"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" song lyrics by U2

Bono has remarked that the lyrics were is inspired by a fictional conversation he has with late friend Michael Hutchence about suicide. Bono characterized the song as a fight between friends, which he felt guilty for never having with Hutchence.

"It's a row between mates. You're kinda trying to wake them up out of an idea. In my case it's a row I didn't have while he was alive. I feel the biggest respect I could pay to him was not to write some stupid soppy fucking song, so I wrote a really tough, nasty little number, slapping him around the head. And I'm sorry, but that's how it came out of me." - Bono, in Rolling Stone Magazine

Lyrics:

I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company

I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it

I will not forsake the colours that you bring
But the nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I still listen through your ears
And through your eyes I can see

And you are such a fool to worry like you do
I know it's tough and you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now, my oh my

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it

I was unconcious, half asleep
The water is warm till you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment, this time will pass

-

Thematically, the song addresses the human tendency to become trapped by our struggles, losing sight of the broader picture. The refrain, "You've got to get yourself together, You got stuck in a moment, And now you can't get out of it," serves as both a lament and a call to action. It acknowledges the difficulty of moving past a particularly challenging experience, while also encouraging resilience and the pursuit of hope.

The song is imbued with a sense of urgency and compassion, reflecting the idea that intervention and support can be crucial in times of need. It's a reminder that sometimes, an external perspective can provide the clarity and encouragement needed to move forward. In essence, "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a poignant commentary on the nature of despair and the power of hope and human connection to transcend the darkest of times. This thematic exploration contributes to the song's enduring impact, resonating with those who have faced their own moments of being 'stuck' and found the strength to emerge on the other side.