Honestly, I am surprised that only one person in this entire forum has even considered the idea that the Original of the Species is Christ. Yes, Bono may have been inspired The Edge's daughter, and wrote the song for her, but one of my favorite things about a lot of U2's songs is their ambiguity. Many of their songs have both secular and spiritual interpretations; this has allowed them to spread songs with biblical roots in their lyrics all over the world, like "Yahweh", whose title bears the Hebrew name for God. But back to Original of the Species--I do not believe my interpretation is out of place, considering how U2 has included many Christian themes in their lyrics over the years.
I think the song is told from the perspective of Mary speaking to baby Jesus. Trust me, it all fits. At this point, Mary knows that this baby is to become to savior of the world according to the message she received from an angel, and wants to cherish this time with her son while he is still a child (see the first verse).
Mary will give her baby everything she's got, but she knows that she cannot complete for him the purpose for which he was sent to this Earth: the die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus was the first of his kind, "like no one before", a true Original of the Species, which contrasts quite well as an opposite of Darwin's work, "Origin of the Species".
Everywhere Jesus went, he "shouted", not literally, but with his life: healing the sick and the lame, bringing new life to everyone he touched, and never giving in to "celebrity": He could have entered this world as a king, or a full-grown man, but instead came through his mother’s womb as a baby who would grow up in a poor community.
So, besides being his mother, Mary “kneels” (U2 often uses the image of kneeling as a way of referring to prayer) because she wants a different kind of relationship with him—a spiritual one, not just as her own son, but as the son of God. And “she wants [him] some more.” What a beautiful song.
Can someone actually confirm it is Celebrity? for years i have thought it was Celerity , and after listening to it numerous times , I'm convinced it is.
Can someone actually confirm it is Celebrity? for years i have thought it was Celerity , and after listening to it numerous times , I'm convinced it is.
Celerity makes sense in this song especially because it means swiftness , and he is warning against it . as he does in the beginning of the song "Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start "
Celerity makes sense in this song especially because it means swiftness , and he is warning against it . as he does in the beginning of the song "Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start "
Fits into the song very well , compared to celebrity. just wondering if anyone knew for sure .
Fits into the song very well , compared to celebrity. just wondering if anyone knew for sure .
Honestly, I am surprised that only one person in this entire forum has even considered the idea that the Original of the Species is Christ. Yes, Bono may have been inspired The Edge's daughter, and wrote the song for her, but one of my favorite things about a lot of U2's songs is their ambiguity. Many of their songs have both secular and spiritual interpretations; this has allowed them to spread songs with biblical roots in their lyrics all over the world, like "Yahweh", whose title bears the Hebrew name for God. But back to Original of the Species--I do not believe my interpretation is out of place, considering how U2 has included many Christian themes in their lyrics over the years.
I think the song is told from the perspective of Mary speaking to baby Jesus. Trust me, it all fits. At this point, Mary knows that this baby is to become to savior of the world according to the message she received from an angel, and wants to cherish this time with her son while he is still a child (see the first verse).
Mary will give her baby everything she's got, but she knows that she cannot complete for him the purpose for which he was sent to this Earth: the die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus was the first of his kind, "like no one before", a true Original of the Species, which contrasts quite well as an opposite of Darwin's work, "Origin of the Species".
Everywhere Jesus went, he "shouted", not literally, but with his life: healing the sick and the lame, bringing new life to everyone he touched, and never giving in to "celebrity": He could have entered this world as a king, or a full-grown man, but instead came through his mother’s womb as a baby who would grow up in a poor community.
So, besides being his mother, Mary “kneels” (U2 often uses the image of kneeling as a way of referring to prayer) because she wants a different kind of relationship with him—a spiritual one, not just as her own son, but as the son of God. And “she wants [him] some more.” What a beautiful song.
Can someone actually confirm it is Celebrity? for years i have thought it was Celerity , and after listening to it numerous times , I'm convinced it is.
Can someone actually confirm it is Celebrity? for years i have thought it was Celerity , and after listening to it numerous times , I'm convinced it is.
Celerity makes sense in this song especially because it means swiftness , and he is warning against it . as he does in the beginning of the song "Baby slow down The end is not as fun as the start "
Celerity makes sense in this song especially because it means swiftness , and he is warning against it . as he does in the beginning of the song "Baby slow down The end is not as fun as the start "
Fits into the song very well , compared to celebrity. just wondering if anyone knew for sure .
Fits into the song very well , compared to celebrity. just wondering if anyone knew for sure .