This song is one of the most meaningful songs i've ever listened to. The message is fairly simple, but the way that he expresses himself throughout the song is so real, and so full of emotion that you can't help being drawn into the song. Maybe its just because i have been in exactly the same situation myself and i can empathise with the lyrics, but the hopelessness of his situation is depicted with the great contradictions. You give it all, but i want more. Nothing to win, nothing left to lose. The basic problem is that being with her is too hard to bear because he wants her so much, and being away from her is too much for the same reason. On a bed of nails she makes me wait. You give it all but i want more. He is showing his mixed feelings. He is angry that she is letting him stay in this situation, yet he knows that she is doing all she can. Hrmmm...i've gone on for a bit haven't i...it's just that this song is the story of my life, so i kinda could talk about it for a while...but i guess i'll just leave it here...
No. No. No. You guys (and gals) got it all wrong. You have totally misunderstood Bono. Bono is a very religious person - specifically Christian. Many, many U2 songs are sprinkled with or are about the relationship of man to God. In With or Without You, the singer of the song (symbolically of course) is Jesus. What Jesus is saying is that he is so disappointed in your sins that he can't live with you but loves you so much that he also cannot live without you. "See the stone set in your...
No. No. No. You guys (and gals) got it all wrong. You have totally misunderstood Bono. Bono is a very religious person - specifically Christian. Many, many U2 songs are sprinkled with or are about the relationship of man to God. In With or Without You, the singer of the song (symbolically of course) is Jesus. What Jesus is saying is that he is so disappointed in your sins that he can't live with you but loves you so much that he also cannot live without you. "See the stone set in your eyes" is a reference to drugs and partying and how it keeps you away from Christ. The continued use of drugs/partying, and by extension - sex, is the "thorn sticking in your side". Doesn't matter. Christ will wait for you. "Sleight of hand and twist of fate" is a reference to sexual immorality and how the "sleight of hand" represents the little games people play to get each other to sleep with each other, when these relationships are ultimately unsatisfying (like drugs). "Twist of fate" refers to the sometimes unintended consequences of these immoral hookups - like being with a girl just because the sex is good and not really caring about her welfare. You have, in effect consigned yourself to a fate (the twist) that is ungodly and not the fate God/Jesus wants for you. So "on a bed of nails she makes me wait". The bed refers back to the sexual immorality and how the sex/hookups/etc. are really no more than a "bed of nails" (allusion to the Christ on the cross/crown of thorns) - a torture in effect, that "she" (you and me) makes Jesus/Us go through as we await salvation. "And i wait without You" - Christ is saying that as you do drugs, party, act immoral etc., he waits for your salvation - without you. So, it's a song of hope and sadness - two opposites - like with and without. The hope is that you make it "through the storm" with every last fiber of your being loving Jesus and suffering anything to get to him - although as human (imperfect) Jesus always wants more because he is perfect. So it's a struggle. "You give yourself away". You constantly fall and sin and "give away" that good things of yourself to immorality and evil. You just keep doing it even though it's bad. "My hands are tied, my body's bruised" refers to the torture Jesus endured and how we, in effect, torture him with our immoral behavior. But as humans, we have free will, so Jesus can't "force" us to do good - his hands are tied. "She got me with nothing to give and nothing left to lose" is the Bono voice reapperaing and saying sadly that "she" - not a real person, but a representation of evil and the seductive nature of it - has gotten him to give up and/or use up the good things of his life - innocence, purity, calm, peace - such that he no longer has any of these and consequently has nothing left to lose...and you give yourself away. Bono is a profound thinker and has many religious/Christian references in the songs. He uses double entendres alot. In effect, Bono is a Christian evangelist in the rock and roll world. I love U2 and urge you to see his lyrics through that prism. He doesn;t just sing about guy/girl relationships. That's far too facile for Paul Hewson. I know this sounds all crazy religious, but I really think this is closer to the truth of the song...
