Face down on a broken street
There's a man in the corner
In a pool of misery
I'm in white van
As a red sea covers the ground

Metal crash
I can't tell what it is
But I take a look
And now I'm sorry I did
5:30 on a Friday night
Thirty three good people cut down

I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore

Face down on a pillow of shame
There are some girls with a needle
Tryin' to spell my name
My body's not a canvas
My body's now a toilet wall

I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore

Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear

Running wild
Running wild

Boy sees his father
Crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate
Blue mink Ford
I'm gonna detonate in your den

Blood in the house
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ

I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore

Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear

Running wild


Lyrics submitted by Phx27

Raised by Wolves Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Raised by Wolves song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +3
    Song Fact

    One of the verses is clearly about a horrific Dublin bombing in 1974 - according to the Wikipedias:

    "The second of the Dublin car bombs went off at about 17:30"

    "The bomb car was a metallic blue mink Ford Escort, registration number 1385 WZ."

    The rest of the horrific account of the bombing can be found here - not for the faint of heart, quite graphic and sad:

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_and_Monaghan_bombings

    kimjongsurgeon December 03, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I know it's referencing an unsolved/unpunished car bombing from the late 70s. This song (the acoustic version, in particular) removes any doubt of Bono's ability to command a song these days. What a rock voice!

    sttommore1on October 16, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This interpretation doesn't fit all the lyrics but I wondered if Raised by wolves refers to the Fabian Society whose symbol is the sheep in wolves clothing. They have given us a whole heap of social change programs leading to a very socialist society. Or maybe U2 is referring to bad clergy as the bible does.

    coolmintson October 23, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    I don't know what this song means or is referring to; I've never heard of U2 until October when Verizon downloaded their full album for free on my iPhone when I purchased my phone that month but love this song and The Troubles. I wish us brown Americans were into rock music. This group is the first rock group whom I'm a fan of. No I don't listen to cRAP, just mostly soul, jazz, r&b (1960s-2000s) and now I embrace rock.

    juniore1lon December 07, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to understand bono's lyrics you have to understand he was raised by political strife and a religious upbringing.

    the wolves symbolize people that are inclined to hate by belief whereas their victims are the people that were raised by them.

    so if you have a family member or guardian that is like a wolf, you can get into trouble bc of your family bc you are more sheepish.

    makes sense since if you are raised by a shepherd then they will take care of your sheepish self that is more humble and good but if your raised by wolf society or a wolf family your probably in jeopardy.

    the whole wolf stereotype comes from the teachings of jesus. wolves in sheep clothing, meaning they mingle in society as "good people" but inwardly are raveounous wolves.

    GrungyBeatleon January 01, 2017   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    I may get some vitriol for this, but I feel the meaning of this song fits extremely well. At the same time, I haven't heard Bono confirm the basis of this publicly - so I may be completely wrong.

    This song is about a man (Bono) losing his faith in God and religion.

    First verse: Maybe the Omagh bombing or other.

    Second verse: It's about the Dublin bombing and ends with how "33 good people cut down" and goes into the line - "I don't believe anymore"

    Third verse: Girls suffering from prostitution/drug use. Again, ends with the line "I don't believe anymore"

    These all have to do with evil triumphing without recompense or intervention from a God. It speaks of human suffering. Both of these are the main reasons people lose their god belief - the idea of a benevolent, all-knowing, powerful, loving God who seems absent from so many tragedies. And the suffering that many people go through.

    Chorus: "Raised By Wolves" This is more along the lines of "Raised by wolves in Sheeps clothing" He's talking about religion and the church which tends to prey on the weak and sells the fear of damnation.

    He goes on to sing "If I open my eyes, you disappear." The lyrics are wrong here. He actually says "if I open my EYE, you disappear." Eye of course means "Mind." so it reads "If I open my mind, you disappear." Basically, he saying, "If I really think about it, god doesn't exist."

    The song goes on with religious symbolism.

    "Of a cross in a passion Where the passion is hate"

    "The worst things in the world Are justified by belief"

    etc.

    It should be noted that other songs on this album also speak negatively against religion.

    That's my take. I feel it fits pretty well, but again, I haven't heard Bono coming out of the religious closet, as it were.

    jonrchamberlinon July 12, 2023   Link

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