"Vertigo" song lyrics by U2 from HTDAAB

The song "Vertigo" from U2’s 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was born from a high-energy, raw guitar riff that captured the band’s desire to return to their rock roots. The production was spearheaded by Steve Lillywhite, a long-time collaborator of U2 (War, October, Boy), who helped the band shape the track into a bold, aggressive anthem. 

Initially, the song evolved from a jam session, with the edge bringing in a fast-paced riff, and Bono working on its lyrics, which reflected the dizzying confusion and chaos of modern life.

At the beginning of the Vertigo, Bono counts off in Spanish ¡Uno, dos, tres, catorce! In English, this translates to "one, two, three, fourteen!" (the correct translation of "one, two, three, four" would be "uno, dos, tres, cuatro."

When asked about this possible mistake in an interview for Rolling Stone Magazine, Bono replied "there may have been some alcohol involved."

Booya!

The song features a pretty handy riff from The Edge.

"Vertigo" Lyrics by U2 from How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Unos, dos, tres, catorce

Turn it up loud, captain

Lights go down
It's dark, the jungle is
Your head can't rule your heart
A feeling is so much stronger
Than a thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Donde esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something I can feel
Feel

The night is full of holes
As bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold
They twinkle
As the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance
At least they know

I can't stand the beats
I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails
Has Jesus 'round her neck
Swinging to the music
Swinging to the music

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Donde esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something I can feel
Feel

Checkmated
Hours of fun
Show me, yeah

All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want
And no one gets hurt

Hello, hello
Hola
We're at a place called Vertigo
Donde esta
Lights go down and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

"Vertigo"  is a masterclass in lyrical tension, built on contrasts between exhilaration and disorientation, attraction and danger, all within a framework that feels chaotic yet meticulously crafted. It opens with a sense of urgency, throwing the listener headlong into a whirlwind, much like stepping into a tempest of modern excess. The lyrics, on one level, depict the euphoria of losing oneself—whether to music, love, or the pressures of contemporary life—but beneath that, there’s a lurking awareness of the costs involved.

All the while the song makes you feel at ease, as if you were on press junket. 

The line “Your love is teaching me how to kneel” is pivotal.

 It’s a moment of humility amidst the storm, a realization that surrender—whether spiritual or emotional—offers a form of salvation from the dizzying chaos. 

The theme here is classic U2: 

the grappling between flesh and spirit, materialism and transcendence. Bono's voice captures this internal battle perfectly, shifting between bravado and vulnerability. What’s brilliant is how the lyrics invite the listener to join this internal struggle, questioning where the line is drawn between exhilarating freedom and reckless abandon. "Vertigo" is not just about getting lost in the noise; it’s about seeking clarity through the confusion, using the storm to find stillness.

The irony thus is it is a feel-good song trapped in the tension between losing oneself in the chaos of modern life and the deeper search for meaning amidst that confusion.

Yeah yeah Yahweh yeah indeed. 

Check out the lyrics to Are You Gonna Wait Forever?, the b-side to the Vertigo single.

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