Worst Lyric List
In my opinion, these are some of the worst one-line lyrics in U2′s discography (in no order)
1) I’ll do the maximum time for you tonight (Love You Like Mad)
2) The air is heavy, heavy like a truck (Electrical Storm)
3) Grace, it’s the name for a girl (Grace)
What other one-line lyrics would you add to this list?
Last 4 posts by U2isABLE
- Paul McGuinness and U22 Final Tally - January 21st, 2012
- Bono on The Ellen DeGeneres Show - December 1st, 2011
- Autographed Uber Achtung Baby Box Up For Auction - November 8th, 2011
- Unveiling Achtung Baby's Über Deluxe box - October 29th, 2011
BTW, I never said not appreciating music a little different than the norm is ‘flawed’, I said it’s boring . That’s just my opinion, which really means nothing. Flawed suggests that there’s something wrong with you. There’s nothing wrong with being boring. If you’re going to comment on what I said, at least get your facts straight.
I don’t know what the freak you guys are talking about! Almost all of what you guys listed are practically genius. Oi.
I can’t stand though the insect line from Staring at the Sun. It even bugs me so much I always fast forward, good rest of the song though. And in Mofo, I freakin love that song, but what the freak is a “God shaped hole”?!!!
Gloria – I can’t find the door the door is open , the door is either there or not!!
Maybe it’s just me on this one!
And by the way Gloria is one of my favourite u2 songs!!!
@Candy – And in Mofo, I freakin love that song, but what the freak is a “God shaped hole”?!!!
Bono says it refers to 2 things
1) The hole his mother left when she died.
2) The hole he leaves his family with whilst on tour. Describing himself as ‘God-shaped’ comes from the way the media portray him in his role working for world charities. It’s meant in a humourous way.
what a great discussion!
I am not going to consider anything from the 78-83 years for this. Age and lost notes can allow some forgiveness…
I just want to know if anyone slagging OOTS has children. That song is crystal clear to me because i have a 13 month old.
With 99% of Bono’s lyrics, if i didn’t “get” them i enjoyed looking up what he was trying to get at. In the end i appreciate his creativity.
Sooo…poopy lyrics? The air truck line Electrical storm for sure. Unlike the rest of the clunkers stated here, it lacks that redeeming follow up line. Rain washing away bad luck is in itself a tad cliché. With that song we also have to consider that it was a b-side turned single used to promote a greatest hits album. It didn’t surprise me with genius.
I think october and Boy have the finest lyrics out of U2′s discography. Being a teenager myself, all the songs (particulary on Boy) relate to the things you face in life. You adults should think back to when you were teenagers
The worst lyrics for me have to be from Vertigo. The most popular rock song of 2004 was written by Bono, and seriously under-rated his otherwise very deep lyrical writing. There are ways in which you can combine “pure rocking” guitar noises and fantastic lyrics, R.E.M. managed it with their Monster album in 1994, so why couldn’t Bono in Vertigo? They had the drums sorted, the fantastic bass riff and Edge’s sexy chords – but I think Bono ruined the song by making it too commercial and very poor lyrics wise. Native Son should’ve been released instead, and would make a BRILLIANT opening for the “War and Peace” themed Vertigo Tour and go back to their rock roots of Boy and War.
That’s actually the only U2 song that I really cannot listen to. My favourite ever U2 song is Twilight: “A teacher told me why, I laughed when old men cry” is all about coming out as gay to your parents (well in my interpretation), and Bono’s lyrics are strong and clear.
CuthyB said- “I think october and Boy have the finest lyrics out of U2’s discography. Being a teenager myself, all the songs (particulary on Boy) relate to the things you face in life”
Gotta agree there, as another teenager. Songs like “A Day Without Me” and “Another Time, Another Place” might not have the most eloquent lyrics, but they certainly were relevant to Bono at the time, and they’re relevant to me now. For lyrics written by a then-teenager, they’re very good.
And I think the Vertigo lyrics have great imagery, but they lack the poetry U2 lyrics are renowned for. There’s some powerful lines, and they suit a powerful song- but let’s face it “Hello hello, I’m at a place called Vertigo” is no “Love is a temple, love the higher law”
Maybe this is a commentary on my one-track mind, but I thought ‘god-shaped hole’ referred to a woman’s nether regions. I’m kind of disappointed to hear otherwise.
