Five guys on a train. No, honestly, it’s more like five legends just messing around in a caboose, strumming guitars and making it look like the easiest thing in the world. But if you've ever watched the video for End of the Line Traveling Wilburys, you know there’s a heavy, lingering sadness right in the middle of all that acoustic sunshine.
Roy Orbison was gone.
He died of a heart attack at just 52, only weeks after the first album dropped. It’s one of those "where were you" moments for music fans of a certain age. The band had to keep going, mostly because they had a hit on their hands and a video to shoot, but how do you replace the Big O? You don’t. You just put his guitar in a rocking chair and let the camera linger on it while his ghost-like voice hits those impossible high notes.
Why End of the Line Still Hits Hard Today
Most supergroups are a disaster. Egos clashing, lawyers arguing over font sizes on the poster—it’s usually a mess. But the Wilburys were different. George Harrison basically started the band because he wanted an excuse to hang out with his buddies. Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison weren’t there to "rebrand." They were there to eat crackers and write songs in a kitchen.
End of the Line Traveling Wilburys serves as the closing track of Volume 1, and it’s basically a manifesto for aging gracefully.
The song is built on this "chugging" rhythm that sounds exactly like a locomotive crossing a state line at sunset. It’s optimistic. "It's all right, doing the best you can." It's the kind of advice you'd get from an uncle who’s seen it all but isn't bitter about it. When the song was recorded, nobody knew it would become a funeral march of sorts.
The empty chair and the guitar
When the music video was filmed in December 1988, the wound was fresh. Roy had passed away just days before. Instead of hiring an actor or using cheesy archive footage, the director (Willie Smax) and the band chose a simpler, more devastating tribute.
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- The train carriage setting feels like a journey toward the unknown.
- Whenever Roy’s vocal solo comes in, the camera cuts to a solo rocking chair.
- His signature Epiphone guitar sits there, moving slightly with the motion of the train.
- A framed photo of him sits nearby, looking young and cool.
It’s a masterclass in "less is more." Watching Tom Petty and George Harrison look toward that chair with a mix of reverence and genuine grief is probably the most "human" moment in 80s rock history. No flashy lights. No big hair. Just guys missing their friend.
The Secret History of "We'll Bury 'Em"
Ever wonder where the name Wilbury actually came from? It wasn't some deep, mystical reference. George Harrison and Jeff Lynne were working on George’s Cloud Nine album and kept running into technical glitches. George would joke, "We'll bury 'em in the mix."
Eventually, "We'll bury" became "Wilbury."
By the time they got Dylan and Petty involved, the joke had evolved into a full-blown mythology. They weren't famous rock stars; they were the Wilbury brothers.
- Nelson (George)
- Otis (Jeff)
- Lefty (Roy)
- Charlie T. Jr. (Tom)
- Lucky (Bob)
They took these pseudonyms because they wanted the music to stand on its own. They wanted to feel like a garage band again. Honestly, looking back at the End of the Line Traveling Wilburys sessions, you can tell they achieved it. There’s a looseness to the track that you just don't get with modern, over-produced pop.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Recording
There's a common misconception that the song was written as a goodbye to Roy. It wasn't.
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The lyrics were actually written as a group effort, largely led by George Harrison. They were sitting around a room, throwing lines back and forth. George had the "it's all right" chorus, and the others filled in the verses. Bob Dylan and Tom Petty reportedly hammered out the "Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive" lines.
It was meant to be a celebration of survival. The irony is that it became a song about mortality because of the timing.
The Volume 2 Mystery
People often ask: "Wait, where is Volume 2?"
The Wilburys never released a Volume 2. They went straight from Volume 1 to Volume 3. Why? Because George Harrison thought it would be funny. He wanted to confuse people and avoid the "sophomore slump" pressure. Plus, it was a bit of a tribute to the fact that the original lineup—the "true" volume—was broken after Roy’s death.
Volume 3 is okay, but it lacks the soul of the first record. Without Roy Orbison’s operatic range to balance out Dylan’s gravel and Petty’s twang, something was missing. The "End of the Line" was, in many ways, the end of the band's peak era.
The Lasting Legacy of the Wilburys
If you listen to the radio today, you'll still hear this song. It doesn't sound dated like a lot of 1988 synth-pop does. That's because Jeff Lynne and George Harrison insisted on using real instruments—acoustic guitars, real drums, and organic harmonies.
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End of the Line Traveling Wilburys peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, which sounds low, but its impact was massive. It stayed on the charts for months and became a staple of classic rock radio.
It taught a generation of musicians that you don't need a huge ego to make a masterpiece. You just need a few friends and a good chord progression.
How to Appreciate the Song in 2026
If you want to really "get" the song, don't just stream it on your phone while you're doing dishes. Give it a proper listen.
- Watch the original music video on a big screen. Pay attention to the eyes of the band members. You can see the weight they are carrying.
- Listen for the harmonies. The way Jeff Lynne layers the vocals is incredible. It’s like a wall of sound that feels warm rather than aggressive.
- Read the lyrics while you listen. They are surprisingly deep for a song that sounds so upbeat. It's about letting go of material things and being okay with your place in the world.
- Explore the solo work from that era. Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever and Roy Orbison’s Mystery Girl were recorded around the same time and share the same DNA.
The best thing you can do right now is pull up the Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and listen to it from start to finish. Skip the "best of" playlists. This album was meant to be heard as a single journey. When you finally hit that last track, the "End of the Line," it’ll feel like you’ve actually traveled somewhere. That’s the magic of the Wilburys—they weren’t just a band; they were a feeling.
Once you’ve finished the album, go back and watch the "End of the Line" video one more time. This time, don’t look at the rocking chair. Look at the guys who are left. You'll see a group of men who knew they were part of something that could never happen again. That’s why the song still matters. It’s a reminder that even when the train stops, the music keeps chugging along.