You know he got the cure
You know he went astray
He used to stay awake
To drive the dreams he had away
He wanted to believe
In the hands of love

His head it felt heavy
As he cut across the land
A dog started crying
Like a broken hearted man
At the howling wind
At the howling wind

He went deeper into black
Deeper into white
Could see the stars shining
Like nails in the night
He felt the healing
Healing, healing
Healing hands of love
Like the stars shiny shiny
From above

Hand in the pocket
Finger on the steel
The pistol weighed heavy
His heart he could feel
Was beating, beating
Beating, beating oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love

My love

Saw the hands that build
Can also pull down

The hands of love



Lyrics submitted by archmastermind

Track duration: 04:13

"Exit" as written by Evans Hewson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Exit song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:just a far out there thought, but, when he says, "hands of love," could he be talking about that ring with the hands holding the heart? It originated in Ireland, where U2 is from! Just a wild thought!
    Flag JTcrazy02on July 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Bono said, "This is a song about a religious man who became a very dangerous man when he couldn't work out the mystery, on the hands of love."
    Flag Cabrosaon July 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i dont get this song at all!!
    Flag u2rocksMAon April 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard that Robert John Bardo (the murderer of actress Rebecca Schaeffer) was inspired to kill by listening to this song. I'd say the song is about a man that loves a woman in a very dark way.
    Flag Cabrosaon April 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel that this song is about a man who lost the one he loved in an unnatural way - maybe murder - he was overwhelmingly depressed about it and the unfairness in it and went out to get revenge. I believe the line "A dog started crying like a broken hearted man at the howling wind at the howling wind" is him cursing God for causing him pain. On his way to get revenge he "could see the stars shining like nails in the night" - like Jesus being nailed to the cross - and he forgave the person he was going to kill and decided against it.

    "He saw the hands that build
    can also pull down the hands of love"

    the hands that build = God
    the hands of love = the man, because he was doing it for the one he loves

    God stopped him from committing murder.
    Flag Hathorreon June 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel that this song is about a man who lost the one he loved in an unnatural way - maybe murder - he was overwhelmingly depressed about it and the unfairness in it and went out to get revenge. I believe the line "A dog started crying like a broken hearted man at the howling wind at the howling wind" is him cursing God for causing him pain. On his way to get revenge he "could see the stars shining like nails in the night" - like Jesus being nailed to the cross - and he forgave the person he was going to kill and decided against it.

    "He saw the hands that build
    can also pull down the hands of love"

    the hands that build = God
    the hands of love = the man, because he was doing it for the one he loves

    God stopped him from committing murder.
    Flag Hathorreon June 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The most darkest song of U2 ever!
    Flag Noriszon November 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"You know he got the cure, you know he went astray
    He used to stay awake to drive the dreams he had away
    He wanted to believe in the hands of love"

    A man who believed in peace and love until he lost someone he loved, he is in pain and still wants to believe in peace and love.

    "His head, it felt heavy, as he cut across the land
    A dog started crying like a broken hearted man
    At the howling wind, at the howling wind"

    He is on his way to get revenge on who ever killed his loved one but is very conflicted in his thoughts and feelings and the dog sounds like his own internal cries of pain.

    "He went deeper into black, deeper into white
    Could see the stars shining like nails in the night
    He felt the healing, healing, healing, healing hands of love
    Like the stars shiny shiny from above"

    "He contemplates the right or wrong of his plan and feelings the guilt of what he about to do and feels that only way to heal to through love not revenge.

    "Hand in the pocket, finger on the steel
    The pistol weighed heavy, his heart he could feel
    Was beating, beating, beating, beating
    Oh my love, oh my love, oh my love, oh my love"

    His guilt make his heart and gun feel heavy but he continues to be in grief and rage.

    "My love

    "He saw the hands that build
    Can also pull down the hands of love"

    He sees that the hands and heart which create love and life and can also hate and kill.
    Flag bombcat1on August 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song was written about the character from the novel The Executioners SOng...
    Flag markeon July 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its so awesome and different from the other songs
    Flag greenday+u2=meon April 06, 2007   Link

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