As you do, I have been listening to it on and off since it has been released. And recently when I was listening to one of the songs, Song for Someone, I was struck by the beauty and reality of the lyrics.
As Bono states in the below interview and performance, this song was written about the first time you fall in love. I think the song is written with enough layering and ambiguity that it is not just talking about a romantic love relationship between two human beings. It is definitely a song about love, though.
When I was listening to it recently, I was struck by how I longed to be the fulfillment of the lyrics, "You've got eyes that can see right through me. You're not afraid of anything they've seen." I want to be that for people, and specifically for someone. However, so often I find that I am the one who has, "the scars from where I've been," and only want someone to, "see right through me," and not be afraid of what they might find. This song holds such beautiful dichotomies - I love it! It is certainly a song for someone, or a song for everyone. It sings about such humanity, and yet about such hope. It is beautiful.
U2 actually performed Song for Someone on The Graham Norton Show, which is like a triple win, win, win: I like U2, love this song, and I like The Graham Norton Show! ;) However, in this version they do leave off the last verse segment - which is really great (see italicized lyrics below). Also, can we please take a moment and appreciate how awesome Bono sounds singing live (while sitting on a couch) after decades of performing - amazing!
Song: Song for Someone
Artist: U2
Album: Songs of Innocence
Year Released: 2014
Lyrics:
You got a face not spoiled by beauty
I have some scars from where I've been
You've got eyes that can see right through me
You're not afraid of anything they've seen
I was told that I would feel nothing the first time
I don't know how these cuts heal
But in you I found a rhyme
If there is a light
You can't always see
And there is a world
We can't always be
If there is a dark
Now we shouldn't doubt
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
You can't always see
And there is a world
We can't always be
If there is a dark
Now we shouldn't doubt
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
You let me into a conversation
A conversation only we could make
You break and enter my imagination
Whatever's in there
It's yours to take
I was told I'd feel nothing the first time
You were slow to heal
But this could be the night
A conversation only we could make
You break and enter my imagination
Whatever's in there
It's yours to take
I was told I'd feel nothing the first time
You were slow to heal
But this could be the night
If there is a light
You can't always see
And there is a world
We can't always be
If there is a dark
Within and without
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
You can't always see
And there is a world
We can't always be
If there is a dark
Within and without
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
This is a song for someone
A song for someone
This is a song
This is a song for someone
And I'm a long way
From your hill of Calvary
And I'm a long way
From where I was, where I need to be
From your hill of Calvary
And I'm a long way
From where I was, where I need to be
If there is a light
You can't always see
And there is a world
We can't always be
If there is a kiss
I stole from your mouth
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
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