I agree in my opinion i believe its the fact he cannot go on with her because he has been pulled to the boundary he has nothing left to give her and on the without you bit i believe its because he has so many mixed up feelings he has failed to be happy in love with her so he has to put up with what is thrown his way which reminds me of alot of my situations you see :)
I agree in my opinion i believe its the fact he cannot go on with her because he has been pulled to the boundary he has nothing left to give her and on the without you bit i believe its because he has so many mixed up feelings he has failed to be happy in love with her so he has to put up with what is thrown his way which reminds me of alot of my situations you see :)
I think he can't live "with her" because of another relational situation, but he's stuck in a lose-lose situation, since he can't "live without her" either. A hell, a prison, a trap, torn by desire, raped by the fire.
I think he can't live "with her" because of another relational situation, but he's stuck in a lose-lose situation, since he can't "live without her" either. A hell, a prison, a trap, torn by desire, raped by the fire.
actually, Bono's lyrics are almost always universal. this is what makes him such a good lyricist. The song is about Christ and the whole religious aspect but at the same time it is about a bad relationship. Almost all U2's songs are like this.
actually, Bono's lyrics are almost always universal. this is what makes him such a good lyricist. The song is about Christ and the whole religious aspect but at the same time it is about a bad relationship. Almost all U2's songs are like this.
Oddly enough Im reading this book about fallen angels and this song keeps popping into my head everytime the angel sees the girl he's been waiting for. I know it's major corny but still, I totally agree with what the Arch Angel says giggle more angels!!!
Oddly enough Im reading this book about fallen angels and this song keeps popping into my head everytime the angel sees the girl he's been waiting for. I know it's major corny but still, I totally agree with what the Arch Angel says giggle more angels!!!
This song is one of the most meaningful songs i've ever listened to. The message is fairly simple, but the way that he expresses himself throughout the song is so real, and so full of emotion that you can't help being drawn into the song. Maybe its just because i have been in exactly the same situation myself and i can empathise with the lyrics, but the hopelessness of his situation is depicted with the great contradictions. You give it all, but i want more. Nothing to win, nothing left to lose. The basic problem is that being with her is too hard to bear because he wants her so much, and being away from her is too much for the same reason. On a bed of nails she makes me wait. You give it all but i want more. He is showing his mixed feelings. He is angry that she is letting him stay in this situation, yet he knows that she is doing all she can. Hrmmm...i've gone on for a bit haven't i...it's just that this song is the story of my life, so i kinda could talk about it for a while...but i guess i'll just leave it here...
No. No. No. You guys (and gals) got it all wrong. You have totally misunderstood Bono. Bono is a very religious person - specifically Christian. Many, many U2 songs are sprinkled with or are about the relationship of man to God. In With or Without You, the singer of the song (symbolically of course) is Jesus. What Jesus is saying is that he is so disappointed in your sins that he can't live with you but loves you so much that he also cannot live without you. "See the stone set in your...
