You can reach
But you can't grab it
You can hold it, control it
You can't bag it
You can push
But you can't direct it
Circulate, regulate, oh no
You cannot connect it
You know you're chewing bubble gum
You know what that is
But you still want some
You just can't get enough
Of that lovie dovie stuff
You get confused
But you know it
Yeah, you hurt for it, work for it, love
You don't always show it
Let go
Let's go
Let's go
Discothèque
Oh
Let go, go go
Discothèque
You're looking for the one
But you know you're somewhere else instead
You want to be the song
Be the song that you hear in your head
It's not a trick
'Cause you can't learn it
It's the way you don't pay, that's okay
'Cause you can't earn it
You know you're chewing bubble gum
You know what that is
But you still want some
You just can't get enough
Of that lovie dovie stuff
Let go
Let go
Discothèque
Go go
Go go
Discothèque
You're looking for the one
But you know you're somewhere else instead
You want to be the song
Be the song that you hear in your head
Love...
(You want heaven in your heart)
(Heaven in your heart)
(The sun, the moon, and the stars)
But you take what you can get
'Cause it's all that you can find
But you know there's something more
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Discothèque
I can't get, I can't, not enough
Discothèque
I can't baby, I can't, not enough
Discothèque
I can't baby, I can't, not enough
Discothèque
Discothèque
Do You Feel Loved (5:07)
- One
of my favourite songs on the album, this song is just a plain old love
song. Musically, I find the whole piece very well done and a very
good song to just sit down and listen to. Lyrically, it's suggestive
and very meaningful, however I have a dispute with the lyrics. The lyric sheet and U2's site has the line "Love's a bully, pushing and shoving", HOWEVER I don't hear a 'B' but a hard 'C'. I actually hear Bono singing "Love's a-coming, pushing and shoving". In case you say that the lyric sheets are always the ultimate source, may I remind you that the lyrics in Boy were vastly different from what was often sang in the songs. I really enjoy the song, and I think the verses
build to the chorus, which is very climactic. The music break in
the middle of the song is a high-pitched wail, that is actually reflective
and is pretty nifty. Good song.
Take these hands, they're good for nothing
You know these hands never worked a day
Take these boots, they're going nowhere
You know these boots don't want to stray
You got my head filled with songs
You got my shoelaces undone
Take my shirt, go on take it off me
You can tear it up
If you can tie me down
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
Take the colours of my imagination
Take the scent hanging in the air
Take this tangle of a conversation
And turn it into your own prayer
With my fingers as you want them
With my nails under your hide
With my teeth at your back
And my tongue to tell you the sweetest lies
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
And it looks like the sun
But it feels like the rain
Love's a-coming, pushing and shoving
In the belly of a woman
Heavy rhythm taking over
To stick together
A man and a woman
Stick together
Man and woman
Stick together...
And I feel loved
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
And it looks like the sun
But it feels like the rain
And there's heat in the sun
To see us through the rain
Do you feel loved
Do you feel loved
Do you feel...
Do you feel...
Mofo (5:47)
- What
a great song! Uh, but honestly, it's not U2 style at all. I
would expect this from the Chemical Brothers or someone really techno like
that. The song's pretty heavy musically, with synthesizer galore.
Lyrically, it seems to be about Bono putting down some of the popular ideals
of rock and roll such as drugs, and forgetting your family. When
the song slows down, he sings for his mother, asking if she would still
recognize him today. Perhaps that's why the song's title means Mother
F*cker, because that seems to be what a lot of music is these days.
Kind of hard to wrap your head around, but the lyrical evidence is there.
Not a bad song, but also not a U2 song.
Looking for to save my save my soul
Looking in the places where no flowers grow
Looking for to fill that God shaped hole
Mother...mother sucking rock and roll (Mother...)
Holy dung, space junk coming in for the splash
(Been around the back...been around the front)
White dopes on punk staring into the flash
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Looking for the baby Jesus under the trash
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Mother...mother sucking rock and roll (Mother...)
Mother [scat singing] rock and roll (Mother...)
