Breathe lyrics meaning?

Abbi · 03-03-2009, 03:52 AM

Hi,
I'm italian. I need some help to understand the meaning of Breathe lyrics.

First: what is the cockatoo? I know it's a kind of parrot, but may it be a slang word? Or do Bono really talks about buying a parrot?

Do anyone have some idea why the character is justifying himself about buying a cockatoo and let a stranger in his home like it's a matter of life or death?

Last thing: in "walk out into the street with arms out" what is the exact meaning of "arms out"? He goes out with a sleeveless t-shirt? Or does he have some problem with his arms? (I though this since the lyrics talk clearly of a desease)

Sorry if some of my questions may sound silly to an english-speaking
Thank you very much!
Ciao!!!
Andrea

Mr. V · 03-03-2009, 03:55 AM

hahaha it's alright

i've never heard it used before, but when bono says 'i wasn't going to buy just anyone's cockatoo', it means he's not going to buy just anyone's bullshit.

and the arms out thing - as in arms outstretched.

vaz02 · 03-03-2009, 03:58 AM

Arms out as in FREE. Not handcuffed imo.

UAME · 03-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Cockatoo is the bird, but I think it is slang invented by Bono for this song. I, too, think it means something similar to the slang phrases "crock of shit" or "load of bull". Another slang phrase in English is simply, "I'm not buying it", which means "You're not fooling me" or "I don't believe what you're saying."

"Arms out" = arms extended (like ready to give a hug) to embrace the day

OR:

during worship, many people extend their arms and lift their hands toward heaven as if reaching toward God

Either way, there's no problem and it's not figurative language: He's saying he's stretching out his arms.

BEVERLY56 · 03-03-2009, 09:49 AM

I find the cockatoo line very amusing!

walkon274 · 03-03-2009, 09:02 PM

This song IMHO is about being saved or born again. I finally sat down to read the lyrics and I think it's obvious.

I found grace, it's all that I found, and I can breathe, breathe now.

debjeopardy · 03-04-2009, 12:04 PM

I agree with the being saved interpretation. "Everyday I die again and again, and again I'm reborn" very definitely refers to failed attempts to follow Christ and, through grace, getting another chance--being reborn. I love Bono's open references to struggles with faith.

EdgeVox · 03-04-2009, 12:11 PM

The only question I had was about the "3 Things I need you to know"

Does that kinda go away?

rihannsu · 03-05-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdgeVox

The only question I had was about the "3 Things I need you to know"

Does that kinda go away?

I'm thinking that the guy at the door is one of those door to door evangelists and the three things are the holy trinity. The "not gonna buy just anyone's cockatoo" line seems to me a reference to the idea that the door to door approach is no way to "sell" God. The rest of the song is showing that he's already found God and doesn't need their version of him.

Dana

greety · 03-05-2009, 07:33 AM

^^ I think you put that very eloquent

I think the "anybody's cockatoo" is significant too, if you buy one at a young age, you train it and it obeys you, but however buying someone else's bird is something different.
Because you can't just re-train a bird/cockatoo.
And parrots have a tremedous memory ,so getting someone else's parrot in your house means trouble. No matter how you try to get to train this bird, it won't listen to you. (so don't try to get Bono to believe in another God, it will fail)

Abbi · 03-05-2009, 10:25 AM

Thank you very much for your replies, very interesting and smart.

If I can say my simple point of view about the "three things" I thought that they may be just

1) (I'm) Coming from a long line...
2) I wasn’t gonna buy...
3) why would I invite...

So if, as you rightly said, the man is speaking to a door to door seller or preacher, these are three things he has to know before go on with his speech. That is :"No way, you can stop it. I know your tricks and not gonna buy (or listen) anything from you"

Thank so much again for your help
Hope you don't mind if I will leave some other post like this to clarify me some other NLOTH lyrics meaning

Ciao!
Andrea

jcroach · 03-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbi

Thank you very much for your replies, very interesting and smart.

If I can say my simple point of view about the "three things" I thought that they may be just

1) (I'm) Coming from a long line...
2) I wasn’t gonna buy...
3) why would I invite...

So if, as you rightly said, the man is speaking to a door to door seller or preacher, these are three things he has to know before go on with his speech. That is :"No way, you can stop it. I know your tricks and not gonna buy (or listen) anything from you"

Thank so much again for your help
Hope you don't mind if I will leave some other post like this to clarify me some other NLOTH lyrics meaning

Ciao!
Andrea

I love this forum! you all gave me a completely new insight into this song!

U2DMfan · 03-05-2009, 02:36 PM

The "three things" still doesn't really make sense to me.

Sounds like the salesman was telling the narrator of the song, there was three things the narrator needed to know. Right? It was a sales pitch.

Then the narrator says incredulously "Three?!??" as if to disbelieve such simplicity.

