This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Like a song I have to sing
I sing it for you
Like the words I have to bring
I bring it for you
And in leather, lace and chains, we stake our claim
Revolution once again
No I won't, I won't wear it on my sleeve
I can see through this expression and you know I don't believe
Too old to be told, exactly who are you?
Tonight, tomorrow's too late
And we love to wear a badge, a uniform
And we love to fly a flag
But I won't let others live in hell
As we divide against each other
And we fight amongst ourselves
Too set in our ways to try to rearrange
Too right to be wrong, in this rebel song
Let the bells ring out
Let the bells ring out
Is there nothing left?
Is there, is there nothing?
Is there nothing left?
Is honesty what you want?
A generation without name, ripped and torn
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Nothing at all
And if you can't help yourself
Well take a look around you
When others need your time
You say it's time to go, it's your time
Angry words won't stop the fight
Two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need
Oh, God make it bleed
Is there nothing left?
I sing it for you
Like the words I have to bring
I bring it for you
And in leather, lace and chains, we stake our claim
Revolution once again
No I won't, I won't wear it on my sleeve
I can see through this expression and you know I don't believe
Too old to be told, exactly who are you?
Tonight, tomorrow's too late
And we love to wear a badge, a uniform
And we love to fly a flag
But I won't let others live in hell
As we divide against each other
And we fight amongst ourselves
Too set in our ways to try to rearrange
Too right to be wrong, in this rebel song
Let the bells ring out
Let the bells ring out
Is there nothing left?
Is there, is there nothing?
Is there nothing left?
Is honesty what you want?
A generation without name, ripped and torn
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Nothing at all
And if you can't help yourself
Well take a look around you
When others need your time
You say it's time to go, it's your time
Angry words won't stop the fight
Two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need
Oh, God make it bleed
Is there nothing left?
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by ryan100121
Like a Song... Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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An ode to his father, Bobby Hewson, when Bono needed him after his mother passed away: And if you can't help yourself Well take a look around you When others need your time You say it's time to go... it's your time.
Bono is so beautifully articulate and personal in his lyrics. He has a brilliant gift!
i love this song, it strips away any faking attitudes and talks about how people really are. they get caught up in a movement or a feeling, and they leave everyone else in the dust. they wash in and out with the tides, and don't care about anyone else. too many people say this is a special generation, or this is the one that will band together. truth is, this generation is like any before it, fake and faithless. and no amount of "movements" will set it right, and no amount of arguing, or drawing lines, or war. each person has to look out for the other, and each person has to build his own faith, nobody else can do any of that for them. and no show of pride or patriotism or parade can do any of that for them either.
Possibly Larry's finest showcase song (after SBS). Great drums throughout War. Bono's lyrics seem more relevant today than they were in the late 70's/early 80's in fact, or maybe it's because I was young then and ignorant of the subtle wars all around us.
"And if you can't help yourself (maybe especially if you CAN help yourself)/then take a look around you/when others need your time/you say it's time to go/it's MY time." I'm totally convicted right there. Thanks, Bono!
why is this song not so popular. Its my 4th favorite song off war....but thats still saying something. I think War is the best album of U2's carrear
what a great and underrated song!!
I just loooove this song!!
Irresistible7, beautiful description. I agree completely. Speaks to me in regards to the more ugly post-9-11 side.
Sometimes, when I'm upset, I close my eyes and imagine Bono listening to this song, and wondering how he let U2 get so shitty.
"A new heart is what I need Oh God, make it bleed."......simply breath-taking lyrics
this song is one of my alltime favorites. i cant beleive that no one has commented it in sooo long!!