Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Summer stretching on the grass
Summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow tree
Creeps a crawling over me
Over me and over you
Stuck together with God's glue
It's going to get stickier too
It's been a long hot summer
Let's get undercover
Don't try too hard to think
Don't think at all
I'm not the only one
Starin' at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
There's an insect in your ear
If you scratch it won't disappear
It's gonna itch and burn and sting
Do you want to see what the scratching brings
Waves that leave me out of reach
Breaking on your back like a beach
Will we ever live in peace?
'Cause those that can't do often have to
And those that can't do often have to preach
To the ones staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
I'm not the only one
Who'd rather go blind
Intransigence is all around
Military still in town
Armour plated suits and ties
Daddy just won't say goodbye
Referee won't blow the whistle
God is good but will he listen
I'm nearly great
But there's something I'm missing
But I'm feeling like duty free, ah
You never really belonged to me
You're not the only one
Starin' at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you stepped back inside
I'm not sucking on my thumb
I'm staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
Summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow tree
Creeps a crawling over me
Over me and over you
Stuck together with God's glue
It's going to get stickier too
It's been a long hot summer
Let's get undercover
Don't try too hard to think
Don't think at all
I'm not the only one
Starin' at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
There's an insect in your ear
If you scratch it won't disappear
It's gonna itch and burn and sting
Do you want to see what the scratching brings
Waves that leave me out of reach
Breaking on your back like a beach
Will we ever live in peace?
'Cause those that can't do often have to
And those that can't do often have to preach
To the ones staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
I'm not the only one
Who'd rather go blind
Intransigence is all around
Military still in town
Armour plated suits and ties
Daddy just won't say goodbye
Referee won't blow the whistle
God is good but will he listen
I'm nearly great
But there's something I'm missing
But I'm feeling like duty free, ah
You never really belonged to me
You're not the only one
Starin' at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you stepped back inside
I'm not sucking on my thumb
I'm staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
Ah ah I
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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So, i disagree with most of you. I do not think that staring at the sun means ignoring the ills of the world, in fact, i think it means the opposite. I think the ones who are willing to put up with the pain of staring at the sun, the ones who will scratch at the insect even if they cannot necessarily solve the problem, are the ones willing to take a real look at our world, take a real view of our problems, and (hopelessly in most cases) try to solve them.
"I'm not the only one" is repeatedly asserted, because they are trying to show that there are people out there who really do care, who really do want to solve these problems. but that they have to make such an assertion points out a glaring and obvious truth: almost everyone else is not willing to stare at the sun. It is a cry for more people to join, it is encouragement to those who already are, but it is intrinsicly hopeless because they know it will not happen. There are forces byond thier control; there are governments, parents (which might represent being brought up to continue things as they were, rather than truly decding to change things), etc etc etc.
But, be that as it may, he'd rather go blind. He'd rather go on truly looking at our world, seeing the horrors of a west that doesnt care about the poor, seeing brutal regimes across the globe and greedy individuals who couldnt care less, and pain, and disease, and famine, and drugs, and go blind from it, than be just another person avoiding the glare. Even if its hopeless, he'll press on, and take the pain, because its what everyone else really should be doing. Donate to the One Campaign. (lol).
@jhochd51 Interesting...I hadn't thought of it this way, but I can see it being either. He's either asking for others to join him in trying to make the world a better place, or he's admitting that he's just as afraid of the rest of us. Either way, the overall meaning is the same...we have to truly look at ourselves and the world in order to make it a better place.
People call "Pop" U2's failure album. This I can't understand. For a failure album this is a pretty darn good song!
this song kicks anus!! and if U2 have a falurie album then its problay zooropa WOO U2!!
Staring at the sun
There was a story going around in the 60's that a group of california university students were so high on LSD that they were staring at the sun while laying on a grassy hill for several hours that it didn't bother them but in fact burnt part of their retina and could not see anything closely. They also held religious conversations with god while under the influence.This story has never been proven and actual names were never given (check out Erowid for more on this myth).
Bono is probably relating his own trip with the students who were sprawled out on the grass for hours. His description is almost identical to the mythical articles on the california university students. I would take the the song quite literally. "Those who can't do" are the teachers or the people who set our morals in society who create these myths to scare people out of using drugs or to be introspective and question what is accepted as truth or right. Are they afraid of what they find when they look inside of themselves? Bono says these people (government/military state) is still in town or in control. Its not so obvious as they are disguised in suits and ties. Daddy (government) won't leave you alone. "I'm nearly great but there's something missing" = Grandiosity is a symptom of such trips. "I left it in the Duty free" = [airplane] "trips" may be taken literally. Its not really him as its an effect of the drug. He's not sucking on his thumb. He's not a baby he can do what he wants and if that means destroying his retina so be it. Could this be an anti-drug message?
i agree wit u....i tink the album on the whole is good and tho they aint my face group i respects U2 for everythin they do....and im pretty shure its 'referee wont blow the whistle" makes more sense
To me, this song is about our culture ignoring the problems around us. There can be something fundamentally wrong in our lives, but we'd rather pretend than admit anything.
POP is awesome, don't ever let anyone diss POP... i think there is really no u2 failure album
The reason why the POP album wasa failure was not because it didn't produce the best of the hits ever, but for severa other reasons the band claims it to be their falure:<br /> -U2 rushed to complete the album rather then take the time to make it "perfect" as they would have liked to<br /> -They had to deal with the costs of ZOO TV<br /> -Going into the tour they did not even know how to play the songs live because there was so much done with technology in the studio that it would be very dificult to produce the sound they had on the album<br /> <br /> This song however is about 1000000x better when Bono and the edge played it acoustically on the POP tour. Just the two of them playing and singing really great YOUTUBE it! :)<br /> The album would have done much better if it had not been so complicated<br /> But actually there is no bad U2 album it's just the way the band really percieves it and tells people it is what it is... I also think that this album was more shockinf for people because it was not the same as previous albums.
i love the video to this song the way shadows pass over the band its just such a great image
You are right about zooropa. Half of it is great but the other half... yeah... shit
This song sounds amazing on the Slane DVD where it is just Bono, the Edge and his guitar, you can hear the crowd singing along for some of it.