Coming from a line of salesman, the narrator wasn't going to buy anyone's cockatoo, so why would the narrator invite a stranger into his home?

He never addresses the sales pitch, the "three things" the salesman told him.

ltcf · 03-05-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U2DMfan

The "three things" still doesn't really make sense to me.

Sounds like the salesman was telling the narrator of the song, there was three things the narrator needed to know. Right? It was a sales pitch.

Then the narrator says incredulously "Three?!??" as if to disbelieve such simplicity.

Coming from a line of salesman, the narrator wasn't going to buy anyone's cockatoo, so why would the narrator invite a stranger into his home?

He never addresses the sales pitch, the "three things" the salesman told him.

This seems most logical.

I wonder if he meant by "coming from a long line of traveling sales people on my mother's side" = my mother's side of the family is religious fanatics and/or preachers.

EmitFlesti · 03-06-2009, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U2DMfan

The "three things" still doesn't really make sense to me.

Sounds like the salesman was telling the narrator of the song, there was three things the narrator needed to know. Right? It was a sales pitch.

Then the narrator says incredulously "Three?!??" as if to disbelieve such simplicity.

Coming from a line of salesman, the narrator wasn't going to buy anyone's cockatoo, so why would the narrator invite a stranger into his home?

He never addresses the sales pitch, the "three things" the salesman told him.

Though it's not clear from the way the official lyrics are printed, I think the people speaking change from "Three" to "Coming from..."

The narrator (the guy answering the door) of the song is speaking of a salesman who comes to his door and tells him there are three things he (the guy answering the door) needs to know to stay alive a bit longer (i.e. to be saved). The guy at the door is doing his sales pitch...he launches into the pitch "three..." But, the guy answering the door cuts him off and tells, him, "Coming from a long line of travelling sales people (i.e. knowing this door-to-door salesman BS myself), why should I buy your line of crap (i.e "your cockatoo"). The "three things" the guy at the door anounces are never actually spelled out because he's cut off by the guy answering the door with the "Coming from..." line.

greety · 03-06-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltcf

This seems most logical.

I wonder if he meant by "coming from a long line of traveling sales people on my mother's side" = my mother's side of the family is religious fanatics and/or preachers.

Don't know how he means it in the song, but Bono has stated more than once that he is indeed coming from a long line of salesmen on his mother's side and that he is also selling his songs from door to door (concert to concert)

powerhour24 · 03-06-2009, 11:31 AM

To me its very much the message of hope in the album's more bleak reflection. Both personally being saved, and of course hope for our society, "These days are better than that". Its an interesting lyrics device he uses to demonstrate though, although for better or worse the delivery during the first verse is so reminiscent of R.E.M.'s "Departure".

Irvine511 · 03-06-2009, 03:49 PM

i think the lyrics are expressing the idea that "god" can't be bought or sold, but it's found in tiny moments of transcendence, or, in the miracle of simply being alive ("i can breathe"). it's quite anti-evangelical and it makes the spiritual intensely personal, and thusly universal.

U2DMfan · 03-08-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmitFlesti

Though it's not clear from the way the official lyrics are printed, I think the people speaking change from "Three" to "Coming from..."

The narrator (the guy answering the door) of the song is speaking of a salesman who comes to his door and tells him there are three things he (the guy answering the door) needs to know to stay alive a bit longer (i.e. to be saved). The guy at the door is doing his sales pitch...he launches into the pitch "three..." But, the guy answering the door cuts him off and tells, him, "Coming from a long line of travelling sales people (i.e. knowing this door-to-door salesman BS myself), why should I buy your line of crap (i.e "your cockatoo"). The "three things" the guy at the door anounces are never actually spelled out because he's cut off by the guy answering the door with the "Coming from..." line.

Works for me.

powerhour24 · 03-08-2009, 07:56 PM

Actually to me, not just because it sounds like Departure, this lyric really is U2 meets R.E.M.

03-03-2009, 03:52 AM	#1
Abbi Babyface Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Italy Posts: 6 Local Time: 02:19 AM	Breathe lyrics meaning? Hi, I'm italian. I need some help to understand the meaning of Breathe lyrics. First: what is the cockatoo? I know it's a kind of parrot, but may it be a slang word? Or do Bono really talks about buying a parrot? Do anyone have some idea why the character is justifying himself about buying a cockatoo and let a stranger in his home like it's a matter of life or death? Last thing: in "walk out into the street with arms out" what is the exact meaning of "arms out"? He goes out with a sleeveless t-shirt? Or does he have some problem with his arms? (I though this since the lyrics talk clearly of a desease) Sorry if some of my questions may sound silly to an english-speaking Thank you very much! Ciao!!! Andrea __________________

03-03-2009, 03:55 AM	#2
Mr. V Refugee Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: in a French-ass restaurant Posts: 1,482 Local Time: 10:19 AM	hahaha it's alright i've never heard it used before, but when bono says 'i wasn't going to buy just anyone's cockatoo', it means he's not going to buy just anyone's bullshit. and the arms out thing - as in arms outstretched. __________________

03-08-2009, 07:56 PM	#20
powerhour24 ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 11,646 Local Time: 08:19 PM	Actually to me, not just because it sounds like Departure, this lyric really is U2 meets R.E.M. __________________

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03-03-2009, 03:58 AM	#3
vaz02 Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: manchester Posts: 7,447 Local Time: 12:19 AM	Arms out as in FREE. Not handcuffed imo.

