U2 – MLK

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  My Interpretation:Just curious--the lyrics for MLK on the official U2 website say, "So let it rain, let it rain
  Rain down on he," not 'on him.' You suppose that's a typo, or does it affect the syntax in some muted way?
  
  Also, the Macphisto site has it yet a different way: In the first stanza it's "So let it rain Rain down him," and in the second it's, "Let it rain Rain on him." To me, this change in syntax does change the meaning from a more general rain/cycle of life observation to a specific let MLK's ideals and qualities, his dream, rain down.
  
  Thoughts? Is there an official lyric?

  Flag copperbeechon January 13, 2010   Link

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    I didn't know this was a U2 song but I discovered this piece on a CD of choir music:
    
    giamusic.com/…
    
    Nestled among more harmonically complex works, this one stood out for me with its simple beauty and power. Plus, the singing by the university of North Texas' chamber choir is superb.

    Flag sraylon February 20, 2010  
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  General Comment:Addressed to Martin, the "let it rain, rain on him" is referring to God or more specifically the Christ who took mankind's sins, imperfections, and troubles onto himself on the cross for their redemption.
  
  a cappella groups love doing this song, a lot of times its really breathtaking...

  Flag XianSnakeon October 14, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:he says somewhere that the song is literally the ground crying blood for happiness. smooth as i get a minute into this song and i fall asleep!

  Flag jump up!on February 21, 2009   Link

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    i remember the day i cried my eyes out listening to MLK - it was a breaking news on the radio that the most famous basketball player in Croatia, Drazen Petrovic, had died in car crush. as they have read the news, the radio DJ played MLK for Drazen. a hertbreaking moment for a kid I was back then in 1993

    Flag u2ovacon April 10, 2009  
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  General Comment:A beautiful song, one of their best. And Unforgettable Fire is an underrated album. I agree with jcaimbeul.

  Flag dtpon September 11, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:The song is very emotional and moving...listen to it in a dark room with no other noise and I am sure you will be like me and the hairs on your arms will rise.... the songs says to me no matter what life gives you , you can always rise above it.
  
  "If the thunder cloud
  Passes rain
  So let it rain"
  
  says it all....

  Flag jcaimbeulon September 06, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:it sounds like a prayer.

  Flag Clover From Marson April 30, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:This song is about The King, yes, but not Martin Luther King. I think it has much deeper connotations than is at first obvious... it's only taken me 23 years to realise it! HA! "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes" - Marcel Proust.

  Flag recalcitranton January 25, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:this song is a perfect example to what music can do, and mean to a human being; yes it is about Martin Luther King but in my experience it is also about me when i am dead, this will be playing when i am dead and my son bono will sing along..

  Flag stormbonoon January 06, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:This is so much different than all the other U2 songs. I really like it a lot, it's a very good bedtime song as well.
  I heard Bono comment on it in the Rolling Stone interview and he told a funny story about it. He said that he was in his car in front of the traffic lights when it was played on the radio. A lot of people where staring at him and he blushed terribly. Not because of the stares but because he thought his voice sounded like a girls voice! He said he sang the song to high.

  Flag Anne Marieon February 10, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:This song was originally chosen for the end sequence of the movie Donnie Darko but was then changed to Gary Jules' over of the Tears for Fears song Mad World

  Flag myhotelyearon January 13, 2005   Link

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