And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage that you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No, they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it, or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on
walk on

Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one
Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind

All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you feel
All that you reason
All that you care (It's only time)
And I'll never fill up all my mind
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
And all that you scheme
All you create
All that you wreck
All that you hate


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Walk On Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Walk On song meanings
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63 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    OMG! The first time I ever heard this song, I cried. I know it's really about that Burmese person under house arrest, but my little interpretation made the song so dear to my heart. My interpretation is just going through the agony and pain of things in life, then just learning ot just go on with it. The best set of lyrics on this song are "And I know it aches/And your heart it breaks/and you can only take so much"...how can that NOT make you feel something?! And Edge's little riff at the end sounds so hopeful and reassuring that things will get better.

    TasChiBandGirlon May 18, 2002   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    I always thought this song was about Heaven, in a sense. Especially the lines, "You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been, a place that has to be believed to be seen" and "Home--I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home." No one knows where Heaven is, and none of us has been there, and it has to be believed in order to get there, but all the believers know they're going.

    Musicfan24on October 05, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    A few pointers; this song was released on All That You Can’t Leave Behind which came out in 2000 [a time before 9/11] so it wasn't written for those events but after they did happen, U2 transformed it into a song of hope for the millions affected.

    Another point, Aung San Suu Kyi is a non-violent, pro-democracy activist who has been under house arrest for many years. For more information on her see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi

    This song is amazing, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that Bono is talking to YOU when he sings it. It seems that every line relates to me [as I’m sure it does to everyone else who listens to it]. I don’t think I have a favourite line but I really love;

    What you got they can’t steal it, No they can’t even feel it Walk on, walk on... Stay safe tonight

    This song has helped me through some tough times and I thank God for it and for U2’####### – it is nothing short of a gift.

    achtungbaby02on October 02, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This is one of those songs that you could ask a thousand people and get a thousand different responses. For me this song is about all those turning points in someone's life. It could be a break up, maybe a death, or for sometimes it's just something that's good but difficult and you should just keep on going and don't be afraid.

    bfis108137on April 13, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Everyone on this earth has problems with their lives. We are dependent on objects in order to make us happy. The problem with this is that nothing will ever make us satisfied and find peace within ourselves. We will keep on yearning for more things.

    The part about the bird getting the chance to leave its’ cage and us leaving everything behind connects together because it has to do with our freedom. When we become dependent on possessions and others, we lose our freedom. The Buddha says that the real source of pleasure, truth, and goodness is not dependent upon the object of this world but instead it lies within us. Or do we want to have everything and yet, be sad? Do we want to live a life in which we own nothing and yet, we are happy? To have or the be?

    We need to learn how to discipline ourselves by controlling how we handle our problems. If we only depend on objects or others for help, then we will not know how to survive when those things are not around, therefore we would not be safe. Furthermore, if we love someone dearly, we should let them spread their wings and fly even if it is going to be a tough journey because it is the only way for them to find their inner peace without relying on others.

    The main purpose in life is for us to let go of all of the things that are holding us back from practicing our freedom. Once we get our freedom, we can learn how to be wise and therefore, reach our inner peace; which is our heart because it is our heaven on earth.

    ttbui510on January 27, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this is about moving on from a broken relationship, its another good song for when youre crying, ticked off, or emotionally unstable because bono is telling just move on! "what you got, they can't steal it, no they can't even feel it" that lyric is monumental

    happythoughtson March 19, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is the title song of the album and and uses the clever album cover to convey it. It’s about the baggage you bring to a relationship. “All that you Can’t Leave Behind” hence the photo of the band at an empty baggage claim in an airport. No one knows how you feel after a nasty breakup because they haven’t walked in your shoes. And no matter how hard you try, you can’t leave it behind. It stays with you forever.

    CConteon October 21, 2017   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    When everything is going down in life... walk on happy 20th anniversary to this beautiful song and album!

    LuckyLucason June 25, 2021   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about the hardships you will go through in life. Pain is inevitable but suffering is not. It is telling you that no matter what happens you need to be strong and stick to you morals. "Walk on" when things get rough and don't let these speed bumps get in your way. This is a truely amazing song... yet another one from and incredible band.

    acantu05on June 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have to agree with the ones who said its about heaven..but it is not just about heaven..it's about pain, its about how to handle this world we live in through our beliefs: "What you got, they can't steal it No they can't even feel it" Hope, faith...thats what they can't steal.

    "You're packing a suitcase for a place None of us has been A place that has to be believed To be seen" That's clearly about heaven..

    "You could have flown away A singing bird In an open cage Who will only fly Only fly for freedom" the freedom Jesus gives us when we put our lives in his hands and we no longer depend on the material things of this world but we depend on Him. And so on...

    mo0nangelon March 04, 2006   Link

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