Lyrics for With or Without You as interpreted by Novartza

With or Without You Lyrics
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you

Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you

With or without you
With or without you

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you

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squirrel_777
06-12-2006

Rated 0 
This song totally speaks the crucifixion to me. the thorn twist in your side could be the crown of thorns. The sleight of hand, and twist of fate makes me think of the nails being driven through Jesus' hands when he was crucified. Teh through the strom we reach the shore, you gave it all but I want more, well I think this just supports the idea that Jesus gave his all in the crucifixion. The last part is my favourite. It says, my hands are tied, and by standard, a crucifixion was done by tieing a person the the cross, the nails were only to make it more painful. And the body bruised thing, well after jesus' died, he was stabbed with a spear, which is what I think of when I hear "my body bruised", as well as it could mean that his body was torn and wasted becasue of the torture he went through. All-in-all, I think that most of the references were used to make bono's situation seem almost like some sort of crucifixion. Now whether that means that his situation is between him and a girl, or him and God, or even him and drugs (I believe it's this one), the idea is that this song is using the crucifixion as a representation of emotion, of pain, or drug abuse, of relationships, of all sorts of things. To be honest, it's completely possible that this song means nothing as far as relationships or drugs, just that those situations can be compared with or represented by the crucifixion. Song-writing is an art, and when the song becomes absract art, it's easy to try and put a meaning to a song, when really there is no specific meaning fo rit, just that it can mean different things.

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eirenightshade
06-26-2006

Rated 0 
I have a somewhat different take on why Bono is lamenting to "You" about "She". I have always felt very strongly that he is not referring to God or even anyone in particular, but to himself. Underneath the beautiful exterior of the song lies an obviously anguished man, and it sounds like he is telling himself "You give yourself away"; referring to how he feels tied up with "She" who makes him feel so exposed and conflicted.

Bono has said on many occasions that this is not a love song, and it's easy to see why. Many times in U2 history has Bono used the female form to represent different worldly things. Jut because it says "she" it would be a mistake, knowing U2, to just assume he's talking about a human woman.

Often in concerts, Bono will bring up a girl from the audience onto the stage and dance with her through this song. I doubt that's a coincidence. It seems to me that this is yet another song about how U2 relate to their fans. How they give their all (or give themselves away, if you will) to their music and as a result feel exposed.

Shortly after the Joshua Tree tour, U2 "broke up" briefly after Bono haunting said during their last show "We just have to go away and dream it all up again". I think this song might have been the root of that brief breakup. Obviously in the lyric, the guys are experiencing some of the unfortunate drawbacks of fame: They give their all and the people want more.

It makes a lot of sense if you think about it that way. He's saying he can't live with or without the fans. He loves them dearly but he's overwhelmed by them and their demands for more when he feels he's given his all.

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dogsarecool
06-29-2006

Rated 0 
I think "And you give yourself away" is refering to Jesus giving himself away on the cross for humanity. I think this song is basically about Bono pointing out the fact that we can't live WITH God in Heaven or WITHOUT him here on earth. Earth is a "bed of nails." Earth has wars, disease, famine, and it's basically uncomfortable. We have to wait here until Jesus returns.

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little-latte-girl
07-05-2006

Rated 0 
i luv this song so much! its a combination of watching it on friends, and with actually loving u2, and the lyric and everything about it, but it is one of my all time favourites :)
xXx

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achtungbaby02
07-20-2006

Rated 0 
Firstly, I would just like to say what an incredible forum this is! I never used to see the crucifixion symbolism in the lyrics, but now it's painfully clear.

when bono sings "i can't live, with or without you" i think he feels guilt in his sinning [represented by the "she" throughout the song] and thus doesn’t feel worthy to be in the Lord’s presence; but at the same time, he realises he needs God and can’t live without Him.

“My hands are tied, my body bruised
She got me with nothing to win
And nothing else to lose”

For me, this doesn’t refer to Jesus’ crucifixion [as words like “my” are used instead of “You”] but to the concept that every person carries their own cross; sin causes each of us to become tied, in our own metaphorical crucifixion.

“And you give yourself away…”

The Christian belief is that in His crucifixion, Jesus freed us of our own sins. At a time where sin has trapped us, Jesus comes and “gives Himself away”, freeing us down from our cross.