Mother...mother...mother...
Mother...mother...mother...
Mother...am I still your son
You know I'm waiting for so long to hear you
say so
Mother...you left and made me someone
Now I'm still a child, no one tells me no
Looking for a sound that's going to drown out
the world
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Looking for the father of my two little girls
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Got the swing got the sway got my straw in
lemonade
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Still looking for the face I had before the
world was made
(Been around the back...been around the front)
Mother...mother sucking rock and roll (Mother...)
Bubble popping sugar dropping rock and roll
(Mother...)
Mother...mother suck, yeah, fuck yeah (Mother...)
Mother...mother...mother...
Mother...mother...mother...
Soothe me mother
Rule me father
Fool me brother
Woo me sister
Soothe me mother
Rule me father
Show me mother
Show me mother
Show me mother
Show me mother
Show me mother
Show me mother
If God Will Send His Angels (5:22)
- This
song seems to have a few different messages. The outright apparent
one is how the world is pretty screwed up and Bono would like to see God
lend a hand. The second message is putting down televangelists and
anyone else who uses Christianity as a way of getting money (Jesus never
let me down...Now it's hard to get in the door). This can be
further proved by noting Bono's earlier stated distaste at televangelists
in the live version of "Bullet The Blue Sky" in Rattle And Hum
(And I can't tell the difference between ABC news, Hill Street Blues,
and a preacher on the old time gospel hour stealing money from the sick
and the old. Well the God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister).
The music video is very well done. It's sped up noticeably, but Bono
sings perfectly in time. He's seated in a diner, and it fast forwards
through time as various people sit with him, and not notice him (including
the band). There's only one noticeable difference between the song
and the music video version, and that is in the song the final verse is
not at all understandable, and the second verse is omitted. Great song.
Nobody else here baby
No one here to blame
No one to point the finger
It's just you and me and the rain
Nobody made you do it
No one put words in your mouth
Nobody here taking orders
When love took a train heading south
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country
songs
Hey if God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
And if God will send his angels
Would everything be all right
God has got his phone off the hook, babe
Would he even pick up if he could
It's been a while since we saw that child
Hanging 'round this neighborhood
You see his mother dealing in a doorway
See Father Christmas with a begging bowl
Jesus sister's eyes are a blister
The High Street never looked so low
It's the blind leading the blonde
It's the cops collecting for the cons
So where is the hope and where is the faith
And the love...what's that you say to me
Does love...light up your Christmas tree
The next minute you're blowing a fuse
And the cartoon network turns into the news
If God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
And if God will send his angels
Where do we go
Where do we go
Jesus never let me down
You know Jesus used to show me the score
Then they put Jesus in show business
Now it's hard to get in the door
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
But I guess it was something to go on
If God will send his angels
I sure could use them here right now
Well if God would send his angels
Where do we go
I don't want to lie
(Where do we go)
I don't want to have a feel for the song
And I want to love, and I...
(Where do we go)
And I want to feel alone
Staring At The Sun (4:37)
- The
song is really quite pretty, and has a very defined melody. It seems
to be about citizens of a country (US?) who are trying to ignore the injustices
imposed by their government on other countries; "enforcing the peace" (Intransigence
is all around, Military still in town, Armour plated suits and ties).
In fact, these citizens so strongly want to ignore the injustice that they'd
rather go blind than see the crimes committed. May I also point out
that U2 already did a song on the same subject ("Love Is Blindness")?
Anyway, there are two music videos for this song, I have no idea why.
The first was directed by Jake Scott, son of director Ridley, and is full
of eye popping light effects which are really quite nice to watch.
Bono was apparently exhausted while shooting, and was often trying to cover
that up. There's a special effect at the end of the video which looks
like an exploding star, which "Aliens" fans will recognize, and it's pretty
cool. The second video was done by Morleigh Steinberg, and sucks!
It's just the band filmed around a silly motel goofing off. And it's
not even funny, it's just dumb. HOWEVER, it does fulfill U2's music
video traditions! Firstly, some scenes are in black and white.