As for OOTS, I took ‘I’ll give you everything that you want, except the thing that you want’ as meaning he’s giving his all towards a woman, but she doesn’t feel the same way about him. I think it’s a song about the worship/obsession of another person, and that person takes advantage of it (You steal from right under my door’.
I agree about Vertigo. He played it safe with those lyrics. Type in ‘Native Son U2′ on YouTube, and you’ll see what Vertigo was originally going to be, different lyrics and all. My guess is that they knew the music was going to appeal to the masses, but lyrically they had to make it more accessible. We’ve all been to a club that we don’t like, calling/texting (Hello! Hello!) a person that we wish was there. I’m probably talking out of my ass, but that’s my humble opinion.
As for Electrical Storm, I think all he had to do was replace ‘as a truck’ with ‘as our hearts’, and it would have been a lot better. Yeah, it doesn’t rhyme very well (and it’s simple), but neither does ‘truck’. Just my opinion.
On the contrary, I think Vertigo is a much better piece of songwriting that Native Son. Looking through Native Son you’ll find unrealized metaphors and confused perspectives, very Unforgettable Fire, yes, but it was unfinished. Vertigo on the other hand is a genius metaphor: the dizzy addiction of fame and fortune at the top of the celebrity ladder, juxtaposed with the images of Jesus on the top of the temple and being tempted. “All of this, all of this could be yours…” is a paraphrase of what Satan whispers to Jesus. The last chorus is a brilliant piece of nifty weaving that knits the two images together, revealing that it’s the love of Christ that keeps Bono on his knees, which, as anyone knows, is the best way to fight an onslaught of vertigo.
Add to that the clever ironic sly reference to the criticisms about Pop(“the boys play rock and roll, they know that they can’t dance, at least they know”) and imho it’s a song right up there with the likes of The Fly or Zooropa.
Mikeboy- As for Electrical Storm, I think all he had to do was replace ‘as a truck’ with ‘as our hearts’, and it would have been a lot better. Yeah, it doesn’t rhyme very well (and it’s simple), but neither does ‘truck’. Just my opinion
Might I just say, in all seriousness, that is brilliant. I’d been trying to think of something to replace ‘truck’ with, and you seem to have come up with the perfect line. Who cares about the rhyme, it’s a great image…I love it.
The Native Son lyrics are probably superior to the Vertigo lyrics, but not as catchy. The “Hello Hello” is unmistakable. I think it’s clear that Bono was going for a ‘burn your house down’ rock song, instead of the angry, political appraoch of Native Son. While the lyrics are not his best, there’s no arguing the reaction Vertigo gets from the crowd- and that’s what it’s about in the end. At least to me.
God-shaped hole is ambiguous. It could be the search for faith, the loss of a loved one, a family connection or a double entendre. That’s the beauty of good lyrics. Different people see them different ways.
And immediately after my last post, Yukona has changed my mind on Vertigo. I picked up on the Pop references, but your view of the last chorus made me think about it more. The Biblical references are subtle but powerful, particularly the “All of this can be yours”…And thinking about it now, lines like “A feeling’s so much stronger than a thought” and “Bullets rip the sky of ink wth gold” are very good.
On a different subject, the “Have another grape” line in Numb has always annoyed me. It’s not bad, as such, it just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the song. You’re getting into it, then suddenly; “Have another grape” . What? Where did that come from?
Bono’s lyrics have dropped off in quality since the zenith of Achtung Baby. Until the End of The world is absolutely his greatest lyric no question. Just brilliant.
Also One, Mysterious Ways, The Fly etc etc. It could only go one way from Achtung Baby.
sorry me again! also have to mention the magnificent Running to Standstill, definately right up there and With or Without You as well. The man can write a classic.
I gotta agree with Steven. I can’t really listen to the lyrics of Miracle Drug, because I don’t seem to get what their point is. He’d give it all up for a miracle drug sounds so junkie to me.
Re: Electrical Storm: I always understood it as “the air is heavy / heavy as a trough / I need the rain / to wash away our bad love”, which seems quite fitting to the brooding sounds of the underlying instrumental track.
Re: Zooropa: Eat to get slimmer is courtesy of the advertising world – almost the whole of Zooropa’s lyrics are a patchwork of advertising slogans from the time when the album was made. I guess you have to have been there at the time to like the song.
