Fast Eddy
The Fly
Lyrically and musically "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" has always has always been uniquely and almost overwhelmingly moving for me, ever since the Joshua Tree came out when I was in college (my housemates used to joke, after hearing me play the song in my room for the umpteenth time, "I sure hope Ed finds what he's looking for"). I've seen the song performed onstage 4 times since then and it's always a highlight of the evening.
In any case, I'm curious what the lyrics have meant for other U2 fans. It's always been pretty ambiguous (as great lyrics often are), with plenty of room for interpretation. I'll share my thoughts and would love to hear others (if for some bizarre reason you don't care for the song just move along to the next thread).
My sense is that it's a kind of gospel song, as Edge says (and he came up with the title and music, I presume Bono fleshed out the lyrics), articulating a sense of having faith in Christ or God yet feeling a sense of yearning nevertheless. But it feels like less a complaint or lament than a celebration almost. Like that feeling of not having "arrived" is what gets you out of bed in the morning and keeps you inspired. And also that not having all the answers to your questions is a good thing...
I've often thought of the song in relation to "Desire"--that in some sense desire can never be wholly fulfilled, that there will always be more to have, and that the trick is to accept this.
"Still Haven't Found" also works on one level as a love song about a relationship--so many gospel songs work on both levels--and that "having it all" in your relationship with another person is just never possible--or rather that looking to another person for complete fulfillment is destined to fail.
For me it's a very honest, bittersweet, but overall very uplifting song.
I don't think there's a "correct" interpretation, although it would be interesting to sit in a pub with Bono and Edge and talk about it over a pint. I'm sure there was some particular notion or event that triggered that line in Edge's head, and I'm sure Bono had some very specific ideas about what he wanted to convey.
The thing about the song that gets me, though, is just the feeling the lyrics and music convey--not the literal meaning of the words, just the sort of emotional response it elicits. Very powerful in a way that no other U2 song is (and there are plenty of other powerful U2 songs to be sure)
So what does the song mean to you?
In any case, I'm curious what the lyrics have meant for other U2 fans. It's always been pretty ambiguous (as great lyrics often are), with plenty of room for interpretation. I'll share my thoughts and would love to hear others (if for some bizarre reason you don't care for the song just move along to the next thread).
My sense is that it's a kind of gospel song, as Edge says (and he came up with the title and music, I presume Bono fleshed out the lyrics), articulating a sense of having faith in Christ or God yet feeling a sense of yearning nevertheless. But it feels like less a complaint or lament than a celebration almost. Like that feeling of not having "arrived" is what gets you out of bed in the morning and keeps you inspired. And also that not having all the answers to your questions is a good thing...
I've often thought of the song in relation to "Desire"--that in some sense desire can never be wholly fulfilled, that there will always be more to have, and that the trick is to accept this.
"Still Haven't Found" also works on one level as a love song about a relationship--so many gospel songs work on both levels--and that "having it all" in your relationship with another person is just never possible--or rather that looking to another person for complete fulfillment is destined to fail.
For me it's a very honest, bittersweet, but overall very uplifting song.
I don't think there's a "correct" interpretation, although it would be interesting to sit in a pub with Bono and Edge and talk about it over a pint. I'm sure there was some particular notion or event that triggered that line in Edge's head, and I'm sure Bono had some very specific ideas about what he wanted to convey.
The thing about the song that gets me, though, is just the feeling the lyrics and music convey--not the literal meaning of the words, just the sort of emotional response it elicits. Very powerful in a way that no other U2 song is (and there are plenty of other powerful U2 songs to be sure)
So what does the song mean to you?