"Always" Song Lyrics by U2

The lyrics of "Always," an alternate take from U2’s All That You Can't Leave Behind era, reflect a deep exploration of love, identity, and spiritual connection. The recurring refrain of "always" serves as a grounding motif, emphasizing permanence amidst life's transient nature.

Lines like “Here today, gone tomorrow / Crack the bone, get to the marrow” juxtapose impermanence with the search for essence and meaning. The metaphor of the bee and the flower encapsulates fleeting sweetness and the inevitability of change, illustrating the delicate balance of pleasure and pain in relationships.

The song also delves into vulnerability and courage, urging the listener to "be the arrow and the target" and to “be uncool, be awkward.” These lines reject superficiality and celebrate authenticity, even at the cost of discomfort. “The soul needs beauty for a soulmate” shifts the focus to the spiritual dimension of connection, emphasizing the need for deeper, transformative relationships that nourish the inner self. The call to “dream out loud” embodies U2’s characteristic optimism and insistence on meaningful engagement with the world.

Spiritually, the song challenges pride and self-righteousness with lines like “God will not deal with the proud” and advocates humility as a path to grace. The closing lines, “Turning slowly into a prayer, always,” frame the piece as a meditation on eternal values such as love, hope, and unity. 

By weaving these themes together, “Always” encapsulates U2’s consistent message of striving for authenticity, embracing vulnerability, and finding redemption in connection, resonating deeply with the spiritual and relational motifs of the album’s other tracks.

"Always" Song Lyrics by U2 

Here today, gone tomorrow
Crack the bone, get to the marrow
To be a bee and the flower
Before the sweetness turns to sour

What we have we're gonna keep, always
What we've lost we don't need, always
What is it that won't let you sleep, always

Be the arrow and the target
Put your head over the parapet
Be uncool, yes be awkward
Don't look in the obvious place
The soul needs beauty for a soulmate

Get down off your holy cloud, always
God will not deal with the proud, always
Well if you dream then dream out loud, always
Eternally yours, always

I want you
I want you
I want you
Touch me now inside
I wanted to be a man
I wanted to call

You say you come to know yourself, always
Don't find yourself in someone else, always
And always wear a safety belt, always
Wait for me I'm running late, always
This is the moment that we share for always
Turn each song into a prayer, always
Now and forever
For always

-

The transformation of "Always" into "Beautiful Day" was driven by U2's desire to create a more direct, anthemic, and universally resonant song. While "Always" is reflective, focusing on themes of permanence and introspection, it lacked the concise emotional punch the band sought for All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

The album was envisioned as a return to the essentials—songs that connected immediately with audiences and spoke to resilience and hope. "Beautiful Day" emerged from this intent, retaining the uplifting essence of "Always" but reworking its tone and lyrical focus to emphasize triumph over adversity.

The lyric "dream out loud" in "Always" is a subtle yet poignant callback to Achtung Baby’s “Acrobat,” where it first appears as a defiant rallying cry to live authentically and resist complacency.

In “Acrobat,” the phrase underscores the tension between idealism and the messy realities of life, capturing a plea to maintain integrity amidst contradictions. Its reappearance in “Always” recontextualizes the sentiment, shifting from the angst and struggle of Achtung Baby to the reflective optimism of All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

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"Big Girls Are Best" Song Lyrics U2

"Big Girls Are Best," a lesser-known U2 track from the All That You Can’t Leave Behind era, stands out as a playful and celebratory song, with lyrics that embrace the strength and confidence of women. 

Rather than focusing on conventional ideals of beauty, Bono uses the song to praise women who are self-assured, experienced, and in control of their lives. 

The phrase "big girls" is a metaphor for maturity and empowerment, suggesting that women who embrace their individuality and independence are "best" because they are unapologetically themselves. Beneath the playful tone, the song carries a message about appreciating real, confident women who challenge societal norms and embody a natural, unfiltered power. 

