Lyrics for Where The Streets Have No Name as interpreted by spitfirek7

Where The Streets Have No Name Lyrics
I wanna run
I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name

I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building
Then burning down love,
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do

The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building
Then burning down love,
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do

Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh yes, in dust
See our love turn to rust
And we're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do

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kazu
04-03-2006

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Okay, so in the chorus he's maybe switching thoughts: "Where the streets have no name" is the ideal place; then he brings us back to our society, where "We're still building/then burning down love"; then he switches back to utopia "And when I go there...". Again, with "our love turns to rust", I guess he returns to our poisoned society (the impoverished place he and his wife were visiting at the time). So maybe he's switching back and forth, comparing us and utopia?

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beshaman
05-16-2006

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alot of these comments are right on it is about freedom and the one about the streets in ireland was a direct hit, but on a more universal understanding it is about the ultimate freedom, freedom of expression, titles, social status, and most of all freedom of judgement upon not just others but ourselves. streets with no name is a place free to live life as it truly is not how we think it should be. at least that is my opinion for i know of no place in this world that allows such freedom.

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beshaman
05-16-2006

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oh yeah and i was curious if anybody here has heard the expression "heaven on earth"? in contrast to "hell on earth", it is simply what you make of it, for i know no other place to be than right here on this earth

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plasmaHD
08-04-2006

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"where the streets have no name", at least as I can see it, means a place untouched by humans, a pure wilderness without pollution, anger or war-"poison rain". about the "i go there with you" means that he would go there with someone he loves.

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Panda1189
10-31-2006

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my all time favourite song. It has the most brilliant intro ever, with the best sound and feel, and brilliant lyrics and the badn also says their best live song and will always be in the live show. The meaning, well the band is certainly religious so the deeper meaning of it would seem to be of that nature, or possibly it isnt, just describing the perfect place for love and peace, although religious views hold this as heaven. Movong on from its meaning, please just appreciate this for its musical qualities from the greatest band of all time

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Panda1189
10-31-2006

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my all time favourite song. It has the most brilliant intro ever, with the best sound and feel, and brilliant lyrics and the badn also says their best live song and will always be in the live show. The meaning, well the band is certainly religious so the deeper meaning of it would seem to be of that nature, or possibly it isnt, just describing the perfect place for love and peace, although religious views hold this as heaven. Movong on from its meaning, please just appreciate this for its musical qualities from the greatest band of all time

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bostonbonoboy14
12-09-2006

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Where the streets have no name is bono telling people about a place that he strives to go to and how people get there thus "i see the dust cloud disappear without a trace" and "i wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside" the restriction keeping him a living human from being in heaven and in this place. and how he can only go there with you, you = God

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dandelionpetals
01-05-2007

Rated 0 
I always remember when this song comes on the radio of the Super Bowl Halftime Show after the 9/11 attacks when they played this song with the names of all those people killed rolling behind them. I get chills thinking of it and I can't ever play this song without thinking about that. One of the most moving moments in my life so far.

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collegestudent
01-19-2007

Rated 0 
I have a question, what does Bono mean about the part where he states "Where still building then burning down love, burning down love, and when I go there Ill go there with you its all I can do." What does this mean, I guess I am asking because this song was played to me to express how this person felt about a break up that previously happened to me. And he decided to pick this song and I have no clue why so I was wondering if all Bono fans could tell me what this particular part means?

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deankavanagh1234
02-26-2007

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collegestudent this is my opinion so don't take it as fact. But i am a big U2 fan. In my opinion the song is about seeking a utopia free from worldly desires i..e.wealth, materialism etc. And finding a place within your mind to accomodate that.

In regards to the lyrics you query. I believe it is stating mankind manages to come near to building this place but their brotherhood and love for one another becomes distorted when acts of evil i.e. Terrorism or the divide between wealth and poverty increases and people begin to resurface their discriminations for one another and it takes a lengthy process to get back on track.