Hey CuthyB “You adults should think back to when you were teenagers”
I think we remember what it was like. After all it wasn’t that long ago
Usually what annoys me in lyrics more than the content is a particular rhyme. Like “Jesus’s sister’s eyes are a blister”, in my opinion it’s a corny rhyme that goes in the same category as “Miami my mommy”. Rhyming happy with puppy? That’s a 5 year old’s rhyme. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
Worst lyrics ever, not really thought out or imaginative.
Yukona, I think you’re searching for religious meaning, in Vertigo, that really isn’t there.
I saw U2 outside of Much Music (Canada) talking to fans, in 2001. Bono said to everyone, “All of this can be yours”, pointing to the Much Music building. Surprising that he incorporated that lyrically, 3 years later? No. He likes repeating himself. I just think he believes anyone is capable of achieving anything they want, regardless of their intentions. His next comment was, “When you’re 16, you think you can change the world. Sometimes your right.”, referring to himself. Referencing Satan? I don’t think so. Tongue-in-cheek humour? Yes
.
A song that starts off with one, two, three, fourteen (in Spanish) tells me it’s a toss-off kind of song, or the result of too much to drink one night, as Bono has stated. I guess you see religious meaning in that, too.
Mentioning ‘the boys play rock and roll, they know that they can’t dance, at least they know’ as some kind of heavy, ironic POP reference is stretching it a bit. He then goes on to say ‘I can’t stand the beats, I’m asking for the cheque, girl with crimson nails, with Jesus around her neck, swinging to th music.’ I’m sorry, but that does not conjure up visions of religious subtext (or the album POP), to me (oh wait! He said Jesus!). Ok, the sight of a crucifix MIGHT make him reflect on where he is, or where he wants to be , but all that metaphorical nonsense? It just tells me he’s at a place called Vertigo, thinking of something (or someone) else, and he doesn’t want to be there.
Hello! Hello!-Edge says ‘Hi!’ back- ‘Hola!’
I’m at a place called Vertigo!-Edge says ‘donde esta!’ or ‘ Where is that?!’
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had many drunken cell phone conversations/texts that start off in that manner.
‘Your love is teaching me how to kneel’ is not a whole diatribe on his relationship with Christ. I look at it as he’s saying that his love for her is teaching him to be humble and appreciate when they are together (unlike a place called Vertigo), and that’s it.
Yes, there is some religious influence in their music (especially earlier in their career), but to dissect Vertigo into some commentary on Satan/Christ is just ridiculous. They’re allowed to write a couple of fun songs, but there will always be guys like you that find hidden meaning in everything.
Yukona is just presenting her view on the lyrics, which is no more or less valid than anyone else’s. Personally, I can see both sides of the arguement, as I stated before. Vertigo is a fun, powerful rock song, but there’s meaning behind every song if you look for it. It’s open to interpretation. There’s probably references in there a listener might pick up on that Bono wasn’t aware he was making. Undoubtedly, it is about being somewhere you don’t want to be, thinking of someone or somewhere else. But the first impression is not the only one.
My opinion- Vertigo is an awesome rock song. Make of the lyrics what you will, I think we can all agree on that.
And a side note relating to Scott’s comment about ISHFWILF- during the Vertigo Tour, Bono often sung the last verse “Carried the cross/ Took my shame/ You took the blame”, which, personally, is a vast improvement on the original. Often, the lyrics Bono alters during live shows are better than the studio version.
I have always believed that;
‘i give you everything you want,
except the thing that you want…’
means that he gives her everything possible but she always wants more or that certain thing isnt right.
“I have a lover, a lover like no other” always bugged me, but then again I love the line “With a mouth full of teeth, you ate all your friends.” I imagine someone who is superficially happy (smiling), but steps on those that helped them get to where they are.
I interpret the much-discussed “I’ll give you anything you want/ Except the thing that you want” as he would give anything to his child, except the thing that all teenagers want – to be left alone!
That particular Species lyric has always been great to me, as a parent. I’ve always interpreted it to be about growing up. What the child really wants is to grow and, ultimately, grow away from us parents. We’ll give them everything but that, because it’s too painful to watch them leave, and too painful a statement about our own age and mortality. I always imagined the first part of the song’s “slowing down” theme to be about the hurry children are in to get big and do big things, while we need (in so many ways) for them to stay small. That lyric is actually my favorite part of one of my favorite songs.
But, the “days we were swinging in the trees” and the “monkey stealin’ honey from a swarm of bees” (“Wild Honey”) have to be a couple of the worst lyrics. I admit, though, that whimsy sort of fits into the spirit of the song.
