The song was initially developed by The Edge, with co-writer and producer Daniel Lanois noting "he had that pretty intact without our involvement." Several of the guitar riffs were influenced by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Jack White of The White Stripes, who The Edge collaborated with in the 2009 film "It Might Get Loud". The band worked on one version of the song with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois for a long time before the band scrapped and recreated it. Eno had referred to the demo version as one of his favorite U2 songs of all time. After rewriting the song, U2 asked Steve Lillywhite to mix it. Eno estimated that the song was remixed 80 times during the album sessions. Two sets of lyrics were worked on during the song's many various incarnations. The first version was about Nelson Mandela, and the second was "more surreal and personal". The band eventually decided on using the latter for the song.
The song takes place on 16 June, an intentional reference to Bloomsday, the date on which the James Joyce novel Ulysses is set. When writing the lyrics, Bono wanted the song to "become more intimate... I want to get away from subject and subject matter into pure exchange. Not even conversation. Often, it's just like grunts or outbursts." He noted that on "Breathe" the listener is "right there in the middle of this outburst." During the No Line on the Horizon sessions, he developed several characters to tell the song's stories for him. The narrator within "Breathe" is one of the few of these characters who ultimately finds redemption.
Breathe
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man at the door says if I want to stay alive a bit longer
There's three things I need you to know
Three
Coming from a long line of traveling sales people on my mother's side
I wasn't gonna buy just anyone's cockatoo
So why would I invite a complete stranger into my home
These days are better than that
These days are better than that
Every day I die again, and again I'm reborn
Every day I have to find the courage
To walk out into the street
With arms out
Got a love you can't defeat
Neither down nor out
There's nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
Sixteen of June, Chinese stocks are going up
And I'm coming down with some new Asian virus
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man
Doc says you're fine, or dying
Please
Nine-oh-nine, St. John Divine on the line, my pulse is fine
But I'm running down the road like loose electricity
While the band in my head plays a striptease
The roar that lies on the other side of silence
The forest fire that is fear so deny it
Walk out into the street
Sing your heart out
The people we meet
Will not be drowned out
There's nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
We are people borne of sound
The songs are in our eyes
Gonna wear them like a crown
Walk out, into the sunburst street
Sing your heart out, sing my heart out
I've found grace inside a sound
I found grace, it's all that I found
And I can breathe
Breathe now
The U2 song “Breathe” opens with a mysterious encounter. The singer is visited by a man who warns him that he needs to know three things if he wants to stay alive. The lyrics suggest a world filled with danger and uncertainty, where a chance encounter could lead to life or death. The urgency of the situation is emphasized by the repeated use of the phrase “every day I die again, and again I’m reborn.”
The second verse reveals more about the singer’s character. He explains that he comes from a line of traveling salespeople and that he’s not one to buy “just anyone’s cockatoo.” He’s clearly cautious and selective in his relationships, which makes the encounter with the man at the door all the more unsettling. The lyrics suggest a tension between the singer’s desire for safety and his curiosity about the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Sixteen of June, nine-oh-five, doorbell rings
On a specific day and time, someone arrived at my doorstep.
Man at the door says if I want to stay alive a bit longer
The visitor's message implied that I was in danger.
There's three things I need you to know, Three
The man had some critical information to share.
Coming from a long line of traveling salespeople on my mother's side
I come from a family of marketers who value quality products.
I wasn't gonna buy just anyone's cockatoo
I wasn't going to trust someone based solely on their word.
So why would I invite a complete stranger into my home, Would you
It doesn't make sense that I would allow someone I don't know into my personal space.
These days are better than that
The present is better than the past.
Every day I die again, and again I'm reborn
I experience hardships but find a way to overcome them.
Every day I have to find the courage
I continuously push myself to be brave.
To walk out into the street
To face the world and its challenges.
With arms out; got a love you can't defeat
I have a strong love and connection that cannot be taken away.
Neither down nor out, there's nothing you have that I need
I am neither defeated nor desperate to have anything from you.
I can breathe. Breathe now
Despite everything, I can still live and breathe.
Sixteen of June, Chinese stocks are going up
On a different occasion, the stock market was performing well.
And I'm coming down with some new Asian virus
I am afflicted with a new disease that originated in Asia.
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man; Doc says you're fine or dying
I have consulted different health professionals for their opinions on my condition.
Please
I am pleading for help and support.
Nine-oh-nine, St. John Divine on the line, my pulse is fine
Another day, I received medical attention and everything appeared to be okay.
But I'm running down the road like loose electricity
Despite appearing fine, I feel like I am bursting with energy.
While the band in my head plays a striptease
My mind is active and filled with all kinds of thoughts.
The roar that lies on the other side of silence
Despite apparent stillness, there's lots of noise occurring behind the scenes.
The forest fire that is fear so deny it
Fear can consume and spread rapidly; we must reject it.
Walk out into the street
Again, we've got to face the world.
Sing your heart out, the people we meet
We should express ourselves fully and connect with others.
Will not be drowned out
No one can erase our voices or experiences.
We are people borne of sound
Music is integral to our humanity;
The songs are in our eyes, gonna wear them like a crown
We carry music with us and value it like a treasured possession.
Walk out, into the sunburst street; sing your heart out, sing my heart out
We should confidently and joyfully express ourselves in the world.
I've found grace inside a sound, I found grace, it's all that I found
Music has helped me discover a sense of peace and meaning.
And I can breathe. Breathe now
Despite everything, I can still live and breathe.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, LARRY MULLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One