Giant Lemon
Rock n' Roll Doggie
I've always liked Kite since I first heard it, but I never really thought much about the lyrics. But about a week ago I was listening to the Bono-Charlie Rose interview, and Bono said something about how others' deaths made him think about mortality and in at least some part inspired Kite. I was intrigued, and so now after some thought I have a little interpretation of Kite as sort of a message from Bono to his family/friends when he's on his deathbed. Since this forum doesn't get much action, I figured I might as well post here (also, I doubt that many people ever look here, so if all I'm going to say is totally obvious or stupid, not that many people will know!). Anyway, here goes (and please tell me what you think!):
Something
Is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it means
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did
In the beginning, death is approaching, and Bono knows it (he can feel it coming). He's not afraid, though, and when he's lying in a coffin (flat on his back) he hopes to feel that he really lived life to the fullest.
And hardness
It sets in
You need some protection
The thinner the skin
Here Bono is speaking to his family or those close to him. They'll obviously be upset at his impending death, and those who are more emotionally fragile (his children, perhaps?) will be especially hurt.
I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore
I want you to know
You don't need anyone
Or anything at all
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know
Which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
Bono is telling his loved ones (and maybe also his fans) that they don't need him anymore to soften the blow of his death. Here the loved ones are compared to a Kite blowing in the breeze. It's all very uncertain- Bono doesn't know what's in store for them after his death. Then in this last section, Bono's faith comes up; it's not goodbye because they will meet again in the afterlife.
It's summer, I can taste the salty sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on the breeze
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me
Again the kite metaphor is repeated. The future is uncertain. Bono ponders what will happen to his loved ones once he's gone, and he thinks back to how he got to his current state.
I'm a man
I'm not a child
A man who sees
The shadow behind your eyes
Bono has grown and matured through the course of his life (he's a man...no longer a "Boy"). He sees the sadness behind his loved ones' eyes. He knows they're upset about his death.
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know
Where the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
I don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
The chorus repeats.
Did I waste it
Not so much I couldn't taste it
Life should be fragrant
Rooftop to the basement
Here Bono reflects back upon his life and decides that it was pretty fulfilling. Then he imparts a bit of wisdom to those he's leaving behind and tells them that life should be enjoyable.
The last of the rocks stars
When hip hop drove the big cars
In the time when new media
Was the big idea
That was the big idea
This last verse is obviously a reference to himself and the band. I'm not sure what "new media" signifies; I was thinking that maybe it could be a reference to ZooTV since that was about the media's role in our lives. Also, the Flanagan book mentions how many groups that were big in the 80s along with U2 didn't change with the times and therefore died out, while U2 reinvented itself with Achtung Baby and remained popular. During the ZooTV era hip hop was "driving big cars" and gaining popularity while the rock stars were dying out. However, U2 managed to succeed because of their idea of new media- Achtung Baby and
ZooTV/Zooropa tours.
Something
Is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it means
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did
In the beginning, death is approaching, and Bono knows it (he can feel it coming). He's not afraid, though, and when he's lying in a coffin (flat on his back) he hopes to feel that he really lived life to the fullest.
And hardness
It sets in
You need some protection
The thinner the skin
Here Bono is speaking to his family or those close to him. They'll obviously be upset at his impending death, and those who are more emotionally fragile (his children, perhaps?) will be especially hurt.
I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore
I want you to know
You don't need anyone
Or anything at all
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know
Which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
Bono is telling his loved ones (and maybe also his fans) that they don't need him anymore to soften the blow of his death. Here the loved ones are compared to a Kite blowing in the breeze. It's all very uncertain- Bono doesn't know what's in store for them after his death. Then in this last section, Bono's faith comes up; it's not goodbye because they will meet again in the afterlife.
It's summer, I can taste the salty sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on the breeze
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me
Again the kite metaphor is repeated. The future is uncertain. Bono ponders what will happen to his loved ones once he's gone, and he thinks back to how he got to his current state.
I'm a man
I'm not a child
A man who sees
The shadow behind your eyes
Bono has grown and matured through the course of his life (he's a man...no longer a "Boy"). He sees the sadness behind his loved ones' eyes. He knows they're upset about his death.
Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to say what it is will break you
I don't know
Where the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
I don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
The chorus repeats.
Did I waste it
Not so much I couldn't taste it
Life should be fragrant
Rooftop to the basement
Here Bono reflects back upon his life and decides that it was pretty fulfilling. Then he imparts a bit of wisdom to those he's leaving behind and tells them that life should be enjoyable.
The last of the rocks stars
When hip hop drove the big cars
In the time when new media
Was the big idea
That was the big idea
This last verse is obviously a reference to himself and the band. I'm not sure what "new media" signifies; I was thinking that maybe it could be a reference to ZooTV since that was about the media's role in our lives. Also, the Flanagan book mentions how many groups that were big in the 80s along with U2 didn't change with the times and therefore died out, while U2 reinvented itself with Achtung Baby and remained popular. During the ZooTV era hip hop was "driving big cars" and gaining popularity while the rock stars were dying out. However, U2 managed to succeed because of their idea of new media- Achtung Baby and
ZooTV/Zooropa tours.