No. No. No. You guys (and gals) got it all wrong. You have totally misunderstood Bono. Bono is a very religious person - specifically Christian. Many, many U2 songs are sprinkled with or are about the relationship of man to God. In With or Without You, the singer of the song (symbolically of course) is Jesus. What Jesus is saying is that he is so disappointed in your sins that he can't live with you but loves you so much that he also cannot live without you. "See the stone set in your eyes" is a reference to drugs and partying and how it keeps you away from Christ. The continued use of drugs/partying, and by extension - sex, is the "thorn sticking in your side". Doesn't matter. Christ will wait for you. "Sleight of hand and twist of fate" is a reference to sexual immorality and how the "sleight of hand" represents the little games people play to get each other to sleep with each other, when these relationships are ultimately unsatisfying (like drugs). "Twist of fate" refers to the sometimes unintended consequences of these immoral hookups - like being with a girl just because the sex is good and not really caring about her welfare. You have, in effect consigned yourself to a fate (the twist) that is ungodly and not the fate God/Jesus wants for you. So "on a bed of nails she makes me wait". The bed refers back to the sexual immorality and how the sex/hookups/etc. are really no more than a "bed of nails" (allusion to the Christ on the cross/crown of thorns) - a torture in effect, that "she" (you and me) makes Jesus/Us go through as we await salvation. "And i wait without You" - Christ is saying that as you do drugs, party, act immoral etc., he waits for your salvation - without you. So, it's a song of hope and sadness - two opposites - like with and without. The hope is that you make it "through the storm" with every last fiber of your being loving Jesus and suffering anything to get to him - although as human (imperfect) Jesus always wants more because he is perfect. So it's a struggle. "You give yourself away". You constantly fall and sin and "give away" that good things of yourself to immorality and evil. You just keep doing it even though it's bad. "My hands are tied, my body's bruised" refers to the torture Jesus endured and how we, in effect, torture him with our immoral behavior. But as humans, we have free will, so Jesus can't "force" us to do good - his hands are tied. "She got me with nothing to give and nothing left to lose" is the Bono voice reapperaing and saying sadly that "she" - not a real person, but a representation of evil and the seductive nature of it - has gotten him to give up and/or use up the good things of his life - innocence, purity, calm, peace - such that he no longer has any of these and consequently has nothing left to lose...and you give yourself away. Bono is a profound thinker and has many religious/Christian references in the songs. He uses double entendres alot. In effect, Bono is a Christian evangelist in the rock and roll world. I love U2 and urge you to see his lyrics through that prism. He doesn;t just sing about guy/girl relationships. That's far too facile for Paul Hewson. I know this sounds all crazy religious, but I really think this is closer to the truth of the song...
I think you're on the right track, Discerner. These lyrics are far more denser then "just" a relationship drama.
I think you're on the right track, Discerner. These lyrics are far more denser then "just" a relationship drama.
I agree in my opinion i believe its the fact he cannot go on with her because he has been pulled to the boundary he has nothing left to give her and on the without you bit i believe its because he has so many mixed up feelings he has failed to be happy in love with her so he has to put up with what is thrown his way which reminds me of alot of my situations you see :)
I agree in my opinion i believe its the fact he cannot go on with her because he has been pulled to the boundary he has nothing left to give her and on the without you bit i believe its because he has so many mixed up feelings he has failed to be happy in love with her so he has to put up with what is thrown his way which reminds me of alot of my situations you see :)
I think he can't live "with her" because of another relational situation, but he's stuck in a lose-lose situation, since he can't "live without her" either. A hell, a prison, a trap, torn by desire, raped by the fire.
I think he can't live "with her" because of another relational situation, but he's stuck in a lose-lose situation, since he can't "live without her" either. A hell, a prison, a trap, torn by desire, raped by the fire.
actually, Bono's lyrics are almost always universal. this is what makes him such a good lyricist. The song is about Christ and the whole religious aspect but at the same time it is about a bad relationship. Almost all U2's songs are like this.
actually, Bono's lyrics are almost always universal. this is what makes him such a good lyricist. The song is about Christ and the whole religious aspect but at the same time it is about a bad relationship. Almost all U2's songs are like this.
gayest thing ive ever read
gayest thing ive ever read
I'm just curious. Did the Bible ever mention drugs being bad? I can't recall. Also, mushyz, you're gay.
I'm just curious. Did the Bible ever mention drugs being bad? I can't recall. Also, mushyz, you're gay.
What is the "thorn twist in your side"??? and what is "Sleight of hand and twist of fate"??? It's the one part everybody's avoiding
What is the "thorn twist in your side"??? and what is "Sleight of hand and twist of fate"??? It's the one part everybody's avoiding
Oddly enough Im reading this book about fallen angels and this song keeps popping into my head everytime the angel sees the girl he's been waiting for. I know it's major corny but still, I totally agree with what the Arch Angel says giggle more angels!!!
Oddly enough Im reading this book about fallen angels and this song keeps popping into my head everytime the angel sees the girl he's been waiting for. I know it's major corny but still, I totally agree with what the Arch Angel says giggle more angels!!!