Things like the civil rights movement, live Aid/ live 8, the good friday agreement, civil intergtration are examples of events showing this utopia is attainable provided all people acknowledge an idea bono has popularised

" to be one and united is great, but to respect the right to be different is even better"

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rattle and hum
03-27-2007

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this song was written about when ireland was going through the days of the wars between religions. they had to take down the street signs because only cirtain religions could go down cirtain streets

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rattle and hum
03-27-2007

Rated 0 
this song was written about when ireland was going through the days of the wars between religions. they had to take down the street signs because only cirtain religions could go down cirtain streets

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marke
07-16-2007

Rated 0 
.. jumping in the conversation a bit late here, but wanted to address "robbwhite" comments from 2004 saying you can't call yourself a U2 fan and not know this song is about LA.. that is about as far off base as anyone can be.. the song had nothing to do with LA (only connection was the video was filmed there).. There are 2 key strands to keep in mind in this song... if I remember correctly Bono was writing about a town where the street you lived on or grew up on --the name of the street--implied who you could socialize wiith or hang out wiith (not sure what city he was referrring to). As with many u2 song, the ambiguity allows us to 'fill in the blanks' from our own experiences. However, a key image from Joshua Tree is the desert and hopes for a new life there. I think an intriguing way to look at U2's earlier albums are of war and it's aftermath-- the albumWar is about upheaval, Unforgettable fire is about displacement and alienation ("the land grows weary of its own", and Joshua Tree is the final chapter where displacement leads to hope....

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marke
07-16-2007

Rated 0 
.. jumping in the conversation a bit late here, but wanted to address "robbwhite" comments from 2004 saying you can't call yourself a U2 fan and not know this song is about LA.. that is about as far off base as anyone can be.. the song had nothing to do with LA (only connection was the video was filmed there).. There are 2 key strands to keep in mind in this song... if I remember correctly Bono was writing about a town where the street you lived on or grew up on --the name of the street--implied who you could socialize wiith or hang out wiith (not sure what city he was referrring to). As with many u2 song, the ambiguity allows us to 'fill in the blanks' from our own experiences. However, a key image from Joshua Tree is the desert and hopes for a new life there. I think an intriguing way to look at U2's earlier albums are of war and it's aftermath-- the albumWar is about upheaval, Unforgettable fire is about displacement and alienation ("the land grows weary of its own", and Joshua Tree is the final chapter where displacement leads to hope....

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albynokwan
09-10-2007

Rated 0 
Taken from Boston Live in 2001:

"How long to sing this song

What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me
What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me
I lift high the Cup of Salvation as a toast to our Father
To follow through on a promise I made to you from the heart"

Says all...

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MarkieU2fan
12-06-2007

Rated 0 
I love reading other people's interpretation of this extremely important song. I think each of you has it right to some degree. But I read some 20 years ago that the technical meaning of the song refers to ancient Jerusalem where the streets actually did have no name. It's a gospel song. And even though a spiritual inclination may have been its starting point, I think most of us can agree the band has used it to express many important things over the decades. That's was great songs and bands do, they evolve. Most recently on the Vertigo tour, the song was about Africa. "From Dr. King's America, to Nelsom Mandela's Africa, the journey of freedom and equality MOVES ON!! AND ON!!"

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MadmanSalvo
12-23-2007

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This song is written by Bono, a very outspoken Christian, and I think theat it is supposed to encompass the idea of heaven. The opening bars of this song are just sublime, particularly the part where (those of you who have seen the Slane Castle dvd will know this point) all the lights turn on on maximum brightness, if you crested a hill in your car when that happened , and beheld a massive, beautiful, sweeping vista when that happened, that would perfect this song.

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popsadie
12-29-2007

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In the Joshua Tree Deluxe edition, the booklet included shows the original handwritten lyrics to the song. Most of the lyrics listed are the ones sung on the album..but I did notice this change..."I want to reach out and touch the flame"---"I've got to break out..holy spirit spirit like a flame"--which seems to show that heaven..or atleast God's Kingdom on the earth was atleast one of the song's subjects.

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nulled
01-16-2008

Rated 0 
if you're young and if you still young at heart there is a place where you want to reach out the wholeness of purity brethen, spiritual free...and there is the song was.
Funny, if found out in U2's DVD, Brian Eno almost erase the entire recording because he become frustrate to match The Edge intro with the rhythm with the whole element...he actually spoiled his coffee but fortunately his jr. colleague save them. Later he confessed " its much better to erase the whole think and start with fresh idea.." so it really take U2 effort...this is definitly the best song.