Secondly, The Edge does quite a bit of walking, even some stupid western
style walking later on. And Adam: put on a shirt! But the song's
good.
Summer stretching on the grass
Summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow tree
Creeps a crawling over me
Over me and over you
Stuck together with God's glue
It's going to get stickier too
It's been a long hot summer
Let's get under cover
Don't try too hard to think
Don't think at all
I'm not the only one
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you took a look inside
I'm not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
There's an insect in your ear
If you scratch it won't disappear
It's going to itch and burn and sting
You want to see what the scratching brings
Waves that leave me out of reach
Breaking on your back like a beach
Will we ever live in peace
'Cause those that can't do
Often have to
And those that can't do
Often have to preach
To the ones
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'll find
If you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
I'm not the only one
Who'd rather go blind
Intransigence is all around
Military still in town
Armour plated suits and ties
Daddy just won't say goodbye
Referee won't blow the whistle
God is good but will He listen
I'm nearly great
But there's something missing
I left it in the duty free
But you never really belonged to me
You're not the only one
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you stepped back inside
I'm not sucking on my thumb
I'm staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind
Last Night On Earth (4:46)
- Easily
the best song on the album, it's about a woman who lives every day as if
it's her last. A carefree life full of generousity and happiness.
It's a great theme for the song, and musically, it's a good rock song.
The lyrics are dark and contemplative, and Bono sings them out with much
passion. I really am impressed by this song, and I think the best
part is the chorus, which is very anthematic. The music video is
a hoot. It's a post apocalyptic style video, where the band is driving
done a near deserted road and they pick up a carefree lady. Each
band member responds to her differently. Adam is quite perturbed
by her presence, Bono's staring off into space, The Edge thinks this is
great, and Larry's...driving. They encounter many slime-covered people
on the way, and it becomes apparent that the National Guard is at a standoff
with a bright light (aliens?), guns drawn, ready for conflict. The
band go to confront the light, and it's some old guy. Uh...right.
Great song though!
As the fuel goes down
Stops the car
Puts her feet outside in the rain
She's back on the machine
But it's sweet so far away
She feels the ground is giving way
But she thinks we're better off that way
The more you take the less you feel
The less you know the more you believe
The more you have the more it takes today
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
Well she don't care what it's worth
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
She's not waiting on a saviour to come
She's at the bus-stop with News of the World
and the Sun
Sun, here it comes
She's not waiting for anyone
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
Well she don't care what it's worth
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
|
The clock tells her that time is slipping
Minute hands and seconds sticking There's something she might be missing The world turns and we get dizzy Is it spinning for you The way it's spinning for me | Slipping away
Slip sliding...tonight Slipping away The world turns and we get dizzy Slipping away |
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
You got to give it away
(You got to give it away)
She already knows it hurts
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
Last night on earth
Last night...
Gone (4:27)
- The song is pretty good, blended very well musically with the wailing
guitar and the soft mournful piano. The only thing which I think
is kind of off is Bono's singing. He sounds like he's missing beats
and trying to catch up with himself. It sounds like he's singing
live, which is weird because he sings better live than that. The song is
actually a pretty piece, the best part in my opinion being the bridge (Cause
I'm already gone...You're taking steps...). The song just seems
to be about a guy leaving the woman he loves, because he knows that things
just aren't right between them. Pretty good.
You get to feel so guilty
Got so much for so little
Then you find that feeling
Just won't go away
You're holding on to every little thing so
tightly
'Til there's nothing left for you anyway
Goodbye...
You can keep this suit of lights
I'll be up with the sun
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
You wanted to get somewhere so badly
You had to lose yourself along the way
You change your name, well that's okay, it's
necessary
And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway
Goodbye...
You can keep this suit of lights
I'll be up with the sun
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
'Cause I'm already gone
Felt that way all along
Closer to you every day
I didn't want it that much anyway
You're taking steps that make you feel dizzy
Then you learn to like the way it feels
You hurt yourself you hurt your lover
Then you discover
What you thought was freedom is just greed
Goodbye...
