Boy Falls From The Sky

[The_Edge89]

Didn't see a thread already, so I thought I'd create one.
As it happens, I also made a poor attempt at transcribing the lyrics. If anyone would like to help me out, be my guest.

Boy Falls From The Sky Good Morning America debut transcript

You can change your mind but you cannot change your heart
It's a compass and a map, the key to the jar (chart?)
I'd be myself if I knew I'd become
You can fly too high and get too close to the sun
See how the boy falls from the sky

Now that the wanderer is lost and far from home
Didn't have to move so far, to find myself alone
Save, just save yourself, yeah even if I cry
I used to use a single thread to cross the sky
You know that I need an answer from you now
The boy falls from the sky

Ooh...
Ooh...

And still we can touch but soon not so much
?? trash...for...?
A single scratch have driven me ??
In the junkyard of your memories
To hear your voice inside my head,
Listen now to no one else
You know exactly what to do
You and me can ???
To hear you looking through??







YouTube - Spiderman on Broadway Debut Reeve Carney GMA 9/10

 

[mobvok]

I think it's "a single scrap" rather than "a single scratch", followed by "In the junkyard of humanity".

But holy crap that last verse is just a jumbled mess. Here's hoping Carney stops sounding so nasal on stage.

 

[JoRu]

It's definitely: "the key to the chart". Makes a lot more sense than "jar" in the context of was said before it.

I must agree with mobvok, you can't hear anything from the last verse. One important difference when it comes to concerts and musicals is that it's much more important that you hear what the singer's singing in musicals. The songs tend to tie up with the story and what's happening right now in the musical. He'll have to make his voice a lot clearer on stage.

I'd also like to add that the long, sustained note he starts doing at 3:15 is embarrasingly poorly done. It's a decent performance, so it's only nitpicking, but it really sounds horrible near the end.

 

[mobvok]

You can change your mind but you cannot change your heart
It's a compass and a map, the key to the chart
I'd be myself if I knew who I'd become
You can fly too high and get too close to the sun
See how the boy falls from the sky

Now that the wanderer is lost or far from home
I didn't have to move so far, to find myself alone
Save, just save yourself, can't even get that price (<--- ?)
I used to use a single thread to cross the sky
And now that I oh need an answer from tonight (<--- ?)
The boy falls from the sky

Ooh...
Ooh...

And still we can touch a symphony
And search through trash for liberty (lemon juice?)
A single scrap of dignity
In the junkyard of humanity
To hear your voice inside your head
Listen now to no one else
You know exactly what to do
You and me can be in two (<---?)
To give you must selflessly (<---?)
And when I doooooooooo
And when I dooooooooo oooh nasal ooooh oh oh

ooh
ooh

Here's a link to the direct feed performance from NYMag that I used for this take on the lyrics. Cute intro by Bono. Button up your shirt! Watch "Cast of 'Spiderman' Musical Performs on GMA" Video at New York Magazine

Two takes on an Icarus metaphor:

1)
In Even Better Than The Real Thing, Bono used this sequence: "we're free to fly the crimson sky, the sun won't melt our wings tonight" --> "here she comes" --> "you take me higher"

Neither of the lyrical elements here are especially original individually (Icarus or the relation of sexual ecstasy to elevation) but they don't need to be- the lines have a nice cadence with the melody, are a good hook, and each snugly fit into the whole lyrical picture of the verse (and song: I'm horny and I want you). Bono considers Icarus, and rejects its lesson:

there's no limit to my sexual pleasure with you, baby

2)
"I'd be myself if I knew who I'd become
You can fly too high and get too close to the sun
See how the boy falls from the sky"

Now here we invoke Icarus to......literally relate that to a boy falling from the sky? To convey worries of overreaching? Why, next you'll be telling me that some days are better than others!

I suspect the lyrics are aiming at the overreach example, but it's the polite twin sister to EBTTRT's rejection of that worry, which leaves it....very boring. Don't overdo it! Don't forget that Icarus chap. Durr. To be fair I should wait to read the full musical story/lyrics for exculpatory context before real criticism, but this sort of plodding cliche use of the idea seems like it would fit Bono's recent handiwork.

