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 Magi I love so much of what you had to say, spot on. Except the part about the little girl with "Spanish eyes", this bono says is him referring to him wife. Bono's wife was always younger than him and he was often made fun of for this. This portion of the song is him referring to Ali in a more dramatic almost comical way. Thats what bono says in an interview anyway, love what you had to say
@Elvish Magi I love so much of what you had to say, spot on. Except the part about the little girl with "Spanish eyes", this bono says is him referring to him wife. Bono's wife was always younger than him and he was often made fun of for this. This portion of the song is him referring to Ali in a more dramatic almost comical way. Thats what bono says in an interview anyway, love what you had to say
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 Magi I love so much of what you had to say, spot on. Except the part about the little girl with "Spanish eyes", this bono says is him referring to him wife. Bono's wife was always younger than him and he was often made fun of for this. This portion of the song is him referring to Ali in a more dramatic almost comical way. Thats what bono says in an interview anyway, love what you had to say
@Elvish Magi I love so much of what you had to say, spot on. Except the part about the little girl with "Spanish eyes", this bono says is him referring to him wife. Bono's wife was always younger than him and he was often made fun of for this. This portion of the song is him referring to Ali in a more dramatic almost comical way. Thats what bono says in an interview anyway, love what you had to say