I agree, PiressVoxx. The interpretation of lyrics is up to the individual. I didn’t mean to state otherwise. It just gets a little tiring, however, when people put SO much meaning in to song, when I don’t think that was the intention
Bono could write a song about going to the bathroom, and people would find religious meaning in it. I can just see it now-”The lyric about Bono releasing his bowels is a metaphor for him ‘relieving’ himself of his sins, and the lyric about flushing the toilet is about sending our sins down to Satan. Lastly, the euphoria Bono writes about afterwards conjures up images of Jesus on the cross, and the subsequent resurrection.” Think I’m going overboard? I don’t think so.
Let’s go play all those Beatles albums backwards so we can here all those murderous messages, that aren’t really there, again!
i`m not a fan of miracle drug, i always thought it was a bit too sappy but there are probably a great number of people who disagree with me on that one
althouuugh i do happen to love `freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby`s head` and i thought that anyone who has ever smelled a baby`s head would understand this hahahaa
i was laughing so hard when i first heard the `the air is heavy, heavy as a truck`lyric. its great lol. obviously bono was not taking himself too seriously with that line.
and what about i still havent found what i`m looking for…i always thought it meant he`s found god but it`s not enough because he wants to know god more and ultimately wants to be with Him in heaven…..or maybe i`ve been sniffing too many babies..
I agree about the Grace lyric. It seems very 7th grade-like. As though he was trying to force it to work.
Sorry guy. You’ve got enough genius moments though. (As though he gives a *^&%! LOL
You guys will just have to forgive and overlook Mikeboy – he’s obviously never learned how to play in the sandbox without throwing sand at people. It’s the sign of a negative and insecure person.
For everyone else, interested in true discussion/thought-sharing – - Yukona, I loved what you wrote.
I always thought there was a bit of ‘the search for redemption’ in Vertigo – - that the song is about the ‘pull’ toward temptation and indulgence, juxtaposed with a conscience and foundation in religious beliefs.
Particularly these lyrics speak that to me:
“the jungle is your head, can’t rule your heart” – - this shows a ‘pull’ toward a frenzied desire to indulge, but you resist giving in b/c your heart is telling you otherwise.
(“a feeling’s so much stronger than a thought” ties into this as well – that your feeling/knowing ‘the right thing to do’ is stronger in the end, and the temptation is overcome);
“your eyes are wide, and though your soul, it can’t be bought, your mind can wander,” – - again, clear to me that this is a ‘fight’ of heart v. mind – - the tug of indulgence v. resistance to temptation. You can allow your mind to entertain the thoughts/ideas, and they widen your eyes, but your soul remains unpurchased, toward the indulgence;
“at a place called Vertigo” – - the vertigo is the topsy-turvy feeling of the ‘fight’ – - the pull between temptation and resistance to it. He wishes he didn’t know it, and realizes in the end that “you” (I take this to mean “God”) gives what is “real” and can be felt, so the sincerity and genuineness of what can be ‘felt’ is preferred over the temporary pleasure of indulgence;
“I can’t stand the beats, I’m asking for the check, girl with crimson nails, has Jesus ’round her neck,” – - I mean, this just SCREAMS that as he’s trying to pay and ‘get outta there’ to avoid the temptations that surround him, he’s looking at the juxtapositions again, right in front of him – - the girl with crimson nails and a cross on her neck, swinging to the music, the crimson nails tempting him to stay and indulge (not ‘in her,’ but in the scene/the temptations of life) – not to leave – - and the cross, swinging to the music, again, a pendulum like his thoughts – - the Clash’s “Should i Stay or Should I GO??” – - he’s dizzy from all of the mixed messages, invading his brain, pelting his judgment, watering down his resistance . . . it’s VERTIGO – it’s madness;
“All of this can be yours” – this has already been stated before on this thread, but the clear temptation announcement – - “give in” – - and it’s all good. No one gets hurt. You know you want to! Even the rhythmic repetition of the line is hypnotic – - all re-inforcing the metaphoric pull toward indulgence.
“Your love is teaching me how . . . to kneel” – - as has been discussed already, yes – - to overcome the temptations, you find value in “the real” like what you can genuinely feel – - “you give me something I can FEEEEEEEEELLLLL” – - that deep value is what pulls him away from it all – - God’s love, teaching him how to kneel b/c he WANTS to, not because he has to.
