#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE------------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. The owner of this website has not reviewed the contents of this file and #
# does not support copyright infringement or violating the rights of any artist #
# or legal entity. If you feel that the content of this file may be violating #
# copyright law, you may not use the information displayed here in any way. #
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Main riff: (verse, chorus)
Em D Em D
|-------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-------------------------|-----------------------------|
|----7-7-7-5-7----0--5-5--|-----7-7-7-5-7----0--5-5-----|
|-0-------------0---------|--0-------------0------------|
(on the album, this is repeated for the whole song)
Solo: (live only)
*1st few bars of solo are the main riff, then bass switches to this:
Em D A
|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
|--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--|--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----|
|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
A*
|-------------------|
|-7-5---------------|
|------7-5----------|
|-----------7-5-----|
*This last 'A' changes everytime, and it's hard to tell what he's
playing, Adam seems to just jam on these frets:
|-(5)-(7)-(9)---------|
|-(5)-(7)-------------|
|-(5)-(7)-------------|
|-(5)-(7)-------------|
|
No Picture
Wanna Be |
#1 by ~ Milo ~ at May 12, 2006 at 2:33 AM EST |
| I think he's talking about racism in America as well,as he says you plant this deamon seed,all the racist ideals and philosophies,your raise a flower of fire,this then produces the lynchings and mob culture that was around in the southern states.He then mentions then burning crosses I direct reference to the KKK.It is about hyporcisy. I think he's also saying that to some people everyone has their price, "he's peeling off those dollar bills"Talking about corperate greed and American imperialism People put profit ahead of people. Obvious biblical references to Jacob wrestling the angel in Genesis which he was given the name Israel (Wrestles with God) so it could be a reference to Israel? Or what America was doing in the Labonan at that time. Also a reference to the crusifixtion | |
|
No Picture
FUCK Rhythm Player |
#2 by FUCK OFF at May 14, 2006 at 10:47 PM EST |
| to me the tree of pain sounds like a cross...and nails meaning someone gettin nailed to the cross - so it could be about Christ too....most U2 songs have religious meanings..... | |
|
No Picture
LoKe Wanna Be |
#3 by LoKe at Jun 26, 2006 at 11:22 AM EST |
| Thanks to U2Babe for pointing out the significance of the line, "Into the arms of America." My initial reading of that line was pretty much at the figurative level -- that the women and children are running for the comfort of the United States. Of course, I now see that the line is a bitter one, intended to be interpreted literally: these women are children are running into the ARMS -- the WEAPONS -- of America -- weapons we have sold around the world. The imagery throughout this song is of civilian casualties: "And I can see those fighter planes / Across the mud huts where the children sleep." That the last line should have two entirely opposite meanings -- the less obvious one conjuring a horrible image -- is brilliant. | |
|
No Picture
Jaime Lead Player |
#4 by Jaime Rosenberg at Jul 13, 2006 at 6:24 PM EST |
| NO. the song was written about El Salvador, but they used it to battle guns | |
|
No Picture
tucker Wanna Be |
#5 by tucker at Sep 12, 2006 at 9:47 PM EST |
| anyone seen them on the vertigo tour? they play this, Love&PeaceOrElse, and SundayBloodySunday one after the other & he called it the War Trilogy. olts of the similar type images to the elevation tour of kids with guns,people beating each other to death etc. the three songs, while each seems to specifically hav an exact influence (see the argument above) - they all hav the same message - stop killing people - regardless of the political issues, or money, etc. very humanitarian &anti-war section half hour of the show. they then scrolled the declaration of humanrights across the stage. | |
|
No Picture
Chris Frickin L Average |
#6 by Chris Frickin LaBenne! LaBenne at Oct 31, 2006 at 10:38 AM EST |
| This song is only partly about the war in El Salvador. Bono said in an interview that he wrote it about Ronald Reagan's support of the Contra rebels, who were tearing El Salvador apart. So it's not really anti-American, but it is anti-Reagan. | |
|
No Picture
Mr. great-1 Professional |
#7 by Mr. great-1 coble at Nov 24, 2006 at 6:10 PM EST |
| This song to me has 2 meanings: 1) It is really about an actual experience that Bono had while visiting El Salvador. There he saw Madres, women whose children had been imprisoned or murdered by the military regime there. He was inspired by it and immediately wrote the lyrics for the song. It is a song about a struggle. 2) On the Elevation DVD (live from Boston), this is played while images of guns and killings by guns are shown on a screen behind the band. I believe this song can also have something to do with the negative points of guns and how badly they hurt the United States. U2 may be using it to show something they dislike about our country. | |
|
No Picture
Nikky ♠ Average |
#8 by Nikky ♠ at Feb 12, 2007 at 12:31 AM EST |
| Great song. Has anybody ever noticed how musically similar it is to Ted Nugent's classic, "Stranglehold?" | |
|
No Picture
Alex Average |
#9 by Alex Zaphiropoulos at Feb 23, 2007 at 1:44 AM EST |
| FYI, U2 aren't playing the "Star Spangled Banner" in "Rattle and Hum". It's the Jimi Hendrix rendition of the song. | |
|
No Picture
Alek Wanna Be |
#10 by Alek Kalinowski at Mar 22, 2007 at 6:26 AM EST |
| ..right... anyway... yeah, it's about bono's experiences in el salvador, but i believe that it is more about gun control (or lack of) than anything | |
|
No Picture
freekymayne Wanna Be |
#11 by freekymayne at Jul 1, 2007 at 5:37 PM EST |
| This song has morphed over the years in meaning, like many U2 songs. The way Bono treats it now, it is pretty much a pro gun-control song (see the live DVD in Boston if you don't believe me) | |
|
No Picture
muerte Average |
#12 by muerte asd at Sep 10, 2007 at 5:10 AM EST |
| Jordywordy, i know what you mean.-and Bono's bandana is most kewl beanz. | |
|
No Picture
Kevin Wanna Be |
#13 by Kevin White at Sep 14, 2007 at 8:54 AM EST |
| This song is about Bono losing his virginity. | |
|
No Picture
D-K Average |
#14 by D-K at Sep 24, 2007 at 4:25 AM EST |
| This song is about Bono losing his virginity. | |
