Bono's Most Biting Lyrics

Utoo · 07-22-2011, 07:32 PM

...may very well be these lines:

"We're cut adrift
But still floating
I'm only hanging on
to watch you go down.....my love."

Such spite in those words! "I'm only sticking around to watch you suffer first." Then the pause, then addition of "my love"---it's like a twist of the knife just to hammer it home.

It took me years to appreciate So Cruel. I used to think that half of Pop had much more bite to it, but I finally came to see the pure spite in So Cruel a few years back.

Awesome song that often gets the shaft as the weakest on AB.

financeguy · 07-22-2011, 07:50 PM

Fairytale of New York rewritten by junkie lover. It is a very adult song. You don't appreciate the lyrics until you've lived a little.

It's cleverly biting, in the sense that you almost damn yourself if you get it.

U2DMfan · 07-22-2011, 09:17 PM

Most biting?

"With a mouth full of teeth, you ate all your friends."
But you don't mean "biting" that way, do you?
That's more...'bitey'.

Speaking of...I call the big one Bitey.

cobl04 · 07-23-2011, 03:03 AM

And he doesn't sing that song in a sinister way either, which makes it all the more biting. One of Bono's very best lyrics.

bono_212 · 07-23-2011, 03:06 AM

I liked that song from the very first time I heard it, but it took a while for me to notice the lyrics. As Cobbler points out, it's pretty unassuming at first because of the vocal delivery alone.

The song just makes me so incredibly sad.

I love it.

cobl04 · 07-23-2011, 03:10 AM

That's one thing that disappoints me about AB... I've never experienced a lot of the stuff the lyrics are talking about, so while I can appreciate them, they don't hit me as hard

bono_212 · 07-23-2011, 03:11 AM

You're sad that you've never had your heart broken to bits by a cheating spouse?

LemonMelon · 07-23-2011, 03:12 AM

They don't play it like that in the Dirrrty South. They just slap a bitch and move awn.

cobl04 · 07-23-2011, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bono_212

You're sad that you've never had your heart broken to bits by a cheating spouse?

I know that may seem very

but in a lot of ways I am jealous that I don't connect with some of the lyrics, I won't go into why.

coolian2 · 07-23-2011, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobl04

I know that may seem very

but in a lot of ways I am jealous that I don't connect with some of the lyrics, I won't go into why.

once you get your ass kicked from pillar to post, you'll wish you'd never had those regrets.

bono_212 · 07-23-2011, 03:17 AM

I know Ultraviolet (Ultra Violet? I'm never sure) used to make me super emotional when I thought I was in love with this one guy in high school. But, now it just makes me emotional because it's a beautiful song and it actually works pretty well for a working relationship, and not just pining.

bono_man2002 · 07-23-2011, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U2DMfan

Speaking of...I call the big one Bitey.

bazza · 07-23-2011, 04:10 AM

I was punching in the numbers at the ATM machine
I could see in the reflection
A face staring back at me
At the moment of surrender
Of vision over visibility
I did not notice the passers-by
And they did not notice me

bono_212 · 07-23-2011, 04:20 AM

Oh those cut me to the core because I relate so very much.

Songman · 07-23-2011, 05:45 PM

Great lyrics. 'So cruel' is lyrically, one of the best off AB.

Other biting lyrics, from the same album, from 'One'.

'You ask me to enter'
'But then you make me crawl'

Thats biting for sure. Someone, maybe a lover, some one thats important to your life, asks you to enter, or re-enter back in to their life, or to something they want you to be apart of, but you have to bring yourself down to the lowest level in order to do that. Thats power play.

U2girl · 07-24-2011, 06:43 AM

The opening lines in Wake up dead man.

I'm alone in this world
And a fucked-up world it is too.

Hear it every Christmas time
but hope and history won't rhyme
so what's it worth ?
This Peace on Earth...

I was speeding on the subway
through the stations of the cross
every eye looking every other way
counting down till the pain would stop

So where is the hope, and where is the faith, and the love ?

**Headache in a Suitcase** · 07-24-2011, 07:02 AM

Mother, am I still your son?
You know I've waited so long
To hear you say so
Mother, you left and made me someone
Now I'm still a child,
No one tells me no...

They want you to be Jesus
They'll go down on one knee
But they'll want their money back
If you're alive at 33
And you're turning tricks
With your crucifix
Star

doctorwho · 07-24-2011, 01:04 PM

One reason I adore U2 is because of Bono. I know - lots of shock. But why? His passionate vocals and wonderful lyrics. Add those to the outstanding music the band create and it's little wonder U2 have been around for so long.

One of my more recent personal favorite is from "Electrical Storm". That song gets a lot of unfair grief over the "heavy as a truck" line. But the song is very beautiful. One powerful lyric is:

I think of you, all of the time...
I know that's not enough...

Very poignant comment about love. That couplet is open to many interpretations.

Moose-Head-Brew · 07-24-2011, 01:31 PM

"Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head" --- Or , sometimes live "I did" (which i prefer)

One is a beautiful song about an ending relationship.
I have a good friend who had it as their wedding song. lol he was surprised when I explained what the song was actually written about.

Jeannieco · 07-24-2011, 02:14 PM

That's so funny, I was thinking of that very line from So Cruel before I opened the thread.

Love love love that song.....

it's hypnotic and the lyrics just BITE in a good way.

It's such a great song to blast in a convertible at night alone on the highway... and just wail the chorus...especially the last part when he says.... " sweatheart................. you're so cruel."

