To me, this song is about redemption through suffering. It describes a man who, despite being wise, had lost himself for leading a superficial and futile life, which could be interpreted as drug addiction, ambition, selfishness, promiscuity...), but has experienced salvation and peace by surrendering to god and learning what's really important in life. Faith and maturity have taught him how to "see" things in a deeper manner. He now falls to his knees in pursuit of god's acceptance.
It kind of lets me down that so many U2 songs are full of religious interpretation, but the poetry, elusiveness and the complexity of human existence Bono adds to the songs disguises he narrowness of mind and blind devotion of christian themes.
To me, this song is about redemption through suffering. It describes a man who, despite being wise, had lost himself for leading a superficial and futile life, which could be interpreted as drug addiction, ambition, selfishness, promiscuity...), but has experienced salvation and peace by surrendering to god and learning what's really important in life. Faith and maturity have taught him how to "see" things in a deeper manner. He now falls to his knees in pursuit of god's acceptance.
It kind of lets me down that so many U2 songs are full of religious interpretation, but the poetry, elusiveness and the complexity of human existence Bono adds to the songs disguises he narrowness of mind and blind devotion of christian themes.