U2start.com | The Round Table of U2 Lyrics

One of the most beautiful songs of all time. Gonna really break it down when I feel like it.

BUMP

Is there a time for keeping your distance
A time to turn your eyes away
Is there a time for keeping your head down
For getting on with your day

Bono is questioning the world's view on what's happening in Sarajevo. The world is turning their eyes away. The verse could also be interpreted as there sometimes being a time to look away when it's something you don't understand, but that is a very dangerous way of thinking.

Is there a time for kohl and lipstick
A time for cutting hair
Is there a time for high street shopping
To find the right dress to wear

Genius. The verse is about what we people were doing and worrying in their everyday lives. But at the same time it's about the Miss Sarajevo beauty pageant.

Here she comes
Heads turn around
Here she comes
To take her crown

This would probably be about Miss Sarajevo as well. She's coming to take her crown and everyones attention is directed towards her.

Is there a time to run for cover
A time for kiss and tell
Is there a time for different colours
Different names you find it hard to spell

What a beautiful verse. People are running for cover from the snipers, and then when they've reached safety, they play. They're not letting the Chetniks on "Sniper's Hill" take their joy, their sense of humor, the positive sides of life. Also, is there a time to accept difference? A weird name doesn't make anyone any less human. We're all human and it's not "them", but "us".

Is there a time for first communion
A time for East 17
Is there a time to turn to Mecca
Is there time to be a beauty queen

Is there a time for the different religions? Why can't they all accept each other? The "beauty queen" here is Sarajevo itself, the beauty queen has grace, and in Sarajevo all the three religions/warring factions lived together in harmony.

Here she comes
Beauty plays the clown
Here she comes
Surreal in her crown

I'm not quite sure about this verse. Maybe it's a reference to surrealism in Sarajevo. If you've read 'Fools Rush In' by Bill Carter, you'll know what I mean.

Dici che il fiume
Trova la via al mare
E come il fiume
Giungerai a me
Oltre i confini
E le terre assetate
Dici che come fiume
Come fiume...
L'amore giunger
L'amore...
E non so più pregare
E nell'amore non so più sperare
E quell'amore non so più aspettare

[Translation of the above]
It's said that a river
Finds the way to the sea
And like the river
You shall come to me
Beyond the borders
And the thirsty lands
You say that as a river
Like a river...
Love shall come
Love...
And I'm not able to pray anymore
And I cannot hope in love anymore
And I cannot wait for love anymore
[End of Translation]

Bono has said that he tried to write something that his dad would sing in the bathtub. Maybe this is about Sarajevo waiting for the love of the outside world to come save them. That justice always comes, but that they cannot afford to wait for justice any longer. I'm not quite sure, I don't understand much Italian so I never reflected on this verse.

Is there a time for tying ribbons
A time for Christmas trees
Is there a time for laying tables
And the night is set to freeze

Is there a time to just celebrate christmas and ignore the outside world? The outside world however, is still set to freeze. Those celebrating christmas could be anywhere on this planet, even in Sarajevo. If they celebrate christmas, they'll still try to celebrate it as well as possible. But the threat from the night would still be there.

*******

One of my favorite songs ever, so beautiful. In the under-siege town of Sarajevo, beauty still lives on.

ASortOfDesire

13 years

Alright we're on Winter now
we skipped a couple so maybe Fabian can re circulate them into the rotation?

Originally posted by BonoThe yellow sun,
Well it took the hand,
Of a country boy,
To a city in a far off land.

So the boy has to move from his home in the country to the city where he probably doesn't fit in

Originally posted by BonoWe made no mark,
No shadow at all,
On the ancient holy streets,
Where I learned to crawl.

The life in the city didn't affect the good memories of his home where he "learned to crawl"

Originally posted by TheLooking at the bruised,
The young and the used,
The sure and confused all here

In the new city he lives in, there are lots of weird people (bruised,confused)

Originally posted by PaulWords will land on me,
Then abandon me,
Mangle, untangle me,
Leave me on the floor

Not really sure, maybe he writes stories (for boys?

) or poems or songs and they help him get through this situation but only help him for a while

Originally posted by PretzelRhymes they sprang in me,
Summer sang in me,
But summer sings in me no more.

More about the writing, maybe this last line means he's not doing so well writing and it's not relieving him

Originally posted by WhyNow I'm 25,
I'm trying to stay alive,
In a corner of the world,
With no clear enemies to fight.

he has become older and maybe in trouble with the law and he is running from the law

Originally posted by OriginallyIt's hot as hell,
We're like butter on toast
But there's no army in this world,
That can fight a ghost.

Not really sure what this means...

Originally posted by OriginallyLooking at the bruised,
The young and the used,
The sure and confused all here

Like the other part with these same lyrics...

Originally posted by YO]Words would land on me,
Then abandon me,
Leave me stranded,
Knocking on the door.

Sort of like the other chorus...

Originally posted by nobodyRhymes began in me,
Summer sang in me,
But summer sings in me no more.

Like the other part...

Originally posted by nobodyAt 21,
I was born a son,
And on that day I knew,
I could kill.

Okay Bono says he has a son to inherit his things if he dies so now he can go against the law all he wants (?)

Originally posted by okayTo protect the ones,
Who put bullets in guns,
Or anything it takes,
To take a life.

Since he has an heir if he dies, he kills to "protect the ones who put bullets in guns" (the army? the police?). He'll do anything it takes (?)

Okay hope you guys post your interpretations
Here are the lyrics

The yellow sun,
Well it took the hand,
Of a country boy,
To a city in a far off land.

We made no mark,
No shadow at all,
On the ancient holy streets,
Where I learned to crawl.

Looking at the bruised,
The young and the used,
The sure and confused all here

Words will land on me,
Then abandon me,
Mangle, untangle me,
Leave me on the floor

Rhymes they sprang in me,
Summer sang in me,
But summer sings in me no more.

Now I'm 25,
I'm trying to stay alive,
In a corner of the world,
With no clear enemies to fight.

It's hot as hell,
We're like butter on toast
But there's no army in this world,
That can fight a ghost.

Looking at the bruised,
The young and the used,
The sure and confused all here

Words would land on me,
Then abandon me,
Leave me stranded,
Knocking on the door.

Rhymes began in me,
Summer sang in me,
But summer sings in me no more.

At 21,
I was born a son,
And on that day I knew,
I could kill.

To protect the ones,
Who put bullets in guns,
Or anything it takes,
To take a life.

fabian

13 years

I totally forgot about this

Will have a look at this soon

Mr_Trek

13 years

Those lyrics above are incorrect.

And the song is about a soldier in a place like Iraq.

Mr_Trek

13 years

For example, with corrected lyrics:

At 21
I was born a son
And on that day I knew
I could kill

To protect the ones
We put bullets in guns
Or anything it takes to take a life
Until it's still (?)

The soldier was born a son, and when he was he knew that he could kill to protect his son.

RattleandHum1988

13 years

Originally posted by Mr_TrekFor example, with corrected lyrics:

At 21
I was born a son
And on that day I knew
I could kill

To protect the ones
We put bullets in guns
Or anything it takes to take a life
Until it's still (?)

The soldier was born a son, and when he was he knew that he could kill to protect his son.