It is a love song, sure, but everyone writes love songs. It tells of the intensity of desire and lust, the desire to be everything to someone, when really these promises are unfulfillable. So, it comes to the question of whether we can love within our limitations, or whether it will all end when our own human weaknesses are exposed.
It's about love, but a fragile love, a love where the 'promises we make' are too grand to support. The narrator hear's all these promises from his lover, and they all sound wonderful, but they're unnecessary. He only wants her, everything else is a distraction.
That's all well and good, but The Edge and the violin are really what brings this song from mediocre to great. The musical leads parallel the story, through miniature peaks and lulls, to the stirring climax after Bono shouts "You --- all I want is you ... ", as if the person is confronting the demons and choosing between love and lust, then into the gentle but restrained denouement, which seems to signify a comfortable satisfaction with intense feeling restrained below the surface.
I would only add that in wanting "you", the lover wants simply 'to be', to exist, in the state of love with the other, not in a state of commitment, not in falsity or in pretense, but to truly be with the other. A song that is similar is "Come as you Are" by Nirvana where the singer begs the other to be oneself, friend or foe, to let go of ego and all that prevents us, gets in the way of true communion.
I would only add that in wanting "you", the lover wants simply 'to be', to exist, in the state of love with the other, not in a state of commitment, not in falsity or in pretense, but to truly be with the other. A song that is similar is "Come as you Are" by Nirvana where the singer begs the other to be oneself, friend or foe, to let go of ego and all that prevents us, gets in the way of true communion.
What brings meaning to the song, however interestingly, is not the composer, but the presentation of it, Bono's performance, Bono's ability to convey those sentiments makes the song so compelling, I believe, as well as the music, as you say.
@ballzofsno I would actually disagree a bit with this a bit and at the same time I would also look a bit at what JKP writes which is not entirely how I see it either (but he is closer).
@ballzofsno I would actually disagree a bit with this a bit and at the same time I would also look a bit at what JKP writes which is not entirely how I see it either (but he is closer).
I tend to take a step back from things and look at the pictures rather than the details. JKP hits the nail when he talks about the way Bono performs the song, sentimental, loving and filled with desire. In fairness, the melody doesn't actually bring that voice justice in this case.
I tend to take a step back from things and look at the pictures rather than the details. JKP hits the nail when he talks about the way Bono performs the song, sentimental, loving and filled with desire. In fairness, the melody doesn't actually bring that voice justice in this case.
But back to my point, you mentioned that you think about the song as a way to taking a step down from seeking the perfect love which is unobtainable, but how about flipping the coin on that?
How about that rather than giving up on perfect love and settling for something less, it is about never quitting. Im thinking more along the lines that it is a question about realization. The person knows what you suggest, but at the same time, we can all relate to the notion that love is anything but rational, but rather a mess most of us happily jump into because it brings something new to us that we want above anything else.
My point here is that the person knows that this perfect love can't happen, but he is so madly in love that he will keep going because to settle would be like quitting.
It is a love song, sure, but everyone writes love songs. It tells of the intensity of desire and lust, the desire to be everything to someone, when really these promises are unfulfillable. So, it comes to the question of whether we can love within our limitations, or whether it will all end when our own human weaknesses are exposed.
It's about love, but a fragile love, a love where the 'promises we make' are too grand to support. The narrator hear's all these promises from his lover, and they all sound wonderful, but they're unnecessary. He only wants her, everything else is a distraction.
That's all well and good, but The Edge and the violin are really what brings this song from mediocre to great. The musical leads parallel the story, through miniature peaks and lulls, to the stirring climax after Bono shouts "You --- all I want is you ... ", as if the person is confronting the demons and choosing between love and lust, then into the gentle but restrained denouement, which seems to signify a comfortable satisfaction with intense feeling restrained below the surface.
excellent response.
excellent response.
I would only add that in wanting "you", the lover wants simply 'to be', to exist, in the state of love with the other, not in a state of commitment, not in falsity or in pretense, but to truly be with the other. A song that is similar is "Come as you Are" by Nirvana where the singer begs the other to be oneself, friend or foe, to let go of ego and all that prevents us, gets in the way of true communion.
I would only add that in wanting "you", the lover wants simply 'to be', to exist, in the state of love with the other, not in a state of commitment, not in falsity or in pretense, but to truly be with the other. A song that is similar is "Come as you Are" by Nirvana where the singer begs the other to be oneself, friend or foe, to let go of ego and all that prevents us, gets in the way of true communion.
What brings meaning to the song, however interestingly, is not the composer, but the presentation of it, Bono's performance, Bono's ability to convey those sentiments makes the song so compelling, I believe, as well as the music, as you say.
@ballzofsno I would actually disagree a bit with this a bit and at the same time I would also look a bit at what JKP writes which is not entirely how I see it either (but he is closer).
@ballzofsno I would actually disagree a bit with this a bit and at the same time I would also look a bit at what JKP writes which is not entirely how I see it either (but he is closer).
I tend to take a step back from things and look at the pictures rather than the details. JKP hits the nail when he talks about the way Bono performs the song, sentimental, loving and filled with desire. In fairness, the melody doesn't actually bring that voice justice in this case.
I tend to take a step back from things and look at the pictures rather than the details. JKP hits the nail when he talks about the way Bono performs the song, sentimental, loving and filled with desire. In fairness, the melody doesn't actually bring that voice justice in this case.
But back to my point, you mentioned that you think about the song as a way to taking a step down from seeking the perfect love which is unobtainable, but how about flipping the coin on that? How about that rather than giving up on perfect love and settling for something less, it is about never quitting. Im thinking more along the lines that it is a question about realization. The person knows what you suggest, but at the same time, we can all relate to the notion that love is anything but rational, but rather a mess most of us happily jump into because it brings something new to us that we want above anything else. My point here is that the person knows that this perfect love can't happen, but he is so madly in love that he will keep going because to settle would be like quitting.