07-22-2011, 07:32 PM	#1
Utoo Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lovetown Posts: 8,343 Local Time: 08:38 PM	Bono's Most Biting Lyrics ...may very well be these lines: "We're cut adrift But still floating I'm only hanging on to watch you go down.....my love." Such spite in those words! "I'm only sticking around to watch you suffer first." Then the pause, then addition of "my love"---it's like a twist of the knife just to hammer it home. It took me years to appreciate So Cruel. I used to think that half of Pop had much more bite to it, but I finally came to see the pure spite in So Cruel a few years back. Awesome song that often gets the shaft as the weakest on AB. __________________ __________________

07-22-2011, 07:50 PM	#2
financeguy ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ireland Posts: 10,122 Local Time: 01:38 AM	Fairytale of New York rewritten by junkie lover. It is a very adult song. You don't appreciate the lyrics until you've lived a little. It's cleverly biting, in the sense that you almost damn yourself if you get it. __________________

07-23-2011, 03:06 AM	#5
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 05:38 PM	I liked that song from the very first time I heard it, but it took a while for me to notice the lyrics. As Cobbler points out, it's pretty unassuming at first because of the vocal delivery alone. The song just makes me so incredibly sad. I love it. __________________

07-23-2011, 03:11 AM	#7
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 05:38 PM	You're sad that you've never had your heart broken to bits by a cheating spouse? __________________

07-23-2011, 03:17 AM	#11
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 05:38 PM	I know Ultraviolet (Ultra Violet? I'm never sure) used to make me super emotional when I thought I was in love with this one guy in high school. But, now it just makes me emotional because it's a beautiful song and it actually works pretty well for a working relationship, and not just pining. __________________

07-22-2011, 09:17 PM	#3
U2DMfan Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: It's Inside A Black Hole Posts: 6,637 Local Time: 06:38 PM	Most biting? "With a mouth full of teeth, you ate all your friends." But you don't mean "biting" that way, do you? That's more...'bitey'. Speaking of...I call the big one Bitey.

07-23-2011, 03:03 AM	#4
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 59,143 Local Time: 10:38 AM	And he doesn't sing that song in a sinister way either, which makes it all the more biting. One of Bono's very best lyrics.

07-23-2011, 03:10 AM	#6
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 59,143 Local Time: 10:38 AM	That's one thing that disappoints me about AB... I've never experienced a lot of the stuff the lyrics are talking about, so while I can appreciate them, they don't hit me as hard

07-23-2011, 03:12 AM	#8
LemonMelon More 5G Than Man Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hollywoo Posts: 68,796 Local Time: 05:38 PM	They don't play it like that in the Dirrrty South. They just slap a bitch and move awn.

07-23-2011, 04:10 AM	#13
bazza War Child Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 935 Local Time: 01:38 AM	I was punching in the numbers at the ATM machine I could see in the reflection A face staring back at me At the moment of surrender Of vision over visibility I did not notice the passers-by And they did not notice me

07-23-2011, 04:20 AM	#14
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 05:38 PM	Oh those cut me to the core because I relate so very much. __________________

07-23-2011, 05:45 PM	#15
Songman Babyface Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 15 Local Time: 11:38 AM	Great lyrics. 'So cruel' is lyrically, one of the best off AB. Other biting lyrics, from the same album, from 'One'. 'You ask me to enter' 'But then you make me crawl' Thats biting for sure. Someone, maybe a lover, some one thats important to your life, asks you to enter, or re-enter back in to their life, or to something they want you to be apart of, but you have to bring yourself down to the lowest level in order to do that. Thats power play.

07-24-2011, 06:43 AM	#16
U2girl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: slovenija Posts: 21,099 Local Time: 02:38 AM	The opening lines in Wake up dead man. I'm alone in this world And a fucked-up world it is too. Hear it every Christmas time but hope and history won't rhyme so what's it worth ? This Peace on Earth... I was speeding on the subway through the stations of the cross every eye looking every other way counting down till the pain would stop So where is the hope, and where is the faith, and the love ?

07-24-2011, 07:02 AM	#17
Headache in a Suitcase Forum Administrator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: With the other morally corrupt bootlicking rubes. Posts: 74,485 Local Time: 08:38 PM	Mother, am I still your son? You know I've waited so long To hear you say so Mother, you left and made me someone Now I'm still a child, No one tells me no... They want you to be Jesus They'll go down on one knee But they'll want their money back If you're alive at 33 And you're turning tricks With your crucifix Star

07-24-2011, 01:04 PM	#18
doctorwho Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: My TARDIS - currently located in Valparaiso, IN Posts: 6,367 Local Time: 04:38 PM	One reason I adore U2 is because of Bono. I know - lots of shock. But why? His passionate vocals and wonderful lyrics. Add those to the outstanding music the band create and it's little wonder U2 have been around for so long. One of my more recent personal favorite is from "Electrical Storm". That song gets a lot of unfair grief over the "heavy as a truck" line. But the song is very beautiful. One powerful lyric is: I think of you, all of the time... I know that's not enough... Very poignant comment about love. That couplet is open to many interpretations. __________________ *I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.*

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07-24-2011, 01:31 PM	#19
Moose-Head-Brew Babyface Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Saint John, New Brunswick Posts: 9 Local Time: 08:38 PM	"Have you come here for forgiveness Have you come to raise the dead Have you come here to play Jesus To the lepers in your head" --- Or , sometimes live "I did" (which i prefer) One is a beautiful song about an ending relationship. I have a good friend who had it as their wedding song. lol he was surprised when I explained what the song was actually written about.

07-24-2011, 02:14 PM	#20
Jeannieco Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: If the moonlight caught you crying on Killiney Bay oh sing your song let your song be sung Posts: 4,992 Local Time: 05:38 PM	That's so funny, I was thinking of that very line from So Cruel before I opened the thread. Love love love that song..... it's hypnotic and the lyrics just BITE in a good way. It's such a great song to blast in a convertible at night alone on the highway... and just wail the chorus...especially the last part when he says.... " sweatheart................. you're so cruel." __________________