03-03-2009, 08:19 AM	#4
UAME The Fly Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: a place of no consequence or company Posts: 74 Local Time: 07:19 PM	Cockatoo is the bird, but I think it is slang invented by Bono for this song. I, too, think it means something similar to the slang phrases "crock of shit" or "load of bull". Another slang phrase in English is simply, "I'm not buying it", which means "You're not fooling me" or "I don't believe what you're saying." "Arms out" = arms extended (like ready to give a hug) to embrace the day OR: during worship, many people extend their arms and lift their hands toward heaven as if reaching toward God Either way, there's no problem and it's not figurative language: He's saying he's stretching out his arms.

03-03-2009, 09:49 AM	#5
BEVERLY56 Refugee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto 2, Vegas Posts: 1,993 Local Time: 08:19 PM	I find the cockatoo line very amusing!

03-03-2009, 09:02 PM	#6
walkon274 The Fly Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 181 Local Time: 08:19 PM	This song IMHO is about being saved or born again. I finally sat down to read the lyrics and I think it's obvious. I found grace, it's all that I found, and I can breathe, breathe now.

03-04-2009, 12:04 PM	#7
debjeopardy Babyface Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6 Local Time: 09:19 PM	I agree with the being saved interpretation. "Everyday I die again and again, and again I'm reborn" very definitely refers to failed attempts to follow Christ and, through grace, getting another chance--being reborn. I love Bono's open references to struggles with faith.

03-04-2009, 12:11 PM	#8
EdgeVox War Child Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas/Mexico Posts: 903 Local Time: 07:19 PM	The only question I had was about the "3 Things I need you to know" Does that kinda go away?

03-05-2009, 07:33 AM	#10
greety Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: smack in the middle of contradiction Posts: 4,586 Local Time: 01:19 AM	^^ I think you put that very eloquent I think the "anybody's cockatoo" is significant too, if you buy one at a young age, you train it and it obeys you, but however buying someone else's bird is something different. Because you can't just re-train a bird/cockatoo. And parrots have a tremedous memory ,so getting someone else's parrot in your house means trouble. No matter how you try to get to train this bird, it won't listen to you. (so don't try to get Bono to believe in another God, it will fail)

03-05-2009, 10:25 AM	#11
Abbi Babyface Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Italy Posts: 6 Local Time: 02:19 AM	Thank you very much for your replies, very interesting and smart. If I can say my simple point of view about the "three things" I thought that they may be just 1) (I'm) Coming from a long line... 2) I wasn’t gonna buy... 3) why would I invite... So if, as you rightly said, the man is speaking to a door to door seller or preacher, these are three things he has to know before go on with his speech. That is :"No way, you can stop it. I know your tricks and not gonna buy (or listen) anything from you" Thank so much again for your help Hope you don't mind if I will leave some other post like this to clarify me some other NLOTH lyrics meaning Ciao! Andrea

03-05-2009, 02:36 PM	#13
U2DMfan Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: It's Inside A Black Hole Posts: 6,637 Local Time: 06:19 PM	The "three things" still doesn't really make sense to me. Sounds like the salesman was telling the narrator of the song, there was three things the narrator needed to know. Right? It was a sales pitch. Then the narrator says incredulously "Three?!??" as if to disbelieve such simplicity. Coming from a line of salesman, the narrator wasn't going to buy anyone's cockatoo, so why would the narrator invite a stranger into his home? He never addresses the sales pitch, the "three things" the salesman told him.

03-06-2009, 11:31 AM	#17
powerhour24 ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 11,646 Local Time: 08:19 PM	To me its very much the message of hope in the album's more bleak reflection. Both personally being saved, and of course hope for our society, "These days are better than that". Its an interesting lyrics device he uses to demonstrate though, although for better or worse the delivery during the first verse is so reminiscent of R.E.M.'s "Departure".

03-06-2009, 03:49 PM	#18
Irvine511 Blue Crack Supplier Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the West Coast Posts: 34,357 Local Time: 08:19 PM	i think the lyrics are expressing the idea that "god" can't be bought or sold, but it's found in tiny moments of transcendence, or, in the miracle of simply being alive ("i can breathe"). it's quite anti-evangelical and it makes the spiritual intensely personal, and thusly universal.