"End of Beginning" by Djo (musical project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery) is a massive hit in 2026. In January 2026, it made history by reaching #1 on the US Spotify charts, breaking a 78-day record held by Taylor Swift. The song's resurgence is tied to the emotional series finale of Stranger Things, making it a viral anthem across the United States.

🧠 The Deeper Meaning

  The song is a deeply personal and nostalgic reflection on Joe Keery’s time in Chicago before his rise to global fame. It explores the feeling of returning to a city where you once lived and encountering the "old version" of yourself. The "cruelty" of moving on is balanced by the realization that while the "beginning" has ended, those memories stay with you forever. It's about growth, change, and honoring your past self.

🎵 Lyrics Breakdown and Analysis Here is a look at the emotional message hidden in the lyrics.

(Chorus) "And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it. Another version of me, I was in it." Analysis: This is the core of the song. It describes the powerful feeling of nostalgia that hits when you return to a place that shaped you. Even though you are a different person now, you can still feel the presence of the person you used to be.

(Verse) "You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man." Analysis: This line suggests that our environment and the places we love become a permanent part of our identity. No matter how much success Joe Keery finds in Hollywood, his roots in Chicago remain a part of him.

(The Bridge) "I wave goodbye to the end of beginning." Analysis: This is the moment of acceptance. It represents the transition from one chapter of life to the next, acknowledging that an era has ended but looking forward to what comes next.

📜 FULL ENGLISH LYRICS: END OF BEGINNING

Just struck gold A bit of luck, a bit of soul I'm just a man on the moon I'm just a man in a room I'm just a man on the move

(Chorus) And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it Another version of me, I was in it I wave goodbye to the end of beginning

(Verse 2) You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man You take the city out the man, you take the city out the man I'm just a man on the moon I'm just a man in a room I'm just a man on the move

(Bridge) And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it Another version of me, I was in it I wave goodbye to the end of beginning

(Outro) Goodbye to the end of beginning Goodbye to the end of beginning Goodbye to the end of beginning Goodbye to the end of beginning

Conclusion 

"End of Beginning" is a masterpiece of storytelling. Joe Keery perfectly captures the confusion, pain, and excitement of self-discovery and moving on. It reminds listeners that sometimes the most beautiful things are also the most fragile and terrifying to hold onto.