The extended lyrics in Rattle and Hum; [“we’ll shine like stars in the summer night, we’ll shine like stars in the winter night, one heart, one hope, one love”] is like a happy ending to a melancholic song. After we die on earth, because Jesus has freed us of our sin, we will “shine like stars” in Heaven, as one [bono also expresses this idea in 'i still haven't found what i'm looking for' - "i believe in the Kingdom Come, then all the colours will bleed into one"]

This song creates an atmosphere that is so beautifully haunting and the lyrics.... ohh the lyrics - indescribably beautiful. this song is amazing.

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Chubbz333
07-30-2006

Rated 0 
i think this song, simple means that he cannot live with or without u, wen they are away he cannot live, but wen they are together he cant live eitha....i kno it doesnt make much scence, but i kno wat its like to feel that way.

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missme
07-31-2006

Rated 0 
such a common feeling. you can't cope without a person, but you can't cope with being around them either..

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Lester_91
08-20-2006

Rated 0 
I agree that this is a great song, but watching that episode of friends, and this song with it, was just so moving, and so yeh, great song but ever since i watched that episode it brings tears to my eyes :(

Oh and I've only just finished season 3, so forgive me if I haven't got the whole thing yet. But i believe that this song fitted perfectly to that episode, mainly because of the whole thing that Ross loves Rachel so much, that he can't stand being without her, and yet shes always away, and hes always waiting.

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trn3ngo
08-25-2006

Rated 0 
It's amazing and how many interpretations there are and how many of them make sense and could be true!! The song is great, and I can feel the meaning behind it; the feeling behind the words is what ALOT of songs these days are lacking.

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jlopezylopez
08-27-2006

Rated 0 
This song is the best song ever, literally. I have not heard any song that is even near to this song. U2 could have only written this song and they'd still be the world's greatest band. I went to the Aztec Stadium in Mexico city and I just loved the song, this song is perfect and nobody will write something like this.

It just fits to every person, the lyrics, the music, the screaming, everything makes sense to everyone that really appreciates good things, this song tries to explain the real meaning of life and it can make sense to you in every way you want.

P.S. i'm mexican sorry for my English :P

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sky-fenix
09-06-2006

Rated 0 
this is THE song!!!

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iamthenightstars
09-15-2006

Rated 0 
it's songs like this that show how simple songs can be just as amazing

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princess*delilah
10-18-2006

Rated 0 
i c this song as about love not religion.
its about being played a game with by someone you love n trust and you hate them for it and its killing you being with them but cant be without them. its ross n rachels song(friends)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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destinyfan3
10-29-2006

Rated 0 
a dude can't live with a chick or without the chick. simple. this song was featured on friends between jennifer aniston and that jewish guy.

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Aeetos
11-27-2006

Rated 0 
Love, thats what it means to me, and also about a decision. At the end he says nothing to win and nothing left to lose and so he's "and you give yourself away" either "with or without you" sorta like the choice is I'm with her or not - whether he goes for it...?

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electroje$ii
12-09-2006

Rated 0 
This is the only song of U2's what I like

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GloriousDay
12-14-2006

Rated 0 
I rank this as one of the greatest songs ever made in our time. To me, this is a song about man caught between vice and virtue. I think the other interpretations (love triangle, God and addiction) are also "correct" or fitting. The song is perfectly applicable to all three since these are analogous to one another. He knows that the one he is tied to is no good for him, and yet what is really good to him and gives selflessly to him is not enough, it seems. Thus, his dilemma. This is every spiritual man's dilemma.

Not everyone may agree. But that is the beauty of art. You don't have to know the "real" meaning behind it as intended by the artist. What matters is what that work of art means to YOU.

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Seland904
12-22-2006

Rated 0 
Honestly, this song is completely an artful masterpeice and means a lot to me ever since i heard it cuz it sort of resembles the same situation I have experienced for several years. Honestly, the lyrics are simply unbeatable and so powerful as well as it goes sweetly with the deep background bassline,The Edge's uniquely delayed guitar riffs and of course, Bono's ever emotional crying voice.
I've seen all the comments written before me and i certainly agree that the song can be interpreted in several different ways starting from the Guy/Girl theory, Drug addiction theory, Crucifixion and God theories. Sometimes I think i should set aside some time, carefully thinking of what the song is trying to say again and again, but no matter how hard i think, numerous different meanings race into mind and I that's what makes any song beautiful, particularly With or without you. No matter what it meaning the song conveys, I just wanna express myself that this song is my favorite and will be for the rest of my life.

