Every Breaking Wave - figuring out the lyrics - Page 2

Jeannieco · 08-22-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooropop40

I cannot think of any other band, that has been around as long as U2 has, and that has the ability to write absolutely hauntingly beautiful songs and melodies consistently throughout their careers... and then can still write more. unbelievable.

Thanks Larry for posting that flier at school. Seriously.

Yes indeed!

That is why I totally believe that the songs and this one in particular come to him from a devine source.
That's what I think anyway... Bono especially is so inspiried it's impossible for me to think otherwise.
But that's just me.

Birdlover · 08-23-2010, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama cass

it tugs at the heartstrings this one and leaves you with a hollow feeling in your tummy

Yes! It makes me think of a breakup, but with hope, the waves saying they'll be one more.
I can't stop listening to it, but every time I do I feel sadder.

Galeongirl · 08-23-2010, 06:09 AM

I listened to it consecutively while going to work yesterday. Damn, this song is pretty deep dark and haunting. I'm not usually a big fan of U2's slower songs, but this one keeps creeping in my brain. Great job figuring out the lyrics.

last unicorn · 08-23-2010, 07:22 AM

I'm in love with that song! I was in total shock when I heard they debuted it live in Helsinki. I listened to the song several times on earphones last night, so beautiful. Can't wait to hear a proper studio version of it. Still, it cracks me up everytime I listen to the Helsinki bootleg. Bono is so much into the song, then shortly steps out to tell Edge how to play the chords, then immediately steps into the song again and gets lost in it. Only Bono can do that

JoRu · 08-23-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by last unicorn

Still, it cracks me up everytime I listen to the Helsinki bootleg. Bono is so much into the song, then shortly steps out to tell Edge how to play the chords, then immediately steps into the song again and gets lost in it. Only Bono can do that

Loved that. He kinda ruined the magic there for a second, but managed to get back in there and end it with style.

Jeannieco · 08-23-2010, 11:19 AM

^^ I like it when they screw up, it's like they are in their own living room.playing for a few thousand of their closest friends.

Purplereign · 08-23-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdlover

Yes! It makes me think of a breakup, but with hope, the waves saying they'll be one more.
I can't stop listening to it, but every time I do I feel sadder.

there really is something about a bittersweet song that gets you in the belly every time . . . I can not believe how quickly this song has got it's hooks into me

. . . really really really hoping we get lucky and hear it at a few more shows this leg

Galeongirl · 08-23-2010, 03:22 PM

I just.. had a thought. A lyric kept popping in my head afte rthe line "I thought I heard the master's voice".. "and if he listened, to what I said"..

And I could nto figure out what song it was, nor why my brain seemed to link those two lines. I just realised that it's The Ocean. Kinda ironic seeing these two song titles.

dan_smee · 08-23-2010, 03:33 PM

OK...

I think The verse goes (bear in mind that he may have made a few errors on the night, as he tends to do with new songs):

Summer I was fearlessness (IE personification of the emotion)
Now I'm speaking to an answer phone
Like every summer leaf on the breeze
Winter wouldn't leave it alone.

I think they are BOTH summer. It makes sense. It's like saying "once everything was fine, I was fearless(ness)", now I resort to desparate attempts to just hear your voice.

The seasons seem to be important, and using summer in the second line you woul;d imagine that a summer leaf floating on the breeze in Winter would be being strung along, or dragged along in an uncomfortable climte (Winter wouldn't leave it alone).

I wish they had dropped Boots and SUC now, and had this and winter in there.

Themeatically, We've got the girl who's like the sea, and Every Breaking Wave seems to be the climax of their relationship (now the RELATIONSHIP is like the see, and he explains what that means).

Also, Winter gives his backing story, and in this context, takes the war theme out of the song, but works equally well here.

Seems that an album with

NLOTH
Mag
MOS
UC
CT (or Diorama)
F-BB
WAS
Breathe
Winter
COL
EBW

would be an epic.

purpleoscar · 08-23-2010, 03:42 PM

We haven't heard the other SOA songs so remember the meditative spiritual theme probably is the reason to move EBW off NLOTH.

Marien · 09-02-2010, 07:15 AM

dan_smee, thank you for your take of the song. I've been listening to both versions we have on repeat for a while, I think he's still figuring the second stanza out, there are some changes, of course he can be mixing lyrics up, not unusual. Here is what I hear in Helsinki recording, what do you think?

