As is almost always true, Bono's lyrics have many layers of meaning. Very often, his lyrics have a layer of Christian meaning. (I think of them almost as a Christian band).
I think the three verses of this song are all being sung to Jesus. Jesus is the "you" in the verses. This is very obvious in the third verse where he says "And I’m a long way From your hill of Calvary".
First verse - Jesus knows what's in our inner being but is not repulsed. Second verse - Jesus will reveal himself to you, and you give everything to him. Third verse - I'm a long way from perfect, but Jesus will always be the light.
The refrains are spoken to Bono and us - a motivation to not lose sight of the light. We are all the Someone...
@LibertyMark Well said Mark. Having lived in Ireland, I can tell you the Irish domestic audience is very Catholic, but U2 probably realized early on that their international audience is far more secular. So they they tend to obscure their religious themes as not to provoke the non religious, or even anti-Christian /SJW types. If they had come along twenty years later, they probably would have been terrified to include ANY of that stuff, as the SJWs have become so outspoken and have dominated much of the internet (and might bash U2 for carrying water for Christianity.) The irony, of...
@LibertyMark Well said Mark. Having lived in Ireland, I can tell you the Irish domestic audience is very Catholic, but U2 probably realized early on that their international audience is far more secular. So they they tend to obscure their religious themes as not to provoke the non religious, or even anti-Christian /SJW types. If they had come along twenty years later, they probably would have been terrified to include ANY of that stuff, as the SJWs have become so outspoken and have dominated much of the internet (and might bash U2 for carrying water for Christianity.) The irony, of course, is that U2 is a very liberal, activist band, pushing for many of the same goals as the SJWs (just listen to "This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now")-- but when you contradict their political orthodoxy, those types can be very unforgiving and don't often "turn the other cheek."
As is almost always true, Bono's lyrics have many layers of meaning. Very often, his lyrics have a layer of Christian meaning. (I think of them almost as a Christian band).
I think the three verses of this song are all being sung to Jesus. Jesus is the "you" in the verses. This is very obvious in the third verse where he says "And I’m a long way From your hill of Calvary".
First verse - Jesus knows what's in our inner being but is not repulsed. Second verse - Jesus will reveal himself to you, and you give everything to him. Third verse - I'm a long way from perfect, but Jesus will always be the light.
The refrains are spoken to Bono and us - a motivation to not lose sight of the light. We are all the Someone...
@LibertyMark Well said Mark. Having lived in Ireland, I can tell you the Irish domestic audience is very Catholic, but U2 probably realized early on that their international audience is far more secular. So they they tend to obscure their religious themes as not to provoke the non religious, or even anti-Christian /SJW types. If they had come along twenty years later, they probably would have been terrified to include ANY of that stuff, as the SJWs have become so outspoken and have dominated much of the internet (and might bash U2 for carrying water for Christianity.) The irony, of...
@LibertyMark Well said Mark. Having lived in Ireland, I can tell you the Irish domestic audience is very Catholic, but U2 probably realized early on that their international audience is far more secular. So they they tend to obscure their religious themes as not to provoke the non religious, or even anti-Christian /SJW types. If they had come along twenty years later, they probably would have been terrified to include ANY of that stuff, as the SJWs have become so outspoken and have dominated much of the internet (and might bash U2 for carrying water for Christianity.) The irony, of course, is that U2 is a very liberal, activist band, pushing for many of the same goals as the SJWs (just listen to "This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now")-- but when you contradict their political orthodoxy, those types can be very unforgiving and don't often "turn the other cheek."