It’s like a song about submission, in a way – - surrendering yourself to something genuine and sincere – - and ‘better.’ But the fight will rage on, to cause the vertigo that wants to pull you back.
We all know that U2′s writing process is layered. “Lemon” isn’t only about Bono’s mother, but it is. “OOTS” isn’t only about Edge’s daughter, but it is. The inspirations that cause these songs are there, and they inter-mingle and they mix and they transform, but at their core, they are what they are, although that’s not ALL that they are.
It seems that some people on here are having trouble diversifying their beliefs – - and accepting that everything NOT black and white. With the inspiration of U2′s music and lyrics, there is a LOT of gray.
Band members don’t always agree what a song is about, and after years of discussion, Bono himself will sometimes change the discussion about what a particular song is about (to him or to them while they were writing it).
I believe that “Vertigo” is another multi-layered song, with multiple inspirations (including the indulgence of alcohol, LOL!) and a ‘fun’ surface with a deeper foundation than the orignial stance shows.
This, to me, is genius, b/c it’s one more way to promote the ‘tug’ – - the meaning and message that (in my opinion) inspired the song.
Great discussion, Yukona and PiressVox!
“The air is heavy, heavy as a truck” by far.
Also this part in Miracle Drug, sounds like Cruise and Travolta as guest lyricists
I am you and you are mine
Love makes no sense of space
And time will disappear
Love and logic keep us clear
Reason is on our side, love…
“freedom has the scent of the top of a new born baby’s head”
-a repellent line indeed.
“Its the stuff, the stuff of country songs.” (IGWSHA)
“Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby’s head.” (Miracle Drug)
Yikes. freedom does NOT smell like the top of a baby’s head, people
I don’t understand why people hate “intellectual tortoise.”
It does not refer to a tortoise that is clever! It refers to someone whose intellect is slow. I am an “intellectual tortoise”, meaning my brain is slow, “racing with your bullet train” (fast thinking intellect)…..
I don’t see the problem with this line. I think it is genius!
One that does annoy me is in “Even Better Than The Real Thing.”
Your heart is where it’s always been
Your head is somewhere in between
In between what and what? You only mentioned the heart!!! LOL
PLEASE – keep these posts civil and to the topic of the lyrics. Personal attacks against people will not be tolerated and posts will be deleted. Previous posts where some of this has already transpired have been edited.
This is a family-friendly public blog where the entire world is able to access it. Please keep this in mind with the tone you take with your responses, and keep it to the topic at hand.
From who’s gonna ride your wild horses: “Who’s gonna fall at the foot of thee?”
i mean come on bono, “thee”???
Thanks, Jenn jam
That’s what I mean- Vertigo is just a ‘burn your house down’ rock song, but it’s not. There’s meaning to be found if you open your eyes, and it won’t be the same to everyone. But I loved your view of things, and, as I see it, you’re pretty close to the mark and managed to say what I’d been struggling to put into words.
Moving on the other lyrics- there’s one verse in Tryin to Throw your Arms…that I can’t stand
I dreamed that I saw dali
With a supermarket trolley
He was trying to throw his arms around a girl
He took an open top beetle
Through the eye of a needle
He was tryin to throw his arms around the world
I just don’t like it. And it depends on my mood how I feel about the “Woman needs a man…” part. I like Bono’s live alterations- “A woman needs a man like Clayton needs a handicam. And I guess I’m always gonna need the Edge”
Regarding the references to “intellectual tortoise”, I can only speak for myself, but the reason I dislike it is not because I don’t get the imagery but because he used tortoise (or tor – toyce) to rhyme with choice and voice. I think that if Bono had kept the actual pronunciation of that word in the song, I wouldn’t have such a problem with it every time I hear it.
In Britain and Ireland, tortoise is usually pronounced tor-toyce, or at least is in my experience. Being Irish, that could be how Bono’s been saying it his whole life.
That being said, I might be wrong
Well, then…..that just goes to show how much we have to learn about each other. I never have heard tortoise pronounced any other way than “tortus”. If it’s pronounced that way in Britain and Ireland, then the lines make a lot more sense. Thanks for enlightening me. I wonder how many of the folks that dislike the lyric are from the US……
The whole HTDAAB is abysmal. This band has not written decent lyric since POP. ATYCLB was a “Safe” album after Pop. This band needs a kick in the ass. Hope No line is better. I have been a fan since WAR.