In a little while
Surely you'll be mine
In a little while, I'll be there
In a little while
This hurt will hurt no more
I'll be home, love

When the night takes a deep breath
And the daylight has no air
If I crawl, if I come crawling home
Will you be there?

In a little while
I won't be blown by every breeze
Friday night running to Sunday on my knees
That girl, that girl she's mine
Well I've known her since
Since she was

A little girl with Spanish eyes
When I saw her first in a pram they pushed her by
Oh uh my, my how you've grown
Well it's been, it's been a little while

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Slow down my beating heart
A man dreams one day to fly
A man takes a rocket ship into the skies
He lives on a star that's dying in the night
And follows in the trail, the scatter of light
Turn it on
Turn it on, you turn me on

Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

In a Little While Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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In A Little While song meanings
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75 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    There seems to be a lot of misconception about this song, though many people seem to have it right.

    To understand this song, you have to put yourself on Bonos shoes for a minute. You're waking up in a hotel somewhere on tour, your head hurting from one too many after the previous nights show, you're missing home and begin reflecting on what your career has cost those that you love.

    It opens with his immediate thoughts - I'll be home soon... I'll feel better soon... and when he is home, he worries that those he loves will still be waiting for him, or will they have moved on without him?

    He then reflects on what he has missed due to his lifestyle - expressed as a reference to his daughter growing up ("spanish eyes" is normally a reference to his wife, but the reference to the pram and growing up makes it clear he is talking about someone who has inherited those eyes).

    He then reflects on the choices he's made in his life - he was the young man who "dreamed to fly" and his career was taking "a rocket ship to the stars". But his success came at a price, and he is aware of how artificial his "success" can feel.

    Finally, he is back in the room experiencing the pain of missing his family. Slow down my beating heart... let this pain pass by, and get yourself together. After all, there is another show to do tonight.

    As previously mentioned by others, Joey Ramone loved this song and it was the last one he listened to. It is unreasonable to speculate that he would have experienced the same emotions during his career that Bono is singing about?

    No doubt his death would have driven home further in Bonos mind the exact thoughts this song is expressing - just what is more important in life than spending time with his family?

    Gospel songs are frequently songs of longing - thus Joey Ramone turned "a song about a hangover" into one.

    Elvish Magion March 07, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    am i missing something? where does it say that its a little girl? it says he knew her since she was little but it never says that she still is. (maybe i'm just not seeing something.)

    angelgarbageon May 07, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    ah, it's just too beautiful, i almost don't even care what it's about. "in a little while, this hurt will hurt no more." is that not enough for you? "slow down my beating heart." some things are just beautiful and by picking them apart we only butcher them.

    and that's my two cents.

    lane.on February 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Maybe he was a kid when he saw the little girl being pushed by in the pram. There is no reason to suppose a disgusting interpretation where none is warranted, especially given U2's very public displays of their collective moral compass. Sheesh. Dirty minds.

    ButtOfMalmseyon May 07, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Nerdythewell, you need to go away, this song is not about having sex with a little girl, it's a metaphor for a hangover that you wake up with and the night before seems like a distant memory...it's about being gone for so long...the little girl is his daughter by the way, the one with in the pram and with the spanish eyes, you guys have no idea what you're talking about, epecially my buddy nerdythewell

    MnOvrboard182on May 09, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    mishmeister you piece of shite you act black though we know you're white but as the final days draw near you'll become the most valuable person here

    chocolateon April 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Discoeve u have no idea what you are talking about but whatever floats your boat.......I think the song is a bout a child hood love that is broken up by a situation then it is reclaimed when they are older....and then they find that they are ment to be together...or it could be about a fother and daughter when the father had to go away for something and only met his daughter later in life and missed her childhood...the part when eh says "turn me on" it's not a sexual meaning it just means make me proud.

    samoan417on July 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Another song from "All That You Can't Leave Behind," this one is about watching someone grow up.

    Willoon April 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Bono says in the U2 live dvd (or cd) that it's about a hangover and it is, in fact, the last song played to Joey Ramone before he died. To Ramone it was somewhat of a Gospel song.

    natefrenzyon May 31, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    not at all!!!! bono wrote this song while u2 was on tour...we was away of his family and kids and he is telling them hat he's going to be with them soon...and yes it was joey ramone last song

    rhcp_girlon November 09, 2004   Link

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