It's a lighthearted yet affirming nod to womanhood that celebrates character over appearance.

"Big Girls Are Best" Lyrics U2

 As long as the night is coloured blue and black
Oh yeah yeah yeah
As long as you're on your knees and she's not on her back
Oh yeah yeah yeah

Avenue Atlantico 1702
She's cocoa butter, baby, she's the glue
She's got a baby at her breast
She knows big girls are best

Mama mama mama

I'm gonna change like the weather, hot to cold
Oh yeah yeah yeah
She keeps it all together, she's got the motherload
Oh yeah yeah yeah

She feels it, every sensation
She's got a smile like salvation
She's got a baby at her breast
She knows big girls are best

Mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama

She's elliptical, also political
Also spiritual, not superficial
Yeah, she's tropical, yes, she's illogical
Those little girls are a pest
Big girls are the best

As long as the night is coloured blue and black
Oh yeah yeah yeah
As long as you're on your knees and she's not on her back
Oh yeah yeah yeah

She can taste every sensation
She's got a smile like salvation
She's got a baby, a baby at her breast
She walks like she talks
Big girls are best

Big girls
Mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama
Sexy mama mama mama
My mama

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"Summer Rain" lyrics by U2

"Summer Rain" lyrics by  U2

Summer Rain was included as a b-side on a limited edition disk that came with All That You Can't Leave Behind. It's a nice simple acoustic based song, almost folky in its nature.

Summer Rain Lyrics:

When you stop seeing beauty you start growing old
The lines on your face are a map to your soul
When you stop taking chances you'll stay where you sit
You won't live any longer but it'll feel like it

I lost myself in the summer rain
I lost myself
I lost myself in the summer rain
In the summer rain

Tequila and orange, Jamaica and rum
At the Morella, honey on my tongue
In a small boat on a generous sea
You let me be your enemy
Tiny hand with a grip on the world
Holding our breath now, diving for pearls

I lost myself in the summer rain
I lost myself
I lost myself in the summer rain

Just as you find me always I will be
A little bit too free with myself
Just as you find me always I will be
A little bit too free with myself

I lost myself in the summer rain
I lost myself
Now there's no one else in the summer rain
Raining down
Raining down
Rain
Raining down
Raining down

Just as you find me always I will be
A little bit too free with myself
Just as you find me always I will be
A little bit too free with myself

It's not why you're running
It's where you're going
It's not what you're dreaming
But what you're gonna do
It's not where you're born
It's where you belong
It's not how weak
But what will make you strong

Another popular U2 song to feature reference to rain, is MLK. This was their ODE to Martin Luther King and can be found on The Unforgettable Fire album which was released in 1984.

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"Grace" song lyrics by U2

Grace is a theme that Bono latched onto in his later years. Grace can have many meanings. The grace of god, someone's name and simply being in someone's 'good graces'.

With this song from All That You Can't Leave Behind, grace is possibly best described as a character that has an empirical quality about them, almost godlike.

Indeed, when Bono's lyric refers to Grace carrying a pearl Bono is referenceing the following passage from the Bible, Matthew 13:45–46:

'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it'

Of the character in the song, Bono has actually said:

"There are a couple of my favourite people rolled into that lyric but the most important thing is that they personify my favourite word in the lexicon of the English language. It's a word I'm depending on. The universe operates by Karma, we all know that. For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. There is atonement built in: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then enters Grace and turns that upside down. I love it."

"Grace" song lyrics by U2

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girl
It's also a thought that could change the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flue for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark no longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything'

-

U2's "Grace" is a poignant exploration of themes such as redemption, love, and the complexities of human experience. The song serves as a meditation on the concept of grace as a transformative force, highlighting its ability to provide solace and healing amidst life's struggles. Bono’s lyrics evoke a sense of vulnerability and introspection, reflecting on how grace can emerge in unexpected moments, often when one feels most lost or broken. The juxtaposition of strength and fragility is a central motif; the song emphasizes that true grace is not about perfection but rather about embracing one's imperfections and finding beauty within them.

