U2 – Original of the Species

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Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it

Some things you shouldn't get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it, no
And you'll never be alone
Come on now show your soul
You've been keeping your love under control

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it
Everywhere you go you shout it
Oh my my

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want you some more, I want you some more...



Lyrics submitted by Lyra

Track duration: 04:34

"Original of the Species" as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Original of the Species song meanings
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60 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This is as genuine as a person can get! Nice hard work! Thank You!
    Flag differentfeatherson November 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: To me this song is about somone who has somthing on them, an illness, karma, some difficult situation. Their asking the narrater to cure them, their telling them I can give u everything you need but i can't change god's will.
    Flag unchainedmelody8717on September 23, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    My Interpretation:That was just my take on it...to present a different view- what it meant to me.
    Flag Dboaon January 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:Honestly, I am surprised that only one person in this entire forum has even considered the idea that the Original of the Species is Christ. Yes, Bono may have been inspired The Edge's daughter, and wrote the song for her, but one of my favorite things about a lot of U2's songs is their ambiguity. Many of their songs have both secular and spiritual interpretations; this has allowed them to spread songs with biblical roots in their lyrics all over the world, like "Yahweh", whose title bears the Hebrew name for God. But back to Original of the Species--I do not believe my interpretation is out of place, considering how U2 has included many Christian themes in their lyrics over the years.

    I think the song is told from the perspective of Mary speaking to baby Jesus. Trust me, it all fits. At this point, Mary knows that this baby is to become to savior of the world according to the message she received from an angel, and wants to cherish this time with her son while he is still a child (see the first verse).

    Mary will give her baby everything she's got, but she knows that she cannot complete for him the purpose for which he was sent to this Earth: the die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus was the first of his kind, "like no one before", a true Original of the Species, which contrasts quite well as an opposite of Darwin's work, "Origin of the Species".

    Everywhere Jesus went, he "shouted", not literally, but with his life: healing the sick and the lame, bringing new life to everyone he touched, and never giving in to "celebrity": He could have entered this world as a king, or a full-grown man, but instead came through his mother’s womb as a baby who would grow up in a poor community.

    So, besides being his mother, Mary “kneels” (U2 often uses the image of kneeling as a way of referring to prayer) because she wants a different kind of relationship with him—a spiritual one, not just as her own son, but as the son of God. And “she wants [him] some more.” What a beautiful song.
    Flagged Dboaon January 19, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:quality lyrics, quality vocals, and i wouldn;t really expect anything less from this band. the best stanza is easily the "some things you shouldn't get to good at" part, it kind of just ties the song together perfectly. I see it as being about growing up and coming into your own. Supposedly it's written for his daughter, which makes sense, but it's also completely universal. Basically, be who you are, know that you're special, and understand that you're never as alone as you think you are
    Flag serenity23on December 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:to clarify, I mean right before the "duh-duh"'s
    Flag U2fantasyon October 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with people who think this is about the Edge's daughter, it makes so much sense. It's about being yourself and reveling in life. And I may be crazy but does anyone else hear Bono say "Here's your father" or something like that just before the Edge really comes in with they guitar?
    Flag U2fantasyon September 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Is the title a reference to Darwin's "Origin of Species", or is it just coincidence?
    Flag bruinsfan20on May 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A pretty song. :).
    Flag xmakesherflyxon June 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song was written for all of u2's daughters. it's about being comfortable with who u r and that you shouldn't change
    Flag rattle and humon March 27, 2007   Link

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