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andya71
01-28-2008

Rated 0 
this song is obviously about a postmans worst nightmare. where the streets have no name.... he just puts the letters in any house

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U2fantasy
03-01-2008

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This is definitely one of the best songs ever written, by the best band ever. It really is beyond words. I love blasting this song, speeding down the highway with the sun setting in your window. It's just perfect.

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albynokwan
04-08-2008

Rated 0 
"Where the Streets Have No Name is more like the U2 of old than any of the other songs on the LP, because it’s a sketch - I was just trying to sketch a location, maybe a spiritual location, maybe a romantic location. I was trying to sketch a feeling. I often feel very claustrophobic in a city, a feeling of wanting to break out of that city and a feeling of wanting to go somewhere where the values of the city and the values of our society don’t hold you down. An interesting story that someone told me once is that in Belfast, by what street someone lives on you can tell not only their religion but tell how much money they’re making - literally by which side of the road they live on, because the further up the hill the more expensive the houses become. You can almost tell what the people are earning by the name of the street they live on and what side of that street they live on. That said something to me, and so I started writing about a place where the streets have no name."


Good interview taken from wikipedia

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atseabeach
04-17-2008

Rated 0 
A couple of my favorite quotes from reading all the thoughts above...

"This is the greatest running song ever!"

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LFCandU2
04-29-2008

Rated 0 
U2 are my favourite band!!

And this is my favourite U2 songs, I love it, I love it


I believe that this magnificent song has 3 meanings

First part of the song

"I wanna run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name"

I think this is about Bono and his wife going on an imaginery trip to Africa. This is the fact they "touch the flame"

Second part

"I want to feel
Sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud dissapear
Without a trace
I want to take shelter
Under the poison rain
Where the streets have no name"

This talks about Bono waiting to see Heaven

Third part

"The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on desert plain
Where the streets have no name"

This line probably refers to the 1984 Famine of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is "high on desert plains"

The chorus

"Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building and burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
Its all I can do"

during the 1984 Charity concert during which Live Aid was a benefit for the Ethiopian Famine, the concert raised millions of dollars but had to give most of the money to the U.S, this is the fact that they were 'Building and burning down love".
Later on, Bono would campaign effortlessly to drop the debt of many third world nations.

Later in 1986, few months before recording The Joshua Tree, Bono and his wife was invited by a Christian relief and development organization World Vision to take a first hand look at the famine. Africa has had a special place in Bono's heart ever since as you see in his campaigning on issues of concern to Africa

"And when I go there, I go there with you, Its all I can do", Bono adresses that to his wife as well as to Jesus

On the Live in Boston DVD, Bono introduces the song from the more spiritual perspective, intoning to the audience, "What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God!", referencing Psalm 116:12-14 in The Message (Bible) translation

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Steveareno
07-20-2008

Rated 0 
The meaning of this song is quite oibvious to those of us living north of Los Angeles. To begin, the title of the album in which the song is found is titled "Joshua Tree." This is an obvious reference to the Mojave Desert where the Joshua Tree is indigenous. In the Mojave Desert there is a valley named Antelope Valley. This valley is located "high on a desert plain," because the Antelope Valley is located in the "high desert," The high desert experiences torrid summers and freezing winters. It is a place where I can almost always "feel the sunlight on my face." because it is almost always cloud free and sunny. This God forsaken place is extremely windy and dusty and you can see a "dust cloud disappear without a trace." It is ALWAYS so windy that you would feel that "We're beaten and blown by the wind, Trampled in dust." This valley is extremely flat, and even though it is a lousy place to live the land is cheap so there is a huge amount of homebuilding always happening. So again "We're still building," fits perfectly. The flatness of course does nothing to stop the constant wind. Moreover, because of the flatness, when it does rain the water has nowhere to go and "The city's a flood," as the streets flood immediately whenever there is rain. Oh and as to the names, or rather the lack of names of the streets, when the streets were originally laid out the streets that run east and west are named "A Street," "B Street," "C Street," and so on. Every tenth of a mile a street picks up a number like "A-3 Street." No kidding you can look all this up on google maps. The streets that run north and south are named by numbers, so the street names read like "45th Street East. Thus it's a place were "The Streets Have No Names." Q.E.D.

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