Summer I was fearless STEPS
Now I'm speaking to an answer phone
And every SUMMER leaf on the breeze
Winter WON’T LEAVE IT ALONE

Dani California · 10-10-2011, 02:18 PM

I've been hearing rumours of this song for ages, but didn't realise they'd actually played it live. I tried the link on this thread but didn't work ? Is there anywhere I can hear it? I love love love love the lyrics. So haunting.

Galeongirl · 10-10-2011, 02:24 PM

U2 Helsinki 2010-08-21 Every Breaking Wave (new song) - u2gigs.com - YouTube

I think that was the first time..

Dani California · 10-10-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galeongirl

U2 Helsinki 2010-08-21 Every Breaking Wave (new song) - u2gigs.com - YouTube

I think that was the first time..

Am

Thank you.

Just heard it. Amazing. I really hope they release it as a studio version. We need this song. So haunting and beautiful.

trevgreg · 10-10-2011, 03:24 PM

I really like this version too!

U2 Vienna 2010-08-30 Every Breaking Wave - u2gigs.com - YouTube

hand0lotion · 10-11-2011, 12:12 AM

I've made the Helsinki version my gold standard since duscovering EBW. I think when I hear EBW album version, I will compare it to this 'original' in my head

. The stripped down-ness is part of its melancholy and beauty, I think. Edge's clean arpeggio style at it's most atmospheric!

Just my 2 cents but I think we will get EBW on the next album (or released at least). The band seems to be plugging really hard at this baby! I know Adam said EBW was considered for release with NLOTH, but why does Bono keep introducing the song as "unfinished", "unwritten" etc? Are they re-working and overhauling it still?

I can't quite get into the Vienna version. As a mistake (I think?) Bono sings "Every gambler knows, that to WIN, is what they're really there for". Throws it off for me

I'm glad u2gigs was there to document these and other unreleased gems like North Star, Glastonbury, etc

trevgreg · 10-11-2011, 12:29 AM

Well, think about how much they change Mercy between 2004 and 2010, you know? I know a lot of bands I like had called unreleased material "unfinished", and then demos leaked afterward made it appear that it was in fact a done product. So I think you're right when you say that overhauling might be what they're talking about here. Probably hard to leave something alone for a few years or more and not see something you want to change about it!

I'd love to see this given a formal release down the road somewheres. Should have been on NLOTH, no question. Wouldn't been a huge improvement there alone.

I like both Helsinki and Vienna the most of the times they played it in Europe last year (the best quality also). You can find things in both versions which are a little rough around the edges (no pun intended), but that adds to the appeal of them too. Gorgeous song either way.

Purplereign · 10-11-2011, 01:06 PM

I have nothing to add other than

adore this song and remember hearing it via the setlistparty and thinking christmas had arrived early . . . just beautiful

last unicorn · 10-11-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevgreg

I really like this version too!

U2 Vienna 2010-08-30 Every Breaking Wave - u2gigs.com - YouTube

My hometown. Simply the highlight of that show for me. I love EBW so much and miss it. I hope they're releasing this song soon. The simple live version is full of beauty.

Dani California · 10-11-2011, 02:59 PM

I just love this song from hearing it straightaway, I hadn't heard the vienna one so I'll give that a listen. Have you heard the full band version floating about on youtube? I like any version, I think its such a good song. I hope it gets released. Amazing

10-11-2011, 01:06 PM	#38
Purplereign Loungeroom Dancing Queen Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: where I can Breathe . . . and it's Magnificent Posts: 24,782 Local Time: 09:16 AM	I have nothing to add other than adore this song and remember hearing it via the setlistparty and thinking christmas had arrived early . . . just beautiful __________________ *'You might just as well say, that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!'*

10-11-2011, 02:59 PM	#40
Dani California Acrobat Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK.....where the sound is magnificent Posts: 381 Local Time: 11:16 PM	I just love this song from hearing it straightaway, I hadn't heard the vienna one so I'll give that a listen. Have you heard the full band version floating about on youtube? I like any version, I think its such a good song. I hope it gets released. Amazing __________________

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08-23-2010, 07:22 AM	#24
last unicorn Blue Crack Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: lost in poetry Posts: 19,446 Local Time: 12:16 AM	I'm in love with that song! I was in total shock when I heard they debuted it live in Helsinki. I listened to the song several times on earphones last night, so beautiful. Can't wait to hear a proper studio version of it. Still, it cracks me up everytime I listen to the Helsinki bootleg. Bono is so much into the song, then shortly steps out to tell Edge how to play the chords, then immediately steps into the song again and gets lost in it. Only Bono can do that

08-23-2010, 11:19 AM	#26
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: 04:16 PM	^^ I like it when they screw up, it's like they are in their own living room.playing for a few thousand of their closest friends.