Check out some other song lyrics from All That You Can't Leave Behind, including the mega popular Beautiful Day" the song written for singer Micheal Hutchence, "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" and the live fan favourite "Elevation".

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U2's "New York" song lyrics

U2's "New York" song lyrics from All That You Can't Leave Behind

Is it really any surprise that U2 ended up writing a song about New York?

Bono has stated that the song is a tribute of sorts to both Frank Sinatra and Lou Reed.

Bono said, "There used to be a verse at the end about Frank Sinatra, because if I was going to be singing about New York, New York, I felt like I should. It went:

"When I'm down on my luck / I sometimes think of Frank Sinatra / I met him once / He was more than generous / At dinner one evening he found a blue paper napkin ... and he stared at it and said to no one in particular, I remember when my eyes were this blue."

Bono cut this verse as he feared people would misinterpret the lyric as being autobiographical.

New York lyrics by U2:

In New York freedom
Looks like too many choices
In New York I found a friend
To drown out the other voices
Voices on a cell phone
Voices from home
Voices through the hard sell
Voices down a stairwell
In New York
Just got a place in New York

In New York summers get hot
Well into the hundreds
You can't walk around the block
Without a change of clothing
Hot as a hairdryer in your face
Hot as a handbag and a can of mace
New York
I just got a place in New York
New York
New York

In New York you can forget
Forget how to sit still
Tell yourself you will stay in
But it's down to Alphaville

New York, New York, New York
New York, New York, New York

The Irish have been coming here for years
Feel like they own the place
They got the airport, city hall, concrete, asphalt
They even got the police
Irish, Italians, Jews and Hispanics
Religious nuts, political fanatics in the stew
Living happily not like me and you
That's where I lost you
New York

New York, New York, New York
New York, New York, New York
New York

In New York I lost it all
To you and your vices
Still I'm staying on to figure out
My midlife crisis
I hit an iceberg in my life
But you know I'm still afloat
You lose your balance, lose your wife
In the queue for the lifeboat
You gotta put the women and children first
But you've got an unquenchable thirst for New York

New York, New York
New York, New York

In the stillness of the evening
When the sun has had its day
I heard your voice whispering
Come away now

New York

New, New York, New York

-

The lyrics of New York where changed on Elevation Tour, due to the events of September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City. 

As New York was the subject of both the song and the attacks, the lyrics were altered in order to be sensitive to those who lost loved ones such as "In New York you can forget, forget how to sit still / But in New York, you can't break the city's will."

U2 also wrote Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad for Sinatra and Bono dueted with him on 'I've got you under my skin".

Check out some more U2 All That You Can't Leave Behind songs.

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U2's "When I Look At The World" song lyrics

U2's "When I Look at the World" reflects a deep sense of disillusionment and longing for connection amidst the chaos and suffering prevalent in the world. Written during a period marked by political upheaval and social unrest, the song captures the emotional turmoil of witnessing human struggles, injustice, and the complexities of modern life. 

The lyrics convey a feeling of alienation, as the narrator grapples with the disconnect between their ideals and the harsh realities surrounding them. Phrases like "When I look at the world" evoke a sense of introspection, prompting the listener to contemplate the broader human experience and the yearning for something greater.

The song's imagery juxtaposes hope and despair, highlighting the tension between the desire for change and the challenges of effecting it. Bono's poignant reflections on love and compassion serve as a reminder of the transformative power of these emotions, even in the face of adversity. Musically, the song blends atmospheric instrumentation with a heartfelt melody, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics. 

Ultimately, "When I Look at the World" encapsulates the struggle to maintain hope and humanity amidst a world often filled with pain and confusion, urging listeners to seek understanding and connection in their shared experiences.

