Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Lyric Interpretation

zooropa1993 · 03-01-2001, 01:30 AM

First off this is My opinion, I am not claming to know what Bono was thinking when he wrote this song. This is what SIAM means to me. I hope this starts some good conversation.

I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find
A decent melody
A song that I can sing
In my own company

This part sounds like someone making excuses for themselves. Trying to not let on that they have a problem. The line "a song that I can sing, In my own company" is someone who is hiding from the world. Sometimes when people get depressed they shelter themselves.

I never thought you were a fool
But darling look at you,
You gotta stand up straight
Carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere baby

Then a friend finally sees past his act and confronts him and kinda says the only person that can make your life better is you, I can't do it for you. Sitting around crying and feeling sorry for yourself will not fix your problems the will only make them worse.

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

The phrase "Stuck in a moment" to me means, when you are truly sad and depressed you feel like the world is coming to an end and you have noting left to live for, you think things will never be better and you don't know how to carry on with life. The line "Don't say that later will be better" is like saying don't tell me everything is gonna be ok, just give it some time because when you're "Stuck in a moment" there is no later the only thing that counts is how you feel right now, in the moment.

I will not forsake
The colors that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted
By the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears
Through your eyes I can see

The verse is saying, remember all the good times we had? All the memories? Didn't you think that was worth living for? I did. You touched my soul and I will never forget you. You taught me things I never would have know. You meant something to me.

And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now
My, oh my
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

Come on this is silly. Things aren't that bad. I know things are hard but life goes on. Then you realize that your friend is gone. Your to late to help. My oh my!

I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm 'til you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

This verse to me is after that certain someone is gone and you are sitting at home alone thing about it and you say to yourself, how did this happen? I had no idea things were so bad. This took me totally off guard. I can't believe you are gone. Then you find yourself "Stuck in a moment"

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along this stony pass
It's just a moment
This time will pass

The final verse is saying, ok this is a terrible thing that has happened. But I must carry on. I can't blame myself. What happened is not my fault. It is ok to be sad but just remember that there is more to life. Things will get better if I try. This is not the end of the world, I will get over this.

------------------
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colours came out
It was a Beautiful Day

The U2 Hotel
jerry@u2hotel.com

camiloj · 03-01-2001, 02:10 AM

yep, thats actually pretty much how I always interpreted it....

zooropa1993 · 03-01-2001, 02:13 AM

Well U2LA I am glad I'm not the only one!

------------------
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colours came out
It was a Beautiful Day

The U2 Hotel
jerry@u2hotel.com

popmart_in Mexico · 03-01-2001, 02:50 AM

I hope this will help guys.
http://www.nme.com/NME/External/News...,12209,00.html

------------------
..oh child is not the last night on earth is pop life in Mexico, is not the last night on earth, darling don't you let me go, Mexico Mexico Mexico City how did you get so High?

DebbieSG · 03-01-2001, 06:48 PM

About Michael Hutchence, I heard Bono say that this song is a row he's having with someone who wants to commit suicide.

TylerDurden · 03-01-2001, 06:57 PM

Yeah, he's said also that if Michael Hutchense was alive for half an hour longer, and Bono was there with him, this would be the argument that he would have had with him, so I guess some parts are supposed to be Michael talking other parts Bono. Hard to tell though. Bono gives away lot's in different interviews about what different lines mean.

Directly related (kind of) in the version they sing at Irving PLaza, right when Edge moves to his Bee Gees "And if the night..." bits, Bono says a few things under his breath in between each one. I'd love to know what he says if any of you can translate.

follower · 03-01-2001, 07:10 PM

zooropa, you've done a nice job here. The lines that I think are more powerful are:

"I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now"

I think it might be about someone who got used to suffer, you know, in an almost masochistic way. Maybe Michael Hutchence was this kind of person as we know the song is inspired by his death.
I myself have felt that way sometimes, you know, looking for troubles, being hurt and keeping on doing the same, hoping to find what I know I don't need in fact.

fi · 03-02-2001, 04:43 AM

Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!!!!!!!!

I've posted a couple of times about how I thought that Edge sounded heaps like the Bee Gees at the end and no one ever commented.
Now, Tyler, can you also hear the submarine in elevation (at the start, the funny.... well submarine noise....
well???

ANYONE??!!!!

fi · 03-02-2001, 04:46 AM

Hmm. Sorry. I sound a little joyful in this discussion... so I would like to add that I love it when you guys (particularly you zooropa) interpret the songs, because for me, I understand what the song is about but it's too hard to express in plain old english. So when my friends say, whats this song about? I can only say listen.

zooropa1993 · 03-02-2001, 04:50 AM

thanks

TylerDurden · 03-04-2001, 07:41 PM

Yes fi, I too hear the submarine sound, I like that one, and does the guitar solo in When I Look At The World just sound like a whale to you?

