In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I want to run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name, ha, ha, ha
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain, yeah
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, and I see love
See our love turn to rust
Oh, we're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name, ha, ha, ha
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain, yeah
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, and I see love
See our love turn to rust
Oh, we're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7
Where the Streets Have No Name Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is from u2.com, and I think it explains what the song is about really well...
"An interesting story that someone told me once is that in Belfast, by what street someone lives on you can tell not only their religion but tell how much money they’re making - literally by which side of the road they live on, because the further up the hill the more expensive the houses become. You can almost tell what the people are earning by the name of the street they live on and what side ot that street they live on. That said something to me, and so I started writing about a place where the streets have no name...." -bono
That place Bono doesn't mention is Heaven, where the streets have no name.
this song is obviously about a postmans worst nightmare. where the streets have no name.... he just puts the letters in any house
@andya71 very funny good one<br />
Like all masterful works of art, there are layers upon layers upon layers of meaning. And Im not even sure that Bono understood it all when he wrote it himself.
However, after watching them play in Tampa on Saturday...and leading into the song with an absolutely stunning version of "Amazing Grace"....
And his homeland's division among social classes, and Protestant and Catholic... And his travels to the wretched places of the earth... And reciting the verse of paradise being a place of no "sorrow or pain" and a city "High on a Desert Plain" -- quite possibly a reference to (New) Jerusalem
And seeing the tears in peoples eyes...thousands and tens of thousands of them...
Im convinced its about Heaven. Of course the streets will have no name. We will be home, and know exactly where we were...
I know. I got a little taste of it Saturday night at a football stadium.
In N. Ireland you can tell by the name of the streets whether the person who lives there is protestant or catholic, this song is about a place where this no longer happens
U2 songs can be open to many ways of interpretation to certain people, but i think certainly the most dominant interpretation is that the song is about heaven. When U2 performed this song live during the Popmart tour there was an extended ending where Bono sang "then there will be no time for sorrow, then there will be time for shame" this is almost a direct quote from Relevations 21 describing heaven... the streets that Bono is talking about could very well be the golden street described in that same passage in heaven! This is my favorite song of all time and like Bono says everytime they play it its like "God walks into the room."
@learn2kneel Not Heaven, utopia, imho
I think the central theme of this song is the band's dreaming of a better world, one of freedom, equality, peace and personal courage. It's a social/personal commentary, like many U2 songs. One of my favorites from U2.
@wanderingstar Yes!
Does anybody else agree with me that this is the greatest rock song ever written?
@barium6262 I'm not sure I can proclaim any song to be greatest ever, but I can identify a small set of songs that I believe are on the very highest rank and would merit serious consideration for that title, were it actually possible to bestow it.<br /> <br /> "Where the Streets Have no Name" would definitely be on my short list of the greatest of the greats.
This song captures the sublime feeling of anyone who's stood alone atop a mountain, bathed in the setting sun and a cool breeze and a breathtaking view; and wished only for the opportunity to share it with someone special.
This song seems to me is about my country, Nicaragua, because I have read several articles ... although I think it has more logic it is on the description of the social and political differences of Ireland, I like to keep believing it's about Managua, where the streets are not named really.
I think this place "where the streets have no name" is heaven. When they say "I want to feel sunlight on my face See that dust cloud disappear without a trace I want to take shelter from the poison rain ", it's an obvious referance to a wonderful, peaceful place. That's my thoughts.
yeh well ur wrong, In 1985, Bono visited Ethiopia after performing at Live Aid. Many people assumed this song was about that trip, since the streets there really don't have names, just numbers. The song is actually about Ireland. In Ireland, the many cities are divided: rich/poor, Catholic/Protestant, etc. By knowing which street a person lives on you can tell their religion, wealth and beliefs - it's where the streets have no name.<br /> <br />
This song is and will always be my all-time favorite song. It makes a wonderful live song, too! What does it mean to me? I think what Bono may be refering to is that a place where the streets have no name is a place were there is peace-away from the rest of the messed up world we live in. It may be a place that can only be dreamed of or imagined. As someone before me said, it may be heaven. But how great would it be to live in world peace? If we ever find a place where the streets have no name on this earth I hope I can be there.