The Ground Beneath Her Feet

it was written by salman rushdie. what a great song, especially on the part of bono and the edge...

The melody is so beautiful! It's stuck in my head right now...

i can't believe this song wasn't even in the database, it's simply great! c'mon what do you think? if you haven't listened to it, it was in the ost of the million dollar hotel, and i reccommend (if well spelled) it to anyone who likes music

Hey everyone. Check it out this is my first contribution! The last 3 postings are all slightly correct. The lyrics are by Salman Rushdie, whether there is a Ismlamic subtext is contentious and an interesting reading so I am not outwardly dismissing it. The facts: 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' is also the name of Rushdie's 1999 novel in which there is a love triangle. The novel is narrated by the third wheel who is a photographer. I will not ruin the story because it is so moving in so many ways. The song is sung by the 'hero' of the novel Ormus Cama in a beautiful passage towards the novel's end. The woman does actually get swallowed by an earthquake!

Whilst reading 'TGBHF' I was struck with the post-modern continuity of Rushdie's world having read his 2nd novel 'Midnight's Children' and have once again been hit with the continuity stick as I am reading 'The Satanic Verses' at present.

Of course the U2 song takes on its own identity, especially being on the OST for 'The Million Dollar Hotel' but I personally always see this song as out of the novel.

Is it just me or does any one else know about the alternative closing lines of the song: 'She was my country road/ My city street/ My sky above/ My only Love/ And the ground beneath my feet' ?

umm.. as far as i know this song has nothing to do with the koran but i guess that would be because i don't really know anything about the koran. but yes, xfmjunky is pretty much exactly right. this is the exact song sung by ormus, which he made in the beginning of the novel for vina and then added the alternate lines (the ones at the bottom of the previous entry) when he sang the song later when he learned she had died.

overall, the ground beneath her feet might be my favorite salman rushdie novel, or novel in general at that. and i love this song because it reminds me so much of the book

ok first of all, ive heard that salman rushdie did write the book 'satanic verses'..but he never converted..but anyways i cud be wrong on that but as far as reference to the Quran goes.. In the Quran it says that beneath a mothers feet, is heaven.. so maybe that has some sort of implication in this song?... Never The Less, a great song, one of U2's besst..among their other great tracks.. the lyrics and the music both never fail to blow me away.

Uncle Chop Shop seems to have never read the Satanic Verses- it's open to LOTS of interpretation. Personally, I like Rushdie's poetry better (Arab culture has a wonderful poetic tradition), & I think it's cool that Bono was humble enough to give up the reins (for once!). As far as interpretation, I agree with xfmjunky

this is a sad song i remember this when i saw the vid i was crying like a baby

This song is very sad. And the movie it was used in, The Million Dolar Hotel, is just as sad and beautiful- not for all, though. Many people find it boring and plotless. I personally love it.

If this is the way Salman Rushdie wwrites, I have to read something by him... (well, technically with th song I have read his writing, but... you know what I emean).

its quite funny really, u might think everything bono says in this song is metaphorical but infact the lyrics are quite literal. i mean its written about a person who saw their love get swallowed up by the earth during an earthquake "for what i worshipped stole my love away" i think it was actually written by a jounalist who is a friend of U2 and bono must have thought the lyrics were very good and so used it.