Lyrics
See the stone set in your eyes - The stone in your eyes could be a reference to the coldness in the look, or the emotion as portrayed by a look, as someone (perhaps Bono) looks toward another (perhaps his wife) which would be the first suggestion of a conflict being the true meaning of the song.See the thorn twist in your side - The thorn in this reference is a metaphor, suggesting there is something that is damaging, or hurting the figure in question (Bono's family). This could be that this person had done something wrong, and is now regretting this decision. The metaphor could be literally translated as an irritant.I wait for you - When imagining the meaning surrounds the relationship between Bono and his wife or indeed someone/something else Bono is in love with, this suggests that he refuses to give up on the cause, regardless of what they have done, which could perhaps be his wife having an affair/
Sleight of hand and twist of fate - Fate of course is a synonym for destiny, or the written future. This metaphor suggests a sudden change in the destiny of Bono, whereby he is now struggling to come to terms with this, whilst the 'sleight of hand' reference could be surrounded by its origins of magic and trickery. The idea of 'sleight of hand' is that a magician could pull of a trick with no one quite observing how he/she had done so. This reference to me suggests that the Bono is confused as to how these circumstances have come about.On a bed of nails she makes me wait - Again the use of a metaphor. The bed of nails was an ancient torture device whereby a being would be tied down to a bed covered by upright nails and forced to spill information for their freedom. This is suggestive of how Bono has been left to suffer after what his wife has done.And I wait without you - This is the most simple of all the line, that Bono is now alone, and waiting for his loved one to return.
With or without you
With or without you
Through the storm we reach the shore - Bono is suggesting that despite all the troubles that he and his partner have encountered (the storm), there may be salvation (the shore), which will allow a fresh new start to their relationship. Bono appears to be bargaining with his wife, out of desperation.
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away The lead singer of U2, 'Bono', was quoted in 1987, explaining the true meaning of this line reflects his feeling towards the band at times, and that the band, and its culture has meant he and his bandmates had a struggle between normal life and music, in that they had given away all that they had to be a successful group.
And you giveAnd you give
And you give yourself away
My hands are tiedMy body bruised,
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose - she's got me with - Another metaphor, suggesting that Bono has taken many blows and left with the affects of this, in this case being mental scars. She (Bono's partner) has him where she wants him, in that he is now weak, and seeking her, and nothing else, out of pure love, which means when it appears she has been unfaithful, Bono has been left hurting but he cannot bear to give her up. Bono also suggests that with his partner having been taken away, or left, he has been left with nothing, and therefore has nothing left to lose, and nothing to fight for.
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
Many people view this song as a reflection of the the passion of christ, and that it is written as an Apostolic Psalm in the style of a Davidic lamentation, whereby Bono, is screaming to Jesus that he cannot live, with or without him. Whilst I would argue that these lyrics are simply a reflection of Bono's ongoing conflict between his two lives; family and profession. Whilst U2, are widely regarded as a deep christian band, and tend to intertwine meanings in their music and videos.
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