"When I Look At The World" song lyrics by U2

When you look at the world
What is it that you see
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees
I see an expression
So clear and so true
That changes the atmosphere
When you walk into the room

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world

When the night is someone elses
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep
When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now, do you
Or even look away

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world

I can't wait any longer
I can't wait till I'm stronger
I can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world

I'm in the waiting room
Can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
While the rest of us choke
Tell me, tell me, what do you see
Tell me, tell me, what's wrong with me


Check out the lyrics to U2's Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" and "Elevation"

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"Peace On Earth" Song Lyrics + meaning * U2

"Peace On Earth" song lyrics by U2

The lyrics are about the Real IRA Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on 15 August 1998. The Real IRA were a splinter group who disagreed with the peace accord which meant The Troubles were coming to an end.

The lyrics grapple with feelings of frustration and sorrow, as lead singer Bono expresses a desire for a world free from conflict and suffering.

Peace on Earth lists the names of people (Sean, Julia, Gareth, Anne, and Breda) killed in the Omagh bombing. Similarly, inspiration for the lyric, "She never got to say goodbye / To see the colour in his eye / Now he's in the dirt" comes from the funeral of James Barker, another victim of the bombing.

The song juxtaposes the ideal of peace with the harsh realities of human existence, capturing the emotional toll that violence takes on individuals and communities. Bono's introspective questioning of the possibility of achieving peace resonates deeply, as it reflects a broader concern for humanity and the challenges faced in achieving harmony. 

After the 2001 attacks on America, "Peace on Earth" took on additional meaning and consequently, was used as an encore song in the Elevation Tour, coupled with "Walk On".

Peace on Earth Lyrics:

Heaven on Earth, we need it now
I'm sick of all of this hanging around
Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be peace on Earth

Where I grew up there weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

And it's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No whos or whys
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the color in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth

They're reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won't get to know
Sean and Julia, Gareth, Ann and Breda
Their lives are bigger than any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
Jesus sing a song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth
This peace on Earth

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth

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"Wild Honey" Song Lyrics by U2

U2's "Wild Honey", from the All That You Can't Leave Behind album, explores themes of love, longing, and the complexities of human connection through the metaphor of nature. The lyrics reflect a sense of yearning for a simpler, more genuine experience of love, contrasting with the chaos of modern life. The imagery of "wild honey" symbolizes sweetness and the pure, unrefined essence of affection, suggesting that true intimacy is often found in unfiltered moments of vulnerability and spontaneity. 

The song's melodic quality complements its lyrical content, creating a feeling of warmth and nostalgia, as if inviting listeners to reminisce about lost connections and the beauty of fleeting experiences. 

Additionally, the repeated call to embrace life's imperfections resonates with the universal desire for authenticity and the search for meaningful relationships in a world that often feels superficial. Overall, "Wild Honey" captures the bittersweet nature of love, celebrating both its joy and its transient qualities while urging listeners to cherish the wild and unpredictable moments that define human connections.

"Wild Honey" Song Lyrics by U2

In the days when we were swinging from the trees
I was a monkey stealing honey from a swarm of bees
I could taste, I could taste you even then
And I would chase you down the wind

You could go there if you please, wild honey
And if you go there, go with me, wild honey

Did I know you, did I know you even then
Before the clocks kept time, before the world was made
From the cruel sun you were my shelter
You were my shelter and my shade

If you go there go with me, wild honey
You can do just what you please, wild honey
Yeah, just blowing in the breeze, wild honey
Wild, wild, wild

I'm still standing, I'm still standing where you left me
Are you still growing wild with everthing tame around you
I send you flowers, cut flowers for your hall
I know you're garden's full but is there sweetness at all

Oh oh oh, love me with your soul

If you go there go with me, wild honey
Won't you take me, take me please, wild honey
Yeah, swinging through the trees, wild honey
Wild, wild, wild

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"In A Little While" Song Lyrics by U2

The lyrics refer to a "lovestruck hangover", in the vein U2's "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World," which describes a similar theme. Bono has noted in live performances that it became a gospel song after he heard that Joey Ramone, singer of The Ramones, listened to this song as his final one on his deathbed.

