If you twist and turn away
If you tear yourself in two again
If I could, yes I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
Surrender
Dislocate

If I could throw this lifeless lifeline to the wind
Leave this heart of clay
See you walk, walk away
Into the night
And through the rain
Into the half-light
And through the flame

If I could through myself
Set your spirit free, I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away
Into the light
And to the day

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
To let it go
And so to fade away
To let it go
And so, fade away

Wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping
Oh, no, no, no

If you should ask then maybe they'd
Tell you what I would say
True colors fly in blue and black
Bruised silken sky and burning flag
Colors crash, collide in bloodshot eyes

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
If I could, you know I would, if I could, I would
Let it go

This desperation
Dislocation
Separation, condemnation
Revelation in temptation
Isolation, desolation
Let it go

And so fade away
To let it go
And so fade away
To let it go
Oh now, and so to fade away

I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping
Oh, no, no, no


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by RainCty420, RoomeySphere

Bad Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Bad song meanings
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    General Comment

    I love what people have written here about this song being about something (anything) that you know you have to let go of, but you just can't. I viewed it from the standpoint of addiction - that it was a substance that you can't let go of. But reading others' viewpoints here is great. That's what makes music - and U2's lyrics in particular - great in my opinion. They are personal to everyone.

    I look at this song now and it means something different to me than it used to. I look at it now in the context of the songe that have come after it. To me, Bad and Walk On are like perfect bookends. "Bad" is "all that you can't leave behind". Bad is the inability to leave "it" behind (whatever "it" may be to you) and Walk On is the decision to finally move forward and leave it behind. Because you have to leave it behind.

    Rebirth120505on January 11, 2007   Link

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