Iris
U2 Lyrics

The star that gives us light
Although the star that provides light has been gone for some time, it's not just a mirage, and its absence is a part of me.

Has been gone a while
The star that gives light has been absent for a while.

But it's not an illusion
The absence of the star that gives light is not a mirage but a reality.

The ache in my heart
The sadness that is felt is much a part of who I am as a person.

Is so much a part of who I am
The sadness that is felt is a large part of the singer's identity.

Something in your eyes
There is a certain aspect or quality within the eyes of the singer's lover.

Took a thousand years to get here
The quality within the singer's lover's eyes has taken centuries to develop and find the right person to connect with.

Took a thousand years, a thousand years
The quality within the singer's lover's eyes has taken an incredibly long time to develop and find the right person.

Hold me close
The singer desires physical closeness to their lover.

Hold me close and don't let me go
The singer wishes to be held tightly and not let go by their lover.

Like I'm someone that you might know
The singer wishes to be held closely by their lover, as if they are someone they are familiar with.

The darkness just lets us see
Within moments of darkness, we may gain greater clarity about ourselves and others.

Who we are
Through moments of darkness, people may gain a better sense of their true selves.

I've got your life inside of me
In some way or another, the singer's lover's essence is present within them.

Iris, Iris
The name 'Iris' is repeated, referencing a character who may represent the singer's lover.

Once we are born
Upon birth, we begin to lose touch with the reason we were meant to exist.

We begin to forget
As we mature, we often lose sight of our initial purpose.

The very reason we came
As we mature and age, we often forget why we were born and what we were meant to achieve in life.

But you I'm sure I've met
The singer is confident that they have met their lover before in some form or another.

Long before the night
The singer and their lover may have crossed paths or had some kind of connection before evening.

The stars went out
It is possible that something shifted or changed between the singer and their lover before the night when the stars vanished.

We're meeting up again
After some time and separation, the singer and their lover are meeting once again.

The stars are bright
Although the stars may be luminous and beautiful, they do not possess the warmth and comfort of human relationships.

But do they know
It is impossible to know whether or not the stars understand the love and connections shared only by humanity.

The universe is beautiful but cold
While the universe may be stunning, it lacks the warmth and connection that are inherent in human relationships.

You took me by the hand
The singer's lover took the initiative and brought them closer, extending their hand to symbolize friendship and unity.

I thought that I was leading you
Initially, the singer believed that they held the power in the relationship and had more to offer their lover.

But it was you made me your man
In actuality, it was the singer's lover who took charge and accepted the singer as their partner or mate.

Machine, I dream where you are
The machines are symbolic of industrial or complicated, urban lifestyles, whereas the singer's dreams involve their lover and are much more natural and human.

Iris standing in the hall
This potentially represents a memory or flashback to a specific moment shared by the singer and Iris.

She tells me I can do it all
When the singer is with Iris, they feel motivated and confident to take on any task.

Iris wakes to my nightmares
When the singer has unsettling dreams and disturbs their slumber, Iris notices and wakes up to comfort them.

Don't fear the world
In times of unease or stress, don't forget that the world will continue and life will go on.

It isn't there
The world is not responsible for the energies or negative feelings that people may feel.

Iris playing on the Strand
This may represent a positive memory shared by the singer and Iris, with Strand symbolizing a recreational or relaxing setting.

She buries the boy beneath the sand
This may represent a symbolic or metaphorical gesture, as Iris says goodbye to a past relationship or love.

Iris says that I will be the death of her
Despite being in love with the singer, Iris is concerned that their relationship may be too intense or emotionally draining.

It was not me
The ending of the relationship or past love between Iris and the boy buried beneath the sand was not due to the singer being involved in any way.

She said free yourself to be yourself
When Iris says this, she is encouraging the singer to let themselves be who they truly are, without any barriers or facades hiding their true selves.

If only you could see yourself
If the singer could see themselves unfiltered or without any judgment, they may truly understand the depth of Iris's statement.