U2 – Gone

You gotta feel so guilty
Got so much for so little
Then you find that feeling just won't go away
You're holding on to every little thing so tightly
Till there's nothing left for you anyway
Goodbye
You can keep this suit of lights
I'll be up with the sun
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down, oh
I'm not coming down

You wanted to get somewhere so badly
You had to lose yourself along the way
You change a name but that's okay
It's necessary
And what you leave behind
You don't miss anyway

Goodbye
You can keep this suit of lights
I'll be up with the sun
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down, oh
I'm not coming down

'Cause I'm already gone
Felt that way all along
Closer to you every day
I didn't want it that much anyway

You're taking steps that make you feel dizzy
Then you get to like the way it feels
You hurt yourself you hurt your lover
Then you discover
What you thought was freedom is just greed

Goodbye
It's emotional
Goodnight
I'll be up with the sun
Are you still holding on
I'm not coming down, oh
I'm not coming down, oh
I'm not coming down


Lyrics submitted by dsfire

"Gone" as written by Ladonnis Crump Khari Cain

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc., SHELLY BAY MUSIC

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Gone song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentThis is my only and most personal favorite song, The wierd guitar gives a twist to the whole thing. the lyrics "You can keep this suit of lights and i'll be up with the sun...I'm not coming down" meaning that the guy is moving forwards and giving a thought of what he is leaving behind, then realizing what he had was not what he had also realising that he never had what he had in the first place... quite sad ... and confusing :(

    But, he keeped optimastic and positive... and I hope that one day, He will reach the sun and get what he wants
    Frelicon September 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit seems to me to be about fame and realising how different he is now from when the band was just starting and the sacrifices made to get there
    "you wanted to get somewhere so badly
    you had to lose yourself along the way
    you change a name but that's okay... it's necessary
    and what you leave behind you don't miss anyway "
    utasteadrenalineon April 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is definitely a self-critique by Bono. Pop (the album this song is from) was at the height of their self-indulgence, individually, and as a band. The line "what you thought was freedom was just greed" is very revealing. What began as U2 attempting to transform themselves from far too serious band to fun glitz rock stars, went way too far.
    rednight1972on October 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwatch it being performed on the elavation tour dvd and you will see what an excellent peformance they make out of it.
    bazza102on November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentBono says this song is his message to those "fans" who said that U2 sold out.
    deathbearon November 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentsong is about how he changed to get fame and wont look back - also about his mothers death in my opinion "closer to you everyday" ie each day is closer to his his death when he can be re-united and once dead he wont look back either "ill be up with the sun im not comin down - you can keep this suit of lights"(fame).
    lammason March 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentA very striking song, the best part is the strange guitar, which only makes it better. What this song means to me is that it can be seen as a song to tell someone you're not coming back (if a relationship has ended).
    DC10on January 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI wish Pop got more recognition than it does...it deserves it. This song is a perfect example of why.

    In addition to the more personal interpretations, these lyrics are a critique of society, much like the rest of the album. It's about rising above the artificial needs society imposes on us and attempting to reconcile the conflicting impulses of being true to yourself and playing the game, so to speak. Pop is very strong on these themes, filled with images of lost innocence and characters who've been turned into something other than themselves or are longing for meaning in a plastic world. "Staring at the Sun," "If God Will Send His Angels," "Gone," etc...or the satires of "Discoteque" and "Playboy Mansion."

    Great song!
    z4ckm0rrison December 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is the best of Pop and one of the best of U2 career.

    It's clearly about fame, I read somewhere that this came after a conversation with Michael Hutchence about the toxic effects of fame, which makes a lot of sense.
    The lyricist here is self-critic about how he changed due to his always rising fame. I like to think about it as a second part of The Fly, a kind of redemption of the character, his confession.

    "You changed your name, well that's okay, it's necessary
    And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway
    (...)
    You're taking steps that make you feel dizzy
    Then you learn to like the way it feels.
    You hurt yourself, you hurt your lover
    Then you discover
    What you thought was freedom is just greed."

    When Achtung Baby came up, they left behind the sound of the 80's. Bono changed his name to The Fly, who was an arrogant and cinic character. It felt like freedom, but it really was just greed.
    I also think that Bono somehow connected with Hutchence deeper problems, the ones who made him commit suicide. This song talks a lot more about him than Stuck In A Moment, and if you notice in the Elevation 2001 Live from Boston, when this song's weird guitar starts, he screams 'Hutch! Hear me!' to finally begin the song.
    -Acrobat-on January 06, 2007   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment This is about somone wanting somthing so bad their willing to sacrifice everything for it I think it's the best track on POP.
    unchainedmelody8717on September 24, 2009   Link

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