And it's emotional
Good night...
I'll be up with the sun
You're still holding on
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
Gone...sun...time...sun...
Gone...sun....gone...sun...
Sun...
Miami (4:53)
- Easily
the worst song on the album. Musically, it's boring. It builds
up too slowly, and let's you down because it's so repetitive. Lyrically,
it's just Bono mumbling then screeching about Miami, and how dirty and
strange it is. The song is really quite annoying, I had to force
myself to listen to it the whole way through. What's the point to
it? I have no idea. The obscure references and silly comparisons
make the song boring, and Larry must have been bored, because there wasn't
much for him to do. Arg, what a let down.
Weather 'round here chopping and changing
Surgery in the air
Print shirts and southern accents
Cigars and big hair
We got the wheels, petrol is cheap
We only went there for a week
Got the sun got the sand
Got the batteries in the handycam...
Her eyes all swimming pool blue
Dumb bells on a diving board
Baby's always attracted to the things she's
afraid of
Big girl with the sweet tooth
Watches the skinny girl in the photo shoot
Freshmen squeaky clean
She tastes of chlorine
Miami, my mammy
Love the movies...love to walk those movie
sets
Get to shoot someone in the foot
Get to smoke some cigarettes
No big deal we know the score
Just back from the video store
Got the car and the car chase
What's he got inside the case
I want a close up of that face
Here comes the car chase
Miami, my mammy
Miami
I bought two new suits...Miami
Pink and blue...Miami
I took a picture of you...My mammy
Getting hot in a photo booth...Miami
I said you looked like a Madonna
You said...maybe...
Said I want to have your baby...baby
We could make something beautiful
Something that wouldn't be a problem
We could make something beautiful
Something that wouldn't be a problem
At least not in...Miami
You know some places are like your auntie
But there's no place like
Miami, my mammy
Miami, my mammy
The Playboy Mansion (4:41)
- Awfully
boring for a work that sounds like 70's porn. The only interesting
part of the song, which is the little melody between verses is so rarely
heard that it's missed. This song isn't nearly as bad as "Miami"
but there's just something about it that I find annoying.Maybe it's the
theme, which is about the mysteries of America (or whatever). But
I think it's major problem is that annoying Bono high-pitched choir at
the end. What were they thinking with this song?? I went through
a ton of reviews of the album on Amazon.com and found that those who raved
about the album thought that this song and "Miami" were "...rubbish...",
"...should have been b-sides...", "...not their best for sure...".
Bleh.
If Coke is a mystery
Michael Jackson...History
If beauty is truth
And surgery the fountain of youth
What am I to do
Have I got the gift to get me through
The gates of that mansion
If OJ is more than a drink
And a Big Mac bigger than you think
If perfume is an obsession
And talk shows, confession
What have we got to lose
Another push and we'll be through
The gates of that mansion
I never bought a Lotto ticket
I never parked in anyone's space
The banks feel like cathedrals
I guess casinos took their place
Love, come on down
Don't wake her, she'll come around
Chance is a kind of religion
Where you're damned for plain hard luck
I never did see that movie
I never did read that book
Love, come on down
Let my numbers come around
Don't know if I can hold on
Don't know if I'm that strong
Don't know if I can wait that long
'Til the colours come flashing
And the lights go on
Then will there be no time for sorrow
Then will there be no time for shame
And though I can't say why
I know I've got to believe
We'll go driving in that pool
It's who you know that gets you through
The gates of the Playboy mansion
But they don't mention...the pain
Then will there be no time for sorrow
Then will there be no time for shame
Then will there be no time for sorrow
Then will there be no time for shame
If You Wear That Velvet Dress (5:15)
- Phew!
At last, a good song. This song is so beautiful, you can close your eyes
and just mellow right into it. It saves the album, in my opinion. Even
if it takes two minutes to get into the melody, the beautiful musical solo
swells the song to an impressive stance. Fantastic!