The lyrics convey a journey through emotional turmoil, where the speaker expresses a desire for solace and connection amidst life's uncertainties. The phrase "in a little while" embodies a sense of anticipation and the belief that better times are just around the corner, suggesting that current struggles are temporary. This optimistic refrain contrasts with feelings of isolation and despair, creating a poignant tension that resonates deeply with listeners. 

The song’s imagery evokes a sense of wandering, as the speaker seeks reassurance and clarity, encapsulating the universal experience of navigating moments of doubt and yearning for comfort.

"In A Little While" Song Lyrics by U2

In a little while surely you'll be mine
In a little while I'll be there
In a little while this hurt will hurt no more
I'll be home, love
When the night takes a deep breath and the daylight has no air
If I crawl, if I come crawling home will you be there

In a little while I won't be blown by every breeze
Friday night running to Sunday on my knees
That girl, that girl, she's mine
Well I've known her since
Since she was a little girl with Spanish eyes
When I saw her in a pram they pushed her by
My how you've grown
Well, it's been, it's been a little while

Slow down my beating heart

A man dreams one day to fly
A man takes a rocketship into the skies
He lives on a star that's dying in the night
And follows in the trail, the scatter of light
Turn it on, turn it on, you turn me on

Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love

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"Walk On" Song Lyrics by U2

U2's "Walk On" is a song of resilience and perseverance, deeply inspired by the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, but its message extends universally. 

It is written in the form of a supporting, uplifting anthem, praising her for her activism and fighting for freedom in Burma. This support from U2 reflects their ongoing commitment to Amnesty International.

In a disappointing turn, Suu Kyi failed as a leader and U2 was forced to declare their disappointment in her failure to support all the people of Myanmar. 

The repeated metaphor of "baggage" in the lyrics suggests that, as we move through life, we must let go of material possessions, superficial concerns, and emotional burdens. The only "baggage" worth carrying is what can't be left behind—core values like love, hope, and integrity. Love, though challenging, is essential, and it’s the one thing that sustains us through darkness and separation. The song encourages the listener to be strong and push forward, even when facing adversity, heartbreak, or doubt, reminding them that their intrinsic worth cannot be taken away or diminished.

The lyrics also emphasize the idea of "home" as a metaphor for inner peace or a state of belonging, which may be elusive or undefined, but is something we all strive for. The line "Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one" reflects a longing for comfort or a place of emotional safety. 

Yet, the song insists that to reach this place of peace, we must leave behind the trappings of material success and societal expectations. Ultimately, "Walk On" is about endurance, the courage to continue on one's journey even when the path is uncertain, and the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and self in the face of life's challenges.  

"Walk On" Song Lyrics by U2

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for one second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No, they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
Walk on, walk on
You stay safe tonight

And I know it aches, how your heart it breaks
You can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one
Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is

And I know it aches and your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
It's only time
All that you bear
No more than a feeling on my mind
All that you see
All that you wear
All that you sense
All that you scheme
All you dress up
All that you've seen
All you create
And all that you wreck
All that you hate

The place of Walk On after 9/11

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, U2's "Walk On" resonated profoundly with many Americans, transforming into a powerful anthem of resilience and unity during a time of national crisis. The lyrics echoed the collective sentiment of a nation grappling with grief, fear, and uncertainty, calling for strength and solidarity in the face of adversity. 

U2's performance of the song at the 2002 Grammy Awards, where it won Record of the Year, further amplified this message, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of hope and perseverance in difficult times. The band's ability to connect with audiences emotionally was underscored by their willingness to address the complexities of human suffering while simultaneously inspiring a sense of communal strength. 

Through this renewed meaning, "Walk On" became a clarion call for healing, encouraging individuals to rise above the darkness and stand together as one, reinforcing the idea that love and resilience are essential in overcoming the profound challenges posed by such tragedies.

Check out U2's lyrics to Beautiful Day.

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