| U2 – Wake Up Dead Man Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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firthelement, there is no sin in Bono's choice of words. You're applying Puritanical American taboos, that have no religious basis. Swearing in religious context is confined to using God's name in vain or for evil purpose. What is labelled cursing or swearing in America, is merely words that are not deemed socially acceptable. Christianity is about something much deeper than the superficial taboos and socially acceptable norms we spend far too much time dwelling upon in this country... |
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| U2 – With or Without You Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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FightingLee is very accurate in his reading of the song from the religious perspective, but that doesn't render the love interpretation wrong. In fact, if you look at how the Christian religions teach loving marriages should be, you'll note that they say Christ's relationship with us is how we should model our relationship with those we love. So the self-sacrifice suggested is very easily turned into a human love relationship... But one thing I haven't seen discussed is the religious-spirtual context of the chorus "With or without you, I can't live with or without you." Many have hit on the application to a love relationship but these lyrics also have a dual application from a religious interpretation. First, there is the difficulty many of us have in living a Godly life, but yet we strive to do so. We fail to live as Christ taught, yet we can't stop ourselves from trying... Then there is the conflict many of us have between our spirtual belief (in God, Christ, etc.) and the teachings of organized religion. Despite our deep belief in God and Christ, we struggle to make sense of the "laws" of organized religion. We can live with God, and God's laws, but (Catholics in particular) struggle to fit the laws of the Church into their real beliefs about God... |
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| U2 – The Playboy Mansion Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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I think you're close to the meaning, but I think it's more a case of looking at the hypocrisy of the "religious" in today's society. Think back to Rattle and Hum when Bono shouts at the TV evangelist "The God I believe in isn't short on cash Mister!" This song is a spin on that idea, so many of today's supposedly devout are so wrapped up in materialism, voyeurism, gossip, etc. And in the end he makes a statement that is lost on many people, "it's who you know that gets you through the gates of that mansion". A very serious reference to the fact that it is in knowing the Lord that you are saved... |
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