Saxe, Julia Michaels - If The World Was Ending: Jp

At its core, the song is a dialogue between two ex-lovers who have intellectually "figured out" how to live apart but remain emotionally tethered.

The song is a piano ballad at 75 BPM, primarily featuring soft piano chords and subtle gospel-style backing vocals. JP Saxe, Julia Michaels - If The World Was Ending

While written about fictional earthquakes, the song’s popularity "catapulted" during 2020 as listeners found literal parallels in the global lockdown. JP Saxe & Julia Michaels - If The World Was Ending At its core, the song is a dialogue

The apocalypse serves as a metaphor for the removal of pride and social consequences. It asks if a global ending is necessary to justify a moment of irrational reconnection. JP Saxe & Julia Michaels - If The

The song’s inception was remarkably swift; Saxe and Michaels wrote and recorded the track on the very day they met . The lyrical inspiration was triggered by the July 2019 earthquakes in Los Angeles, which led the duo to discuss who they would reach out to if a catastrophic event truly occurred. Saxe describes the experience as "mystical," noting that Michaels—a prolific songwriter for stars like Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber—brought a poetic sharpness that elevated the song’s emotional contour. Lyrical Themes: The Logic of Regret