 

[bonocomet]

With the new live U2 version I tried the lyrics again as Bono sings here. There are still some I can't get though. Maybe someone else can hear them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwBJ7zLebFw


You can change your mind
But you cannot change your heart
It’s a compass and a map
The key to the chart
I’d be myself if I knew who I’d become
You can fly too high
And get too close to the sun
See how the boy falls from the sky

Not every wanderer is lost or far from home
I didn’t have to move so far
To find myself alone
Save, you save yourself
If you can even get that right
I used to use a single thread to cross the sky
And now the eye of the needle is a heart denied
See how the boy falls from the sky

The city conducts a symphony
The search through shit for a melody
A single scrap of dignity
In the junkyard of humanity
Under burning rubble and a sulphur sky
We look for clues, yeah, you and I
Over the screams and the siren wail
(??....) is up for sale
the (subway) screech slows down the drain
The thunder when there is no rain
So listen hard, listen again
To your own voice and the (rain....??)
You know exactly what to do
The you in me, the me in you
To give yourself...??...(self-esteem? selflessly?)
And when you do
And when (then?) you do
And you believe

 

[Sergiodino]

"The search through shit for a melody
A single scrap of dignity
In the junkyard of humanity
Under burning rubble and a sulphur sky"

Really good lyrics! The best i hear in a long time haha

 

[Galeongirl]

"The search through shit for a melody
A single scrap of dignity
In the junkyard of humanity
Under burning rubble and a sulphur sky"

Really good lyrics! The best i hear in a long time haha

Those stood out to me immediately as well. Great lines.

 

[catlhere]

"The (?) and laughter is up for sale"
it could be cackle, but i really can't figure that word out.

"To your own voice, let the rain come in"

I have no idea what that one jumble lyric is towards the end though. Sounds like Bono is saying "to get on your socks"

 

[bonocomet]

"The (?) and laughter is up for sale"
it could be cackle, but i really can't figure that word out.

"To your own voice, let the rain come in"

I have no idea what that one jumble lyric is towards the end though. Sounds like Bono is saying "to get on your socks"

Maybe he's saying "get on your tights" then.

 

[mama cass]

the lyrics are gorgeous!

 

[mama cass]

oh god... not sure about this Carney fella... just watched his vid for the first time... not a great performance there by a long shot... hmmm

 

[cathou_u2]

The opening lines of that song are PURE LOVE!!

"You can change your mind
But you cannot change your heart
It’s a compass and a map"

Bono is truly my voice of reason when I can't find my own

 

[The John Tree]

I like the Icarus imagery. Bono's fond of that tale, he used it in Even Better Than The Real thing as well.

 

[The John Tree]

Also, I don't know if this is right, but as for the missing lyrics, I think it's:

"The gospel when love is up for sale"

and

"To your own voice and the repo men"

and "Self-esteem".

I know repo-men doesn't make any sense, but that's what I hear.

 

[Mountain Dew Ma]

I hear the subway screech slows down the train, not drain

 

[bonocomet]

I hear the subway screech slows down the train, not drain

That would make sense!

Still drain could also fit with the city references.

 

[Galeongirl]

I actually hear "souls down the drain".

 

[last unicorn]

These are some really powerful lyrics

 

[bonocomet]

I actually hear "souls down the drain".

 

[stargift]

This is my guess and I know that they are not all correct since we haven't gotten a really clear audio yet. I'm basing the lyrics on the theory that Peter Parker is talking to his alter-ego Spiderman. A theory that could very easily crumble.


You can change your mind
But you cannot change your heart
It’s a compass and a map
The key to the chart
I’d be myself
If I knew who I’d become
You fly too high
And get too close to the sun See how the boy falls from the sky
Not every wanderer
Is lost or far from home
I didn’t have to move so far
To find myself alone
Save, to save yourself
Can’t even get that right
I used to use a single thread to cross the sky
And now the eye of the needle is her heart tonight
See how the boy falls from the sky
The city conducts a symphony
The search through **** for a melody
A single scrap of dignity
In the junkyard of humanity
On the burning rubble and sulphur sky
We look for clues yeah, you and I
Although the screams and the sirens wail
The Cathode light is up for sale ?????
The subway screech slows down the train
The thunder when there is no rain
So listen hard, listen again
To your own voice as the rain comes in
You know exactly what to do
The you in me, the we in you
Together lift up your self esteem
And when you do
And when you do
And you believe

 

[The_Edge89]

Revised lyrics apparently, anyone dare making a guess?
YouTube - U2 - Boy Falls From The Sky (Rehearsal Auckland)

You can change your heart
But you cannot change your mind
It’s a compass and a map
It's all we left behind

I'd be myself
If I knew what I need to be
You needed my help
Do you walk astray from what I must see?

