"Exit"..Who and What is this Song about?

[Diamond The U2 Patriot]

Heard along time ago it was about suicide.
Then I heard Bono in a boot say it was about a religous man that turned dangerous.
Clarification please..
Ready GO!

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"...The big guy is made of STEEL." - Bono as we stood together on stage at Boston #4, June 9th, 2001.

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-curious? click
links for
Bono/Dimon-
Bos.4 Story
Pics..

http://www.arizonaautoweb.com/bono/

http://members.aol.com/diamondbruno9/

[This message has been edited by Diamond The U2 Patriot (edited 12-25-2001).]

 

[ocu2fan]

Originally posted by Diamond The U2 Patriot:

Then I heard Bono in a boot say it was about a religous man that turned dangerous.

Thats what I always heard it was about. Someone who got the concept of the hands of love wrong. Whether he kills someone else, takes his own life, or both I am not sure.

 

[bratty_cat]

I think it's based on the story of Gary Gilmore, the first man to be executed in the US after the reinstatement of the death penalty in the 70's. His story is told in a book by Norman Mailer called The Executioner's Song. I seem to recall Bono saying this around the time that Joshua Tree was released. You can read more about Gilmore at: http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial10/gilmore/

 

[ocu2fan]

Wow. That guy was a weirdo. I guess I could see where Bono had loosely based it on the man.

Johnny Cash called him in prison to sing him his favorite song? Now that's some grace from the Man in Black.

 

[Danospano]

According to the book, "Into the Heart", "Exit" is supposedly like going inside the mind of a psychopath. The person starts out calm and collected and eventually is driven to madness. The book claims it's not the story of Gilmore or Manson or any killer in particular, but a generic psycho.
The religious overtones are said to decribe the power of religion over people and how individuals can be brainwashed into killing for their faith. I think that's kind of an oddity considering the recent terrorist attacks and their religious motives.

 

[Diamond The U2 Patriot]

Originally posted by Danospano:
According to the book, "Into the Heart", "Exit" is supposedly like going inside the mind of a psychopath. The person starts out calm and collected and eventually is driven to madness. The book claims it's not the story of Gilmore or Manson or any killer in particular, but a generic psycho.
The religious overtones are said to decribe the power of religion over people and how individuals can be brainwashed into killing for their faith. I think that's kind of an oddity considering the recent terrorist attacks and their religious motives.

Thanks Dano and the rest of you.
DB9

------------------
"...The big guy is made of STEEL." - Bono as we stood together on stage at Boston #4, June 9th, 2001.

---
-curious? click
links for
Bono/Dimon-
Bos.4 Story
Pics..

http://www.arizonaautoweb.com/bono/

http://members.aol.com/diamondbruno9/

 

[gherman]

The song is about a religious evangelist.