emotional core of the song, asking three intertwined questions that define the entire narrative:

"But if the world was ending, you'd come over, right? / You'd come over and you'd stay the night / Would you love me for the hell of it? / All our fears would be irrelevant / If the world was ending, you'd come over, right?"

The line, "Would you love me for the hell of it?" is arguably the most powerful. It’s a plea to bypass the need for commitment, future plans, or even forgiveness, and simply choose connection purely for the sake of a final, shared human moment. It’s a desperate attempt to recapture the pure, unburdened feeling of their initial connection, free from the weight of a flawed relationship's history.

The Latest Update: The Post-Breakup Irony

The song's meaning took on a devastating new dimension following the artists' real-life breakup in 2022. Suddenly, the song about a hypothetical ex became a song about their very real relationship. This is most evident in the music JP Saxe released afterward, which serves as a kind of lyrical sequel.

In his subsequent work, particularly the song "Still Think About You," Saxe directly references the pain of their separation, seemingly completing the tragic arc of the duet. The song "If the World Was Ending" is now no longer just a beautiful pop ballad about a distant past; it's a documentation of the very moment their love began, now viewed through the lens of its end. The lyrics, "You'd come over, right?", now sound like a question they could ask each other in their current reality, adding a profound layer of romantic irony to the entire piece.

The enduring popularity of the song, even years after its initial release and the artists' split, confirms its status as more than just a passing hit. It is a timeless exploration of human connection, pride, and the things we only realize we need when faced with the ultimate loss. The duet remains a powerful reminder that sometimes, it takes a fictional cataclysm to reveal our truest, most vulnerable desires.

The Ironic Truth: 5 Hidden Meanings in
if the world was ending you'd come over right lyrics
if the world was ending you'd come over right lyrics

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