I may get some vitriol for this, but I feel the meaning of this song fits extremely well. At the same time, I haven't heard Bono confirm the basis of this publicly - so I may be completely wrong.
This song is about a man (Bono) losing his faith in God and religion.
First verse: Maybe the Omagh bombing or other.
Second verse: It's about the Dublin bombing and ends with how "33 good people cut down" and goes into the line - "I don't believe anymore"
Third verse: Girls suffering from prostitution/drug use. Again, ends with the line "I don't believe anymore"
These all have to do with evil triumphing without recompense or intervention from a God. It speaks of human suffering. Both of these are the main reasons people lose their god belief - the idea of a benevolent, all-knowing, powerful, loving God who seems absent from so many tragedies. And the suffering that many people go through.
Chorus: "Raised By Wolves" This is more along the lines of "Raised by wolves in Sheeps clothing" He's talking about religion and the church which tends to prey on the weak and sells the fear of damnation.
He goes on to sing "If I open my eyes, you disappear." The lyrics are wrong here. He actually says "if I open my EYE, you disappear." Eye of course means "Mind." so it reads "If I open my mind, you disappear." Basically, he saying, "If I really think about it, god doesn't exist."
The song goes on with religious symbolism.
"Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate"
"The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief"
etc.
It should be noted that other songs on this album also speak negatively against religion.
That's my take. I feel it fits pretty well, but again, I haven't heard Bono coming out of the religious closet, as it were.
I may get some vitriol for this, but I feel the meaning of this song fits extremely well. At the same time, I haven't heard Bono confirm the basis of this publicly - so I may be completely wrong.
This song is about a man (Bono) losing his faith in God and religion.
First verse: Maybe the Omagh bombing or other.
Second verse: It's about the Dublin bombing and ends with how "33 good people cut down" and goes into the line - "I don't believe anymore"
Third verse: Girls suffering from prostitution/drug use. Again, ends with the line "I don't believe anymore"
These all have to do with evil triumphing without recompense or intervention from a God. It speaks of human suffering. Both of these are the main reasons people lose their god belief - the idea of a benevolent, all-knowing, powerful, loving God who seems absent from so many tragedies. And the suffering that many people go through.
Chorus: "Raised By Wolves" This is more along the lines of "Raised by wolves in Sheeps clothing" He's talking about religion and the church which tends to prey on the weak and sells the fear of damnation.
He goes on to sing "If I open my eyes, you disappear." The lyrics are wrong here. He actually says "if I open my EYE, you disappear." Eye of course means "Mind." so it reads "If I open my mind, you disappear." Basically, he saying, "If I really think about it, god doesn't exist."
The song goes on with religious symbolism.
"Of a cross in a passion Where the passion is hate"
"The worst things in the world Are justified by belief"
etc.
It should be noted that other songs on this album also speak negatively against religion.
That's my take. I feel it fits pretty well, but again, I haven't heard Bono coming out of the religious closet, as it were.
@jonrchamberlin very insightful and interesting .
@jonrchamberlin very insightful and interesting .