"Until The End Of The World" Song Lyrics by U2

"Until the End of the World" by U2 from Achtung Baby is a song layered with biblical imagery, existential questions, and a personal sense of betrayal. Lyrically, the song is told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, reflecting on his betrayal of Jesus with a haunting sense of guilt, temptation, and regret.

Bono uses Judas' narrative as an allegory for the complexities of human relationships, particularly when desire and betrayal intersect. The lyrics shift between intimacy and estrangement, as seen in lines like, "I kissed your lips and broke your heart," which merge the sacred and the profane, love and treachery. 

There’s an underlying sense of impending doom, a reflection on the moment when personal choices lead to irreversible consequences, but with an air of tragic inevitability. 

This duality creates an emotional tension, where the song isn't just about the religious story, but also speaks to the universal themes of betrayal, loss, and the moral dilemmas we all face.

The lyrics of the first verse discusses The Last Supper that Jesus had with his Apostles; the second is about Judas identifying Jesus with a kiss on the cheek in the Garden of Gethsemane; and the final verse's lyric is about Judas' suicide after being overwhelmed with guilt and sadness at his betrayal of The Son of God.

The song was inspired by Bono’s fascination with the story of Judas, but it also mirrors the band's own experience during the recording of Achtung Baby, a time when U2 was navigating the turbulent waters of reinvention and creative conflict. The "end of the world" in the song isn't just the biblical apocalypse—it’s also a metaphor for the end of relationships, personal betrayals, and the collapse of old certainties. 

Musically, the song is driven by a brooding, almost menacing rhythm, with The Edge’s jagged guitar riffs underscoring the tension between light and dark, faith and doubt. 

As the song builds, the sense of inner turmoil intensifies, capturing Judas' anguish as well as the broader human struggle with the consequences of our own actions. 

Ultimately, "Until the End of the World" is a meditation on the fragility of trust and the enduring weight of betrayal—both personal and spiritual—imbued with the sense that, even in the face of our darkest moments, we are still searching for redemption.

"Until The End Of The World" Song Lyrics by U2

Haven't seen you in quite a while

I was down the hold just passing time
Last time we met was a low-lit room
We were as close together as a bride and groom
We ate the food, we drank the wine
Everybody having a good time
Except you
You were talking about the end of the world

I took the money
I spiked your drink
You miss too much these days if you stop to think
You led me on with those innocent eyes
You know I love the element of surprise
In the garden I was playing the tart
I kissed your lips and broke your heart
You, you were acting like it was
The end of the world

Love, love, love
Love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love
Love, love, love

In my dream I was drowning my sorrows
Love, love, love
Love, love
Love, love
But my sorrows, they learned to swim
Surrounding me, going down on me
Love, love, love
Love, love
Love, love
Spilling over the brim
Waves of regret and waves of joy
I reached out for the one I tried to destroy
You, you said you'd wait
'Til the end of the world

Check out U2's lyrics to One or The Fly also from Achtung Baby.