08-23-2010, 03:33 PM	#29
dan_smee ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 14,052 Local Time: 09:16 AM	OK... I think The verse goes (bear in mind that he may have made a few errors on the night, as he tends to do with new songs): Summer I was fearlessness (IE personification of the emotion) Now I'm speaking to an answer phone Like every summer leaf on the breeze Winter wouldn't leave it alone. I think they are BOTH summer. It makes sense. It's like saying "once everything was fine, I was fearless(ness)", now I resort to desparate attempts to just hear your voice. The seasons seem to be important, and using summer in the second line you woul;d imagine that a summer leaf floating on the breeze in Winter would be being strung along, or dragged along in an uncomfortable climte (Winter wouldn't leave it alone). I wish they had dropped Boots and SUC now, and had this and winter in there. Themeatically, We've got the girl who's like the sea, and Every Breaking Wave seems to be the climax of their relationship (now the RELATIONSHIP is like the see, and he explains what that means). Also, Winter gives his backing story, and in this context, takes the war theme out of the song, but works equally well here. Seems that an album with NLOTH Mag MOS UC CT (or Diorama) F-BB WAS Breathe Winter COL EBW would be an epic.

08-23-2010, 03:42 PM	#30
purpleoscar Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In right wing paranoia Posts: 7,613 Local Time: 04:16 PM	We haven't heard the other SOA songs so remember the meditative spiritual theme probably is the reason to move EBW off NLOTH.

09-02-2010, 07:15 AM	#31
Marien Refugee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: where the sea meets the sky Posts: 1,588 Local Time: 12:16 AM	dan_smee, thank you for your take of the song. I've been listening to both versions we have on repeat for a while, I think he's still figuring the second stanza out, there are some changes, of course he can be mixing lyrics up, not unusual. Here is what I hear in Helsinki recording, what do you think? Summer I was fearless STEPS Now I'm speaking to an answer phone And every SUMMER leaf on the breeze Winter WON’T LEAVE IT ALONE

10-10-2011, 02:18 PM	#32
Dani California Acrobat Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK.....where the sound is magnificent Posts: 381 Local Time: 11:16 PM	I've been hearing rumours of this song for ages, but didn't realise they'd actually played it live. I tried the link on this thread but didn't work ? Is there anywhere I can hear it? I love love love love the lyrics. So haunting.

10-11-2011, 12:12 AM	#36
hand0lotion War Child Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 777 Local Time: 06:16 PM	I've made the Helsinki version my gold standard since duscovering EBW. I think when I hear EBW album version, I will compare it to this 'original' in my head . The stripped down-ness is part of its melancholy and beauty, I think. Edge's clean arpeggio style at it's most atmospheric! Just my 2 cents but I think we will get EBW on the next album (or released at least). The band seems to be plugging really hard at this baby! I know Adam said EBW was considered for release with NLOTH, but why does Bono keep introducing the song as "unfinished", "unwritten" etc? Are they re-working and overhauling it still? I can't quite get into the Vienna version. As a mistake (I think?) Bono sings "Every gambler knows, that to WIN, is what they're really there for". Throws it off for me I'm glad u2gigs was there to document these and other unreleased gems like North Star, Glastonbury, etc

10-11-2011, 12:29 AM	#37
trevgreg Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 3,733 Local Time: 06:16 PM	Well, think about how much they change Mercy between 2004 and 2010, you know? I know a lot of bands I like had called unreleased material "unfinished", and then demos leaked afterward made it appear that it was in fact a done product. So I think you're right when you say that overhauling might be what they're talking about here. Probably hard to leave something alone for a few years or more and not see something you want to change about it! I'd love to see this given a formal release down the road somewheres. Should have been on NLOTH, no question. Wouldn't been a huge improvement there alone. I like both Helsinki and Vienna the most of the times they played it in Europe last year (the best quality also). You can find things in both versions which are a little rough around the edges (no pun intended), but that adds to the appeal of them too. Gorgeous song either way.