Lyrical Interpretation?

I've listened and sung along to this song probably hundreds of times. I've always liked it and had an idea of what it meant, but for some reason, today it really spoke to me. Tell me what you think these lyrics mean. (please only serious answers. don't bother with single word answers, I'll get the answer deleted and you won't get credit)


Take these shoes


Click clacking down some dead end street


Take these shoes and make them fit


Take this shirt


Polyester white trash made in nowhere


Take this shirt and make it clean, clean


Take this soul


Stranded in some skin and bones


Take this soul and make it sing, sing





Yahweh, Yahweh


Always pain before a child is born


Yahweh, Yahweh


Still I'm waiting for the dawn





Take these hands


Teach them how to carry


Take these hands, don't make a fist, no


Take this mouth


So quick to criticise


Take this mouth, give it a kiss





Yahweh, Yahweh


Always pain before a child is born


Yahweh, Yahweh


Still I'm waiting for the dawn





Still waiting for the dawn


The sun is coming up


The sun is coming up on the ocean


This love is like a drop in the ocean


This love is like a drop in the ocean





Yahweh, Yahweh


Always pain before a child is born


Yahweh, Yahweh


Why the dark before the dawn





Take this city


A city should be shining on the hill


Take this city if it be your will


What no man can own, no man can take


Take this heart


Take this heart


Take this heart


And make it break

Lyrical Interpretation?
Hey, Nickie!





This song has always spoken to me. The key phrases are "Always pain before a child is born" "Still I'm waiting for the dawn" and "Take this heart/and make it break."





I've always felt that the song is about dealing with life's ups and downs. In particular, a child being born is a wonderful, miraculous thing but a mother must endure the pain of the birth in order to experience the joy of being a mother to the child. Basically, the bad things that happen in your life give you that much more appreciation for the good.





I feel like it's a very optimistic, hopeful song. Take everything that life throws at you and it'l be ok. "why the dark before the dawn" implies that you can see the dawn and you know it's coming, so the dark isn't so horrible to live through.





I kind of feel like I'm rambling now, but that's how I've always interpreted it. I think that's one of the biggest reasons I'm such a huge U2 fan. They have such an optimistic view of life.
Reply:Sounds like the are giving this woman no rights what so ever and just using her for whatever they want.
Reply:no idea what it means. too deep for me. sounds like the person is depressed