In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
(Black flash)
Black flash over my own love
Tell me of my eyes
Black flash come though my own life
Telling these things
And I believe them
And I believe in you
White flash sees the sky
And it turns its side from you
She won't turn my back
And I know you turn so blue
You know
And your sky is feeling blue
And your heart
So cold when I'm with you
You feel
Like no one told you to
And your time is your side
And your time with me
Ah, don't talk to me
Ah, don't talk to me
Don't talk to me
You know
Like no one told you how but you know
Though the king that howls has howled
We're like sentimental, but you don't care
If I just share it in your heart, heart
(Heart, heart)
Hopelessly, so hopelessly
I'm breaking through for you and me
You don't
Though no one told you to
And you found out
Where you were going, where to
You're through with me
But I know that you will be back for more
And you know
And though no one told you so
And you know, blue sky
Like a harder shade of blue
And you walk
When you want
To let go
Me, I'm on the outside, tell me not to fade away
Drop me down but don't break me
In your sleep
In your sleep, inside, it's in your heart and mine
Whole sea is dark, it's in your heart and mine
Sweetly, those will come
Loving is on your side walking through
So let me in your heart
Your beat is like something new
They
Run
See, say you're sad and reach by
So, say you're sad above beside
Oh, stay sad above beside
So, stay sad above we said
You know I don't
And no one told you how
And you don't
And you wipe sweat off your white brow, and you care
And no one told you tried
And your heart
Is left out from the side
And the rain beats down
And the shame goes down
And this rain keeps on coming down
And this sky
Tonight
Give a S-O-N-G-why
Your joy to God
Give a S-O-N-G-why
Give away some in your life
Give away some while you're able
You know
And though no one told you sky
And you feel
Like you pretend you can, you say go, you live
Go live outside of me
Don't you leave
Don't leave out part of me, then I can feel
Like I feel before
Like it hurt now, and I see the floor
If you pick me up
Bits and pieces on this floor
Black flash over my own love
Tell me of my eyes
Black flash come though my own life
Telling these things
And I believe them
And I believe in you
White flash sees the sky
And it turns its side from you
She won't turn my back
And I know you turn so blue
You know
And your sky is feeling blue
And your heart
So cold when I'm with you
You feel
Like no one told you to
And your time is your side
And your time with me
Ah, don't talk to me
Ah, don't talk to me
Don't talk to me
You know
Like no one told you how but you know
Though the king that howls has howled
We're like sentimental, but you don't care
If I just share it in your heart, heart
(Heart, heart)
Hopelessly, so hopelessly
I'm breaking through for you and me
You don't
Though no one told you to
And you found out
Where you were going, where to
You're through with me
But I know that you will be back for more
And you know
And though no one told you so
And you know, blue sky
Like a harder shade of blue
And you walk
When you want
To let go
Me, I'm on the outside, tell me not to fade away
Drop me down but don't break me
In your sleep
In your sleep, inside, it's in your heart and mine
Whole sea is dark, it's in your heart and mine
Sweetly, those will come
Loving is on your side walking through
So let me in your heart
Your beat is like something new
They
Run
See, say you're sad and reach by
So, say you're sad above beside
Oh, stay sad above beside
So, stay sad above we said
You know I don't
And no one told you how
And you don't
And you wipe sweat off your white brow, and you care
And no one told you tried
And your heart
Is left out from the side
And the rain beats down
And the shame goes down
And this rain keeps on coming down
And this sky
Tonight
Give a S-O-N-G-why
Your joy to God
Give a S-O-N-G-why
Give away some in your life
Give away some while you're able
You know
And though no one told you sky
And you feel
Like you pretend you can, you say go, you live
Go live outside of me
Don't you leave
Don't leave out part of me, then I can feel
Like I feel before
Like it hurt now, and I see the floor
If you pick me up
Bits and pieces on this floor
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Elvis Presley & America Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Most incomprehensible lyrics ever. So why is it so great? I don't know. It's been my favorite U2 song since I heard it, but I still can't figure out any semblance of meaning for it. The best I can figure is by the song title and various scraps - it's the love-hate relationship between teacher and student, or child and fallen hero; a tie of respect and admiration that is strained over and over, but is only strengthened by the pain.
The song's best quality is its smoothness. No other song I know of uses the flow of music and song like a twisting summer breeze in quite this way (Think Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" or Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" for this category). The song just melts into your brain like an epic poem, and the words are just soothing chants that you're not meant to understand, with the occasionally perceptible utterance of a spine-tingling phrase like "Ah, don't talk to me" or "You're through with me, but I know that you'll be back for more" or "Your heart is left out from the side." And they're all whispered in Bono's most introspective of voices, and you know it's personal for him, and that makes it so touching. It's as if each sentence is a self-spoken prayer overheard in a deserted church.
There’s an error in the lyrics. Where it says he repeats “see say sad and reach by” the lyrics repeat:\n\nDon’t say, say double B-side\n\nIt’s an expression of his fear that this song will be on a single that is so bad that both sides are B-sides. Which is a shame because I really like this song.
This has always been one of my most favourite U2 songs. I agree that it seems to be about a strained relationship. To me, it's more of a lover relationship though. Maybe they keep fighting but always go back to each other. I am not sure. But it is SO beautiful.
Doesn't this song have to do with the rise and fall/death of Elvis in America?
This has been one of my fav u2 songs of all time.
From what I can recall... the reason the lyrics are hard to understand is there are no lyrics for this song. Apparently Bono was singing lyrics off the top of his head (or from partially completed lyrics) while facing a large painting of Elvis.
u2 did not like this song but Brian Eno urged the fellows to put it on the album arguing that the song captured a great mood.
This song is perfect to play on a cold, grey, rainy day.
The music is played backwards, Eno was trying things, it sounded good so they keep it
@jpjames No, the music isn't played backwards. Try this: "Musically, the song takes its instrumentation from an altered backing track of "A Sort of Homecoming". " <br /> <br /> The phrase "backing track" doesn't mean "track played backwards," does it?
I don't think this is the weakest song on the album. I think its the most original from the rest, actually. It's unlike the other tracks on the CD in its construction and lyrcis (the music is A Sort of Homecoming slowed down and played backwards) and there are no lyrics (Bono is addlibbing), at first this was my least favorite on the album as well. But new music requires new ways of listening to it. You can't approach listening to this song the same way you do the rest of the album. Its total mood. Play it on a chilly, drizzling, overcast morning.
@dookiebot No, the music isn't played backwards. Try this: "Musically, the song takes its instrumentation from an altered backing track of "A Sort of Homecoming". " <br /> <br /> The phrase "backing track" doesn't mean "track played backwards," does it?
One of my favorite U2 songs along with Bad and Running to stand still. But U2 has many more great songs which I adore.
The song is about the genius of Elvis Presley. You know like nobody told you how, but you know. That lyric is reference to how Elvis held the mirophone, he just did it, he just knew how
This is the weakesty song on the album, so why does everyone love it so much? I know it is kind of relaxing, but it is extremely offbeat, and if Eno kept the music how it was it could have been better.
I heartily disagree with you. This song is absolutely beautiful. And the fact that it doesn't follow a conventional beat or song structure is part of what makes it so great.