In these performances, MacPhisto would begin in the dressing room preparing his make-up and wardrobe, singing the first half of the song in this setting. The other band members dressed in purple uniforms with the Zoo TV logo on them. MacPhisto emerged from the dressing room half way through the song, and played with the crowd while on stage. Fake money was shot from the stage into the air as MacPhisto yelled "Daddy's Gonna Pay!" (Adam Clayton is visibly frightened by these explosions on the Zoo TV: Live from Sydney concert video). Following this, he would make his speech and phone call.
A backing track was used for many of the effects, and The Edge played limited amounts of guitar on a Gibson Les Paul. Larry Mullen, Jr. played with cowbells on his drum kit for part of the song as well.
Despite the odd sound it has on the album, the band claims it was originally conceived as a blues song for John Lee Hooker.
"Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" has a sample from the song "The City Sleeps" by MC 900 Ft. Jesus. According to the album liner notes, the intro is taken from a fanfare from the 1961 USSR state publisher Melodiya produced album "Lenin's Favourite Songs".
Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're out on your own
You know everyone in the world
But you feel alone
Daddy won't let you weep
Daddy won't let you ache
Daddy gives you as much as you can take
A-ha sha-la, a-ha sha-la
A little uptight
You're a baby's fist
Butterfly kisses up and down your wrist
When you see daddy coming
You're licking your lip
Nails bitten down to the quick
A-ha sha-la, a-ha sha-la
Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car
Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car
You've got a head full of traffic
You're a siren's song
You cry for mama
And daddy's right along
He gives you the keys to a flamin' car
Daddy's with you wherever you are
Daddy's a comfort
Daddy's your best friend
Daddy'll hold your hand right up to the end
A-ha sha-la, a-ha sha-la
Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car
Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday's
Alright...
The lyrics of U2's "Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car" convey a sense of both indulgence and suffocation. The song starts by describing the person as a precious stone that is out on their own and knows everyone in the world but still feels alone. The next lines indicate the role of the person's father as a protector who does not allow them to weep or ache and gives them as much as they can take. The repetition of the phrase "a-ha sha-la" adds a tone of resignation or surrender that echoes the feeling of being trapped in a situation that one cannot control.
The second stanza highlights the contradictory emotions that the person feels towards their father. They are described as being a little uptight, like a baby's fist, and having nails bitten down to the quick. The arrival of the father is portrayed as a mixed blessing, as it brings butterfly kisses up and down the wrist, but also shows the person licking their lips in anticipation. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing that the father is going to pay for the crashed car, but also hinting that the person might be deliberately putting themselves at risk or acting recklessly.
The third stanza brings the metaphor of the car to the forefront, describing the person as having a head full of traffic and being a siren's song. They cry for mama, but their father is right along and gives them the keys to a flamin' car. The father is now characterized as a comfort and best friend who will hold their hand right up to the end. The final repetition of "a-ha sha-la" is followed by the phrase "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday's alright," which implies that the cycle of indulgence and suffocation will continue indefinitely.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a precious stone
You are valuable and special.
You're out on your own
You are independent and making your own decisions.
You know everyone in the world
You are familiar with many people and their lifestyles.
But you feel alone
Despite being around people, you still feel lonely.
Daddy won't let you weep
Your father does not want you to cry or be upset.
Daddy won't let you ache
Your father wants to protect you from physical or emotional pain.
Daddy gives you as much as you can take
Your father gives you everything he thinks you can handle.
A-ha sha-la, a-ha sha-la
Repetitive syllables with no clear meaning.
Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car
Your father will take responsibility for your mistakes and fix them for you.
A little uptight
You are nervous or anxious.
You're a baby's fist
You are small and vulnerable.
Butterfly kisses up and down your wrist
Affectionate gestures given to you by someone.
When you see daddy coming
You feel relieved and happy when your father is around.
You're licking your lip
You are excited or anticipating something.
Nails bitten down to the quick
You are anxious to the point of nervous habits.
You've got a head full of traffic
Your mind is full of thoughts or worries.
You're a siren's song
You are alluring or tempting to others.
You cry for mama
You need comfort and support from your mother figure.
And daddy's right along
Your father is there to support you as well.
He gives you the keys to a flamin' car
Your father provides you with a powerful or dangerous tool.
Daddy's with you wherever you are
Your father is always there for you, even when he is physically absent.
Daddy's a comfort
Your father brings you peace and ease.
Daddy's your best friend
Your father is the closest companion you have.
Daddy'll hold your hand right up to the end
Your father will support and guide you until the very end of your life.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday's Alright...
Days of the week that are perfectly fine or okay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
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