So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Earth sky sea and rain
Is she coming back again
Men of straw, snooker hall
Words that build or destroy
Dirt dry bone sand and stone
Barbed-wire fence cut me down
I'd like to be around
In a spiral staircase
To the higher ground
And I, like a firework, explode
Roman candle lightning lights up the sky
In the cracked streets trampled under foot
Sidestep, sidewalk
I see you stare into space
Have I got closer now
Behind the face
Oh tell me
Charity dance with me
Turn me around tonight
Up through spiral staircase
To the higher ground
Slide show sea side town
Coca-Cola, football, radio, radio, radio
Radio, radio, radio
Is she coming back again
Men of straw, snooker hall
Words that build or destroy
Dirt dry bone sand and stone
Barbed-wire fence cut me down
I'd like to be around
In a spiral staircase
To the higher ground
And I, like a firework, explode
Roman candle lightning lights up the sky
In the cracked streets trampled under foot
Sidestep, sidewalk
I see you stare into space
Have I got closer now
Behind the face
Oh tell me
Charity dance with me
Turn me around tonight
Up through spiral staircase
To the higher ground
Slide show sea side town
Coca-Cola, football, radio, radio, radio
Radio, radio, radio
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Promenade Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this track from The Unforgettable Fire is U2's best kept secret. I love this song! This is by far my favorite U2 song of all time. Great song and great album. I love the imagery in this song and how open it is to interpretation. Every time I listen to this song I see in my mind's eye a young couple returning home after their town has been destroyed by war. I see them walking hand in hand among ruined streets and buildings and even though they are surrounded by devastation they believe in and have hope for a future there.
Men of straw, Snooker hall is DEFINITELY the correct lyric! There is much discussion as to whether it is "charity" or "cherry"- but the gist is the same either way, I think."
Anywho, This song concerns a house Bono and his wife Ali owned in Ireland in a town called Bray- a "seaside town"- across Dublin Bay from Howth (where Larry still lives with Ann and their kids.) The "Spiral staircase" is in the Martello Tower that Bono had redesigned for her as an anniversary gift early in their marriage. The staircase led from the living room to the bedroom. Bono had a glass roof put over the bedroom so he and Ali could look at the stars at night. (Could this man possibly get any better?!)
The tower overlooks a promenade where there are pool (snooker) halls, arcades, restaurants, etc. I was there just over 5 years ago and the tower is still there!
Higher Ground refers to your humana humana time with another person- gettin' your groove on so to speak. ( I am trying not be too graphic here!)
It is the only song Bono has ever really said was written for Ali. It is so romantic in its simplicity.
The underrated highpoint of Fire, Promenade is Bono reflecting on what it means to be an American. One of the great qualities about U2 is that Bono is a trenchant observer of the American Experience and why America means a lot to him. Great song. Brian also deserves credit here with his oblique strategies in Rock! U2 Forever!
a great song, and no comments!???
i think this was one of those where U2 had the music and bono improvised the lyrics over a few takes and this was the result!
The delivery and content of the last part of the song, the last verse leading into the very last stanza (the side town, coca-cola and radio part), sounds very Springsteen influenced. Very awesome.
This music has a magical touch. An unrevealed pearl of u2. I really don't know the meaning of the lyrics. But it has a special meaning to me.. It's uplifting, it's magic, i used to stufy for my final exams, just after my ex broke up with me, and this song for some reason, gave me strenght and i was able to pass in my tests. So to me it gives me strength, it makes me believe in myself and somehow it makes me believe in love.
Men of Straw, Snooker Hall is the correct lryic.
Love song, teen age sprirt, USA.
It\'s about Bono\'s house, where he lived in the South of Dublin
A very nice peaceful song, just like the rest of the album
This is my all-time favorite U2 song.