White snow
We turn it to slush
A festival of brown
In the city of my crush
If you wanna look around
You can stick inside
Köthener Straße acht und dreißig
Oh Berlin
Who would think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
How many of us hiding here?
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
To stare and not be stared at
To look and not be seen
To feel new feelings
Rather than understand where you’ve just been
Fame…huh
Oh Berlin
Who could think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
Just seen the ghosts of my heroes
Lou Reed, David Bowie, Iggy
Wim Wenders, Rilke
To change location
Rather than change yourself
To ask for directions
Rather than ask for help
To remain always a true fan
Oh Berlin
Who could think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
“Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the Angelic
Orders? And even if one were to suddenly
take me to its heart, I would vanish into its
stronger existence. For beauty is nothing but
the beginning of terror, that we are still able to bear,
and we revere it so, because it calmly disdains
to destroy us. Every Angel is terror.”
Oh Berlin / Every angel is terror (5x)
Who would think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
How many of us hiding here?
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by a single name
We turn it to slush
A festival of brown
In the city of my crush
If you wanna look around
You can stick inside
Köthener Straße acht und dreißig
Who would think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
How many of us hiding here?
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
To look and not be seen
To feel new feelings
Rather than understand where you’ve just been
Fame…huh
Who could think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
Lou Reed, David Bowie, Iggy
Wim Wenders, Rilke
To change location
Rather than change yourself
To ask for directions
Rather than ask for help
To remain always a true fan
Who could think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name
Orders? And even if one were to suddenly
take me to its heart, I would vanish into its
stronger existence. For beauty is nothing but
the beginning of terror, that we are still able to bear,
and we revere it so, because it calmly disdains
to destroy us. Every Angel is terror.”
Who would think they would find you by just looking?
Oh Berlin
How many of us hiding here?
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by a single name
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I love the lyrics in this song. My favorite line is the "to stare and not be stared at, to look and not be seen" one. U2 started recording Achtung Baby in Berlin, so this song is probably their thoughts on the city, reflecting on their experiences.
I think the line "to remain always a true friend" should be changed to "a true fan." He's talking about his influences/heroes in the second line of that verse, and it makes more sense to call himself a "fan" rather than a "friend" to them.
I love the lyrics in this song. My favorite line is the "to stare and not be stared at, to look and not be seen" one. U2 started recording Achtung Baby in Berlin, so this song is probably their thoughts on the city, reflecting on their experiences.
I think the line "to remain always a true friend" should be changed to "a true fan." He's talking about his influences/heroes in the second line of that verse, and it makes more sense to call himself a "fan" rather than a "friend" to them.