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shanimal_cat
01-09-2007

Rated 0 
its amazing how much bono can put sooo much emotion into the song...especially live. at the end of this song, when he was singing wooo... you know the bit. anyway he sounded so sad, he was putting so much into his voice, his feelings into his voice..beautiful

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keetrainchild
01-20-2007

Rated 0 
I expect U2 songs to be multilayered, which means that often a song is not merely about one particular subject, but also that it is not about just anything at all. The religious and the romantic are very closely linked in the human mind because of the concept of love, and as has been mentioned here before, this song involves both agape and eros. If I were to pin this song to a definite meaning, the first that comes to mind is ambivalence towards sin. Sin is pleasurable, but it also brings guilt. It is the one universal thing that all people both cannot live with (because it brings guilt and pain) but also cannot live without (because it is too tempting and it often yields pleasure).

Likewise it often leaves us "with nothing left to win, and nothing left to lose". Once we have done it, we have what we want, but it leaves us empty, so there is also nothing left for us to lose at that point.
U2's songs often have religious meaning, and I attribute the line 'see the thorn twist in your side' to this, because it is an allusion to Paul's thorn in his side (2 Corinthians 12:7); Bono could merely be using a popular expression, but considering the band's background I find it difficult to avoid interpreting as a religious matter as well.

This is an interesting song, and I think that it is meant to convey a variety of meanings, all intertwining throughout the song. It is about romantic love (because "a bed of nails" seems like an erotic expression; the bed is the erotic part, and the nails signify that waiting for her is like torture. Also, he constantly refers to 'you' which shows that it is a person, or at least something personified, to which he is singing. "Through the storm.. I give it all but you want more" also sounds like a reference to sexual satisfaction, along with possibly turbulence in a relationship.), it is about sin, and it could be about one or two other things as well.

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bkbowhunter66
01-23-2007

Rated 0 
This is pretty much the only U2 song I like. I agree with the very first post. I can relate with that. I am trying to get through pretty much the same situation at the moment.

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Aeetos
02-04-2007

Rated 0 
"Sleight of hand and twist of fate" - love it

Each song means something, some a bit different, to each of us. To me its definitely about a woman that I'm still love, not in love, but certainly not... un-love?

Whatever, point is when we broke up the feeling I feel now is still there and I know now that it will never leave.

It would've been great if we could have been friends after but when you risk love, and risk it deep, chances are that special person may become untouchable to you afterwards.

How can you watch the person you love with another? How could they watch you with some one else?

With or without you, one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, yet it strikes a meaning so deep that I sometimes wish it was never written.

How ironic.

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Zoo Station
02-11-2007

Rated 0 
I'm a HUGE fan of U2, along with songs that make you cry (mostly cause I love to cry). But this one does that VEEEERY well. Incredible lyrics...and may I emphasize "incredible."

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Simpson_01
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
As much as I like to draw this song back to love problems, after reviewing the lyrics i think that it is really talking about Christ and God. Bono sings "she's got me with nothing to win and nothing else to lose". I think this represents sin and how we don't gain anything from it, but we feel that we have nothing left to lose since we have pushed God away so many times before. "And you give yourself away" I believe refers to how ever time we sin Christ redeems us through the cross, giving his pain for our sin. However, I also think that the mood of the song and the lyrics of "with or without you" can be applied to the pretty much every break up anyone has experienced, where they have hurt you sufficently to have to end it with your partner however you have given yourself to them so much that it is hard to let go. As bono says "and you give yourself away".

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Zoo Station
03-09-2007

Rated 0 
I see where you're comin' from Simpson 01 and it certainly makes sense. Still, I think it is dealing with a relationship sorta thing. Maybe even both o_O...idk though.

"See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you"

When I think about it, all I can think of for what this means is like: she's pretty sure about what she wants (hence the stone set in her eyes) but it hurts her? (the thorn twisting in her side)((something along those lines, but it's hard to explain)). Either way, he'll wait for her to make her choice.

"Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you"

Perhaps, she hasnt given her answer so he's waiting. I really am not 100% sure.

"Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you"

Through all of the problems, etc they finally overcome it all. He tries to give it his all, but "his all" isnt enough for her.

And of course, he cant be with her, but he also cant be without her. It's causing him pain (body bruised and hands are tied). He has nothing left to gain from them being together, but he also has nothing to gain.
Gods, well grr, Bono is the only one who could honestly know just EXACTLY what this song is talking about. No matter,

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