Oh, baby child

It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight
They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon
You know I don't see you when she walks in the room

It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you help
It's no secret that a liar won't believe anyone else
They say a secret is something you tell one other person
So I'm telling you, child

A man will beg
A man will crawl
On the sheer face of love
Like a fly on a wall
It's no secret at all

It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest
It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success
Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief

Over love

A man will rise
A man will fall
From the sheer face of love
Like a fly from a wall
It's no secret at all

Love, we shine like a
Burning star
We're falling from the sky
Tonight

A man will rise
A man will fall
From the sheer face of love
Like a fly from a wall
It's no secret at all

Oh, yeah!
It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
The universe exploded 'cause of one man's lie
Look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change
There's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

The Fly Lyrics as written by Paul David Hewson David Howell Evans

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Fly song meanings
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  • +2
    My Interpretation

    this song describes a conversation between a couple having a bitter break up, a man and a woman. the man is steadfast in his resolution to break up, though it torments him and the woman he loves. she constantly hurt him in the past by not being faithful to him by his standards, but he endured through it. now he finally doesn't see any point in continuing the relationship, but she accuses him of abandoning her for a better future for himself. he tries to explain to her that it was in her hands, and she kept choosing to be unfaithful and caused him pain he is now running away from, but she is reluctant to accept his explanations, she accuses him of putting on excuses in order to get rid of her, as in her mind he never really loved her. if he did, he wouldn't have left her over a trivial thing, which he insist to call a betrayal:

    Oh, baby child...[he - i love you, but you are needy and can't reciprocate]

    It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky [he-my world is in ruins] It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight [he- i don't know where to go from here] They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon [he - you are the sun in my life] You know I don't see you when she walks in the room [he - but your remorseless betrayal leaves me no option but to leave you]

    It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you help [she is offering help now, but he refuses, it's too little too late in his eyes, and she condemns that] It's no secret that a liar won't believe anyone else [she accuses him of lying to her about his reasons, not believing in her anymore] They say a secret is something you tell one other person [he is being truthful with her] So I'm telling you, child [he is going to respond to her accusations]

    A man will beg [he have begged her to change he ways] A man will crawl [he have lowered himself as he could to accept her ways] On the sheer face of love [all because he loves her] Like a fly on a wall [all because he found shelter in loving her] It's no secret at all [she ridicules his confession as being not honest, flattery in order to get out]

    It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest [she thinks he wants to leave her cause he doesn't love her, and is just feeling guilty about it] It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success [she thinks he is just not satisfied with her and wants more out of life to himself than what she can give him] Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief [she always knew he never really loved her and only used her in some egotistical way] All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief [now she knows his art his his love, and she was circumstantial]

    Over love...

    A man will rise [he - your love brought me up] A man will fall [he - your unfaithfulness ruined me] From the sheer face of love [i love you as always] Like a fly from a wall [it is out of my powers to make our love work for us as a couple] It's no secret at all [she mocks this too]

    Love...we shine like a Burning star [he - there is no way back, we cannot remain together] We're falling from the sky [he - we must fall apart] Tonight [he - today it is over for me, no more forbearance, i am steadfast in my wish to leave you as a spouse]

    A man will rise A man will fall From the sheer face of love Like a fly from a wall It's no secret at all

    Oh, yeah! [she is unwilling to accept his explanations and mocks them] It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky [she, mockingly - you never loved me] The universe exploded 'cause of one man's lie [she - if you had loved me at all, you wouldn't have shattered our love to pieces over such a trivial thing as a lie] Look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change [he - i am tired of convincing you that what you call trivial means a world of pain to me, so i am gonna stop] There's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange [he - i am at a loss regarding reaching an understanding with you, all the more reason to leave our relationship]

    danigurvichon November 17, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i love this song, its the reason I write music.

    Little_Baby_Nothingon August 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The lyrics speak of how crazy our world is. Chorus speaks of how fast a person can fall. The solo and guitaring from that point on to the end of the song is amazing.

    Cuevoon April 19, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    lyrics are pretty negative but there are few things in this world and beyond that can compare with this awesome guitar solo. It gives me goosebumps. OMG what a musical masterpiece !. To me this guitar solo is one of the greatest examples human achievement. Iam out of words...

    langenfeldon May 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    nothing to add... love this song...

    iloveu2on November 11, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Bono has said that after recording the song for the album, they could not ever get it fully right in concerts until the recently concluded Vertigo tour. Such complex is the guitar is the song. A masterpiece.

    young_jableson November 01, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song has to be The Edge's finest moment. There are no words to describe that guitar solo.

    barium6262on August 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "You know I don't see you when she walks in the room." ....the most warm and fuzzy line in the song. Thanks, Brazil :D

    NooContacton August 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh, how sad that nobody's written about this song...I like this song.

    Isn't it funny how this song kinda birthed The Fly? And out of that came all the other little interesting Bono alter-egos-Mirrorball Man, and (oh god) Mister Macphisto? Sorry just had to ad that in.

    U2aholicon July 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its written as somebody talking on a pay-phone to somebody, hence the:

    Look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change

    Plus, I read that somewhere.

    OMG......................if any of you haven't seen the version of it live on the Boston DVD....its so amazing, it gives me so much euphoria its..agh...no adjectives to describe.

    deathbearon May 01, 2003   Link

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