kerrylives
The Fly
Like most of you I guess I’ve read the various interpretations we fans have of Vertigo’s lyrics. With a growing fascination I might say, because as always one can clearly distinguish the division into two camps: the secular one and the spiritual one. (Which, again, is very typical for U2 fans.)
Personally I try to approach any new U2 song with an open mind, but I can't help finding myself being drawn to the spiritual side over and over again. I can clearly see how many U2 songs are loaded with spiritual / biblical references, oftentimes somewhat hidden between and rather cleverly interwoven with the “normal” (read: secular) lyrics, but very much present never the same. I think it’s done that way on purpose, but that’s a whole different story.
Back now to Vertigo. I’ve seen some very plausible biblical explanations around here: about Satan tempting Christ, taking Him to great heights (causing Vertigo) to show Him the kingdoms of the earth which he offered in return for His soul. (“All of this can be yours, just give me what I want.”)
Reading the song’s lyrics placed online on website’s / in posting etc. it struck me that many simply leave out the words sung after the chorus is heard for the second time. (Starting at 1:47 into the song to be precise.) The few sites / people who do list these three lines (like atu2 for instance) make this of it: “shot dead, shots fall, show me, yeah”.
This however is not what I make of it at all, especially the second line. I don’t hear “shots fall” being sung, not even remotely. Instead I can hear Bono sing “Jezebel”. (Try to check it for yourself: isolate the sound on the right channel (which has no guitar) and you can hear it rather clearly.)
But why would Bono sing about Jezebel? And who was this person to begin with? Let me help you: She was the wife of king Ahab of Israel. Jezebel was a fierce worshipper of Baal, she was known for idolatry and witchcraft and was killing off the Lord’s prophets. We know her best from the story of her confrontation with the prophet Elijah, in which he caused the death of 450 prophets of Baal. (See1st and 2nd Samuel and 1 Kings.)
Besides being a long gone pagan queen from the Old Testament, the Jezebel spirit is still around today and something to be reckoned with. Most often this phenomenon is referred to simply as the Jezebel Spirit. It has everything to do with what the apostle Paul states in Ephesians 6: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
There’s much more to it, but I will leave it here for now. Google around on the internet to find more information on the Jezebel Spirit matter.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Let me just add to that I hope I’ve heard it right in Vertigo’s case.
Danny
Personally I try to approach any new U2 song with an open mind, but I can't help finding myself being drawn to the spiritual side over and over again. I can clearly see how many U2 songs are loaded with spiritual / biblical references, oftentimes somewhat hidden between and rather cleverly interwoven with the “normal” (read: secular) lyrics, but very much present never the same. I think it’s done that way on purpose, but that’s a whole different story.
Back now to Vertigo. I’ve seen some very plausible biblical explanations around here: about Satan tempting Christ, taking Him to great heights (causing Vertigo) to show Him the kingdoms of the earth which he offered in return for His soul. (“All of this can be yours, just give me what I want.”)
Reading the song’s lyrics placed online on website’s / in posting etc. it struck me that many simply leave out the words sung after the chorus is heard for the second time. (Starting at 1:47 into the song to be precise.) The few sites / people who do list these three lines (like atu2 for instance) make this of it: “shot dead, shots fall, show me, yeah”.
This however is not what I make of it at all, especially the second line. I don’t hear “shots fall” being sung, not even remotely. Instead I can hear Bono sing “Jezebel”. (Try to check it for yourself: isolate the sound on the right channel (which has no guitar) and you can hear it rather clearly.)
But why would Bono sing about Jezebel? And who was this person to begin with? Let me help you: She was the wife of king Ahab of Israel. Jezebel was a fierce worshipper of Baal, she was known for idolatry and witchcraft and was killing off the Lord’s prophets. We know her best from the story of her confrontation with the prophet Elijah, in which he caused the death of 450 prophets of Baal. (See1st and 2nd Samuel and 1 Kings.)
Besides being a long gone pagan queen from the Old Testament, the Jezebel spirit is still around today and something to be reckoned with. Most often this phenomenon is referred to simply as the Jezebel Spirit. It has everything to do with what the apostle Paul states in Ephesians 6: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
There’s much more to it, but I will leave it here for now. Google around on the internet to find more information on the Jezebel Spirit matter.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Let me just add to that I hope I’ve heard it right in Vertigo’s case.
Danny