Tonight the moon is playing tricks again
I'm feeling sea sick again
The whole world could just dissolve
Into a glass of water
I've been good 'cause I know you don't want
me to
Do you really want me to be blue as you
It's her daylight that gets me through
We've been here before
Last time you scratched at my door
The moon was naked and cold
I was like a two year old
Who just wanted more
If you wear that velvet dress (Wear that velvet dress)
If you wear that velvet dress
Tonight the moon has drawn its curtains
It's a private show
No one else going to know
I'm wanting
Sunlight, sunlight fills my room
It's sharp and it's clear
But nothing at all like the moon
It's okay, the struggle for things not to say
I never listened to you anyway
And I got my own hands to pray
But if you wear that velvet dress (Wear that velvet dress)
But if you wear that velvet dress (Wear that velvet dress)
Tonight the moon is a mirrorball
Light flickers from across the hall
Who'll catch the star when it falls
If you wear that velvet dress
Please (5:02)
- The
song is dark and moody. It's not bad, but it's not too great.
It seems to be about a couple who are in a fight, and one of them is trying
to make ammends, while the other is bitter. At least, I THINK that's
what it's about. I really don't know! Bono is really whiney
in this song. It's quite depressing really. The music video
fulfills one of their traditions at least, and that is it's shot through
black and white half of the time. I tried to figure out what the
video is going for, and I'm still confused. There's an old beggar
who's standing asking for money, with a sign saying 'Please' on his chest,
while everyone else in this weird little town is on their knees. Then when
the song picks up, he gets on his knees and everyone stands up and has
a riot. Then at the end, the beggar flies away...Weird.
So you never knew love
Until you crossed the line of grace
And you never felt wanted
'Til you had someone slap your face
So you never felt alive
Until you'd almost wasted away
You had to win
You couldn't just pass
The smartest ass
At the top of the class
Your flying colors
Your family tree
And all your lessons in history
Please...please...please...
Get up off your knees
Please...please...please...
Please...
So you never knew
How low you'd stoop to make that call
And you never knew
What was on the ground 'til they made you
crawl
So you never knew
That the heaven you keep, you stole
Your Catholic blues
Your convent shoes
Your stick-on tattoos
Now they're making the news
Your holy war
Your northern star
Your sermon on the mount
From the boot of your car
Please...please...please...
Get up off your knees
Please...please...please...
Leave me out of this please
So love is hard
And love is tough
But love is not
What you're thinking of
September
Streets capsizing
Spilling over
Down the drain
Shards of glass
Splinters like rain
But you could only feel
Your own pain
October
Talk getting nowhere
November
December
Remember
Are we just starting again
Please...please...please...
Get up off your knees, yeah
Please...please...please...
Please...
So love is big
Is bigger than us
But love is not
What you're thinking of
It's what lovers deal
It's what lovers steal
You know I've found it hard to receive
'Cause you my love
I could never believe
Wake Up Dead Man (4:52)
- What
happened to Bono's voice?? Anyway, this song seems to be about Bono
pleading for Jesus to come and help the world out. That seems to be an
underlying them to this album. 'The world's screwed up, so God come
help'. At least we can hear the whole band play in this song, which
I can't say the same for with some of the other songs. The tune is
a little like a depressing 60's am song. But the song speaks
for and wraps up the album pretty well. It's half cool, and half
crap.
Jesus, Jesus help me
I'm alone in this world
And a fucked up world it is too
Tell me, tell me the story
The one about eternity
And the way it's all gonna be
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Jesus, I'm waiting here boss
I know you're looking out for us
But maybe your hands aren't free
Your father, He made the world in seven
He's in charge of heaven
Will you put in a word in for me
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Listen to your words they'll tell you what
to do
Listen over the rhythm that's confusing you
Listen to the reed in the saxophone
Listen over the hum of the radio
Listen over sounds of blades in rotation
Listen through the traffic and circulation
Listen as hope and peace try to rhyme
Listen over marching bands playing out their
time
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Jesus, were you just around the corner
Did You think to try and warn her
Or are you working on something new
If there's an order in all of this disorder
Is it like a tape recorder
Can we rewind it just once more
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
