You know he got the cure
You know he went astray
He used to stay awake
To drive the dreams he had away
He wanted to believe
In the hands of love

His head it felt heavy
As he cut across the land
A dog started crying
Like a broken hearted man
At the howling wind
At the howling wind

He went deeper into black
Deeper into white
Could see the stars shining
Like nails in the night
He felt the healing
Healing, healing
Healing hands of love
Like the stars shiny shiny
From above

Hand in the pocket
Finger on the steel
The pistol weighed heavy
His heart he could feel
Was beating, beating
Beating, beating oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love

My love

Saw the hands that build
Can also pull down

The hands of love


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

Exit Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Exit song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    U2 - Exit (with my comments)

    You know he got the cure, you know he went astray

    • He shot himself because he couldn't deal with his depression over the sad things in life He used to stay awake to drive the dreams he had away
    • So many of us have bad dreams over things we've seen He wanted to believe in the hands of love
    • A man wondering why Jesus doesn't stop the unfairness

    His head, it felt heavy, as he cut across the land

    • He saw the problem was not isolated A dog started crying like a broken hearted man
    • Dog crying is disturbing, represents what was in his heart At the howling wind, at the howling wind
    • Howling wind represents storm of life

    He went deeper into black, deeper into white

    • More & more he kept seeing how unfair the world is.
      Could see the stars shining like nails in the night
    • In deep depression, even reality seemed to be stark in contrast He felt the healing, healing, healing, healing hands of love Like the stars shiny shiny from above
    • He had the idea to kill himself to stop the torment. Maybe God would forgive him for this one sin?
    • Didn't Jesus have nails pierced through his hands for our forgiveness?

    Hand in the pocket, finger on the steel The pistol weighed heavy, his heart he could feel Was beating, beating, beating, beating Oh my love, oh my love, oh my love, oh my love

    • Basically, he went through with it. (shot himself)

    My love

    He saw the hands that build Can also pull down, the hands of love

    *** Last 2 lines: The main point of the song.

    The very thing that we all strive for, morality, the thing that's supposed to make the world a better place, has also torn this person's soul apart. He can't stop any of the unfairness in the world and doesn't understand why God does not do it either.

    I think this song is about a person similar to me. I'm not suicidal, but I feel very strongly about the sad things that seem to happen to innocent people.

    mark_simmons_txon February 22, 2005   Link

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