I agree with some of the comments that it could be about drugs, but I think it's more about having a close friend or lover who's suicidal quite often.
"Innocent and in a sense I am/Guilty of the crime that's now in hand"-he wants to help his friend but is having a hard time doing it.
"Such a nice day...let it go"-a sarcastic comment about how it's a nice day to die
"Call me...Watch you tear yourself apart"-here he feels bad for trying to get help for his friend/lover since he/she doesn't want any, but he can't stand to lose him or her
"Is this the time/The time to win or lose?"-are they going to survive this time, or will it be over?
"Cold, this heart is slow"-his friend is still alive, but doesn't feel like they're not
"Anytime...just keep me going"-Even if the person dies, he'll still be changed by what his friend had done over the years
"Here's the rope, here's the rope, now swing away"-he is basically saying that he feels powerless to help his friend, but he doesn't want him to die
This is a very personal song for me, and this is just my interpretation. My best friend (ironically named Jack) has attempted suicide several times, and this song describes my feelings perfectly.
@dsdoak I am not sure if 'suicide' is really the central theme here. After all, no one close to Bono - or anyone in the band, as far as I know - has ever taken their own life. On the other hand, the band probably DID know people who have taken heroin (note "Bad"). Would a person trying to talk someone out of suicide say "Here's the rope?" I hardly think so! Also note the whole rhythym of the number - the headlong rush, kind of a musical equivalent to the 'rush' of drug...
@dsdoak I am not sure if 'suicide' is really the central theme here. After all, no one close to Bono - or anyone in the band, as far as I know - has ever taken their own life. On the other hand, the band probably DID know people who have taken heroin (note "Bad"). Would a person trying to talk someone out of suicide say "Here's the rope?" I hardly think so! Also note the whole rhythym of the number - the headlong rush, kind of a musical equivalent to the 'rush' of drug use, then the sudden, abrupt ending - alluding to death from overdose ("The longest sleep"). That is my take on it, anways.
I agree with some of the comments that it could be about drugs, but I think it's more about having a close friend or lover who's suicidal quite often.
"Innocent and in a sense I am/Guilty of the crime that's now in hand"-he wants to help his friend but is having a hard time doing it. "Such a nice day...let it go"-a sarcastic comment about how it's a nice day to die "Call me...Watch you tear yourself apart"-here he feels bad for trying to get help for his friend/lover since he/she doesn't want any, but he can't stand to lose him or her "Is this the time/The time to win or lose?"-are they going to survive this time, or will it be over? "Cold, this heart is slow"-his friend is still alive, but doesn't feel like they're not "Anytime...just keep me going"-Even if the person dies, he'll still be changed by what his friend had done over the years "Here's the rope, here's the rope, now swing away"-he is basically saying that he feels powerless to help his friend, but he doesn't want him to die
This is a very personal song for me, and this is just my interpretation. My best friend (ironically named Jack) has attempted suicide several times, and this song describes my feelings perfectly.
@dsdoak I am not sure if 'suicide' is really the central theme here. After all, no one close to Bono - or anyone in the band, as far as I know - has ever taken their own life. On the other hand, the band probably DID know people who have taken heroin (note "Bad"). Would a person trying to talk someone out of suicide say "Here's the rope?" I hardly think so! Also note the whole rhythym of the number - the headlong rush, kind of a musical equivalent to the 'rush' of drug...
@dsdoak I am not sure if 'suicide' is really the central theme here. After all, no one close to Bono - or anyone in the band, as far as I know - has ever taken their own life. On the other hand, the band probably DID know people who have taken heroin (note "Bad"). Would a person trying to talk someone out of suicide say "Here's the rope?" I hardly think so! Also note the whole rhythym of the number - the headlong rush, kind of a musical equivalent to the 'rush' of drug use, then the sudden, abrupt ending - alluding to death from overdose ("The longest sleep"). That is my take on it, anways.