03-01-2001, 01:30 AM	#1
zooropa1993 Babyface Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Flint, MI, USA Posts: 13 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Lyric Interpretation First off this is My opinion, I am not claming to know what Bono was thinking when he wrote this song. This is what SIAM means to me. I hope this starts some good conversation. I'm not afraid Of anything in this world There's nothing you can throw at me That I haven't already heard I'm just trying to find A decent melody A song that I can sing In my own company This part sounds like someone making excuses for themselves. Trying to not let on that they have a problem. The line "a song that I can sing, In my own company" is someone who is hiding from the world. Sometimes when people get depressed they shelter themselves. I never thought you were a fool But darling look at you, You gotta stand up straight Carry your own weight These tears are going nowhere baby Then a friend finally sees past his act and confronts him and kinda says the only person that can make your life better is you, I can't do it for you. Sitting around crying and feeling sorry for yourself will not fix your problems the will only make them worse. You've got to get yourself together You've got stuck in a moment And now you can't get out of it Don't say that later will be better Now you're stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it The phrase "Stuck in a moment" to me means, when you are truly sad and depressed you feel like the world is coming to an end and you have noting left to live for, you think things will never be better and you don't know how to carry on with life. The line "Don't say that later will be better" is like saying don't tell me everything is gonna be ok, just give it some time because when you're "Stuck in a moment" there is no later the only thing that counts is how you feel right now, in the moment. I will not forsake The colors that you bring The nights you filled with fireworks They left you with nothing I am still enchanted By the light you brought to me I listen through your ears Through your eyes I can see The verse is saying, remember all the good times we had? All the memories? Didn't you think that was worth living for? I did. You touched my soul and I will never forget you. You taught me things I never would have know. You meant something to me. And you are such a fool To worry like you do I know it's tough And you can never get enough Of what you don't really need now My, oh my You've got to get yourself together You've got stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it Oh love, look at you now You've got yourself stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it Come on this is silly. Things aren't that bad. I know things are hard but life goes on. Then you realize that your friend is gone. Your to late to help. My oh my! I was unconscious, half asleep The water is warm 'til you discover how deep I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall It's a long way down to nothing at all You've got to get yourself together You've got stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it Don't say that later will be better Now you're stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it This verse to me is after that certain someone is gone and you are sitting at home alone thing about it and you say to yourself, how did this happen? I had no idea things were so bad. This took me totally off guard. I can't believe you are gone. Then you find yourself "Stuck in a moment" And if the night runs over And if the day won't last And if our way should falter Along the stony pass And if the night runs over And if the day won't last And if your way should falter Along this stony pass It's just a moment This time will pass The final verse is saying, ok this is a terrible thing that has happened. But I must carry on. I can't blame myself. What happened is not my fault. It is ok to be sad but just remember that there is more to life. Things will get better if I try. This is not the end of the world, I will get over this. ------------------ See the bird with a leaf in her mouth After the flood all the colours came out It was a Beautiful Day The U2 Hotel jerry@u2hotel.com __________________

03-01-2001, 02:10 AM	#2
camiloj War Child Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 698 Local Time: 02:06 PM	yep, thats actually pretty much how I always interpreted it.... __________________

03-04-2001, 07:41 PM	#11
TylerDurden War Child Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 940 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Yes fi, I too hear the submarine sound, I like that one, and does the guitar solo in When I Look At The World just sound like a whale to you? __________________

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03-01-2001, 02:13 AM	#3
zooropa1993 Babyface Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Flint, MI, USA Posts: 13 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Well U2LA I am glad I'm not the only one! ------------------ See the bird with a leaf in her mouth After the flood all the colours came out It was a Beautiful Day The U2 Hotel jerry@u2hotel.com

03-01-2001, 02:50 AM	#4
popmart_in Mexico The Fly Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mexico Posts: 46 Local Time: 07:06 PM	I hope this will help guys. http://www.nme.com/NME/External/News...,12209,00.html ------------------ ..oh child is not the last night on earth is pop life in Mexico, is not the last night on earth, darling don't you let me go, Mexico Mexico Mexico City how did you get so High?

03-01-2001, 06:48 PM	#5
DebbieSG Refugee Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Castro Valley, CA Posts: 997 Local Time: 07:06 PM	About Michael Hutchence, I heard Bono say that this song is a row he's having with someone who wants to commit suicide.

03-01-2001, 06:57 PM	#6
TylerDurden War Child Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 940 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Yeah, he's said also that if Michael Hutchense was alive for half an hour longer, and Bono was there with him, this would be the argument that he would have had with him, so I guess some parts are supposed to be Michael talking other parts Bono. Hard to tell though. Bono gives away lot's in different interviews about what different lines mean. Directly related (kind of) in the version they sing at Irving PLaza, right when Edge moves to his Bee Gees "And if the night..." bits, Bono says a few things under his breath in between each one. I'd love to know what he says if any of you can translate.

03-01-2001, 07:10 PM	#7
follower Refugee Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Porto Alegre/Brasil Posts: 2,302 Local Time: 04:06 PM	zooropa, you've done a nice job here. The lines that I think are more powerful are: "I know it's tough And you can never get enough Of what you don't really need now" I think it might be about someone who got used to suffer, you know, in an almost masochistic way. Maybe Michael Hutchence was this kind of person as we know the song is inspired by his death. I myself have felt that way sometimes, you know, looking for troubles, being hurt and keeping on doing the same, hoping to find what I know I don't need in fact.

03-02-2001, 04:43 AM	#8
fi Babyface Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sydney Posts: 10 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!!!!!!!! I've posted a couple of times about how I thought that Edge sounded heaps like the Bee Gees at the end and no one ever commented. Now, Tyler, can you also hear the submarine in elevation (at the start, the funny.... well submarine noise.... well??? ANYONE??!!!!

03-02-2001, 04:46 AM	#9
fi Babyface Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sydney Posts: 10 Local Time: 07:06 PM	Hmm. Sorry. I sound a little joyful in this discussion... so I would like to add that I love it when you guys (particularly you zooropa) interpret the songs, because for me, I understand what the song is about but it's too hard to express in plain old english. So when my friends say, whats this song about? I can only say listen.

03-02-2001, 04:50 AM	#10
zooropa1993 Babyface Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Flint, MI, USA Posts: 13 Local Time: 07:06 PM	thanks