Every sky
Is closing in tonight
It's a darkness soul now,
I can't even remember the light (I can't even remember the lines? )

I'd be myself
If I knew what I need to know
You can fly too high
And get too close to the sun

See how the boy falls from the sky...

Ooh...
Ooh...

I've got a strange face
But I lurched(??) my own name
To stay true to yourself
Do you have to stay the same?

Save, just save yourself
If you can even get that right
I used to use a single thread to cross the sky
And now the eye of the needle is your heart denied

See how the boy falls from the sky...

The city conducts a symphony
The demon cry (The deal men cry?), a sorrow wave
The subway screech, slows down the train
The thunder when there is no rain
Oh, burning blocks in the scar of love
The babies cry in the safe room halls (sacred hearts?)
The birth of a hero, of the ??
The ?? ?? is the winner ??

So listen hard, listen again
To your own voice when the rain comes in
You know exactly what to do
The you in me, the me in you
Together lift up your self esteem
And when you do
And when you do
And you believe
When you believe

Oh well, I tried.
I have to say I like the new breakdown of the last part though. It felt too extended before, now it has some dynamic at least.
It feels more like the original 402 version we heard a couple of years ago this way, with Edge's slightly revised guitar parts too.

 

[JoRu]

What seems to be the final version of the song is now out, so let's revive this thread and figure those lyrics out again! Here's what I caught:

You can change your mind
But you cannot change your heart
Your heart knows when you're hurting
Your heart knows where you are

I'd be myself if I knew who'd I become
You don't have to fight too high
To get too close to the sun
See the boy fall from the sky

You will always be in front of me
Even as I disappear from view
For I have done not a single thing
Without the thought of you

We're ???
Not here, not now
No way
I'm not ready to give up the fight

If I can use a single thread to cross the sky
Then why is the eye of the needle
Still your heart denied
See how the boy falls from the sky

Oh, oh

The city conducts the symphony
I'll search through trash for a melody
That might lead us back to dignity
In this junkyard of humanity

To let you go without regret
I will forever hold you always in my heart instead
Over the screams and the siren's wail
The only thing not up for sale

Our love is like light
So no midnight train
Heart's like thunder with no sound of vain
Lightning's press the sky and kisses your face
??? is a sacrifice, ??? is a brace

I hear your voice inside my head
I will listen to nobody
Not to no one else
From the bridge where we both stood and stole the view
I saw the you in me and the me in you

These are the threads that bind
The ones we have to read
They will hold us true
I believe

I believe, believe
Believe (x5)

There are a few spots where I simply can't hear what he says, and a bunch of places where I'm not sure but inserted my guess. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.

 

[alanah]

According to the booklet, these are the lyrics..:

You can change your mind but you cannot change your heart
Your heart knows when you're hiding
Your heart knows where you are

I'd be myself if I knew who I'd become
You don't have to fly too high to get too close to the sun
See the boy fall from the sky

You will always be in front of me, even as I disappear from view
For I have done not a single thing without the thought of you

But no, not here, not now, no way
I'm not ready to give up the fight

If I can use a single thread to cross the sky
Then why is the eye of the needle still your heart tonight
See how the boy falls from the sky

Oh oh oh oh

The city conducts a symphony
I'll search through trash for a melody
That might lead us back to dignity in this junk yard of humanity

To let you go without regret
I will forever hold you always in my heart inside
Over the screams and the siren's wail
The only thing not up for sale

Are lovers like lights on a midnight train?
Hearts like thunder with no sound of rain
Lightnings splits the sky, kisses your face
Yours is the sacrifice, yours is the grace

I hear your voice inside my head
I will listen to nobody, not to no one else
From the bridge where we both stood and stole the view
I saw the you in me and the me in you

These are the threads that bind
The ones we have to weave
They will hold us true, I believe

I believe
Beli-eve
Believe
Believe
Believe
Believe
Beli-eve

 

[JoRu]

There we go, thanks! I was not too far off.