I agree that this is definately a song that hides from casual fans. You might hear it once and dismiss it as a simple, catchy party song, but I think there might be something deeper.
Like a lot of U2 songs, this one is upbeat but there is an oddly ominous tone to it. Although fast-paced and edgy, Bono's voice has a certain pained quality as he sings, and the words themselves are pretty ominous if you read them while listening to the song.
"I Fall Down" makes me think of a woman (or girl) who is either very ill, or just very depressed in general. He sings of her "going to get better", and from her point of view, she feels she's getting nowhere and wants to be somewhere soon. To me, it sounds like a woman who knows she's dying and can't find it in her to "wake up" anymore. She hopes that soon it will all be over and she'll finally get somewhere. (Heaven?)
John, clearly someone who loves her deeply, feels her pain and when she's "down", he finds it hard to pick himself up as well.
Overall, this seems like a pained song written from the point of view of John, who is going through a tragic time with Julie, who can't seem to pick herself up. Whether sick or depressed, it's clear that this is John pleading with her to get up and move on and not leave him.
Just one theory. I would love to hear Bono clarify what this song is about. It's very mysterious and sad and it may even be very personal to Bono, considering he used obviously false names and the lyrics sort of read like the pages of a diary.
I agree that this is definately a song that hides from casual fans. You might hear it once and dismiss it as a simple, catchy party song, but I think there might be something deeper.
Like a lot of U2 songs, this one is upbeat but there is an oddly ominous tone to it. Although fast-paced and edgy, Bono's voice has a certain pained quality as he sings, and the words themselves are pretty ominous if you read them while listening to the song.
"I Fall Down" makes me think of a woman (or girl) who is either very ill, or just very depressed in general. He sings of her "going to get better", and from her point of view, she feels she's getting nowhere and wants to be somewhere soon. To me, it sounds like a woman who knows she's dying and can't find it in her to "wake up" anymore. She hopes that soon it will all be over and she'll finally get somewhere. (Heaven?)
John, clearly someone who loves her deeply, feels her pain and when she's "down", he finds it hard to pick himself up as well.
Overall, this seems like a pained song written from the point of view of John, who is going through a tragic time with Julie, who can't seem to pick herself up. Whether sick or depressed, it's clear that this is John pleading with her to get up and move on and not leave him.
Just one theory. I would love to hear Bono clarify what this song is about. It's very mysterious and sad and it may even be very personal to Bono, considering he used obviously false names and the lyrics sort of read like the pages of a diary.
@eirenightshade Thanks for a good answer, food for thought. I do think you are on to something.
@eirenightshade Thanks for a good answer, food for thought. I do think you are on to something.