Starring At The Sun
U2 Lyrics

Summer stretching on the grass
The summer season seems to be endless and continuous, like the stretching on the grass.

Summer dresses pass
People are enjoying the summer, wearing light, colorful outfits as they pass by.

In the shade of a willow tree
Underneath a willow tree, where the sun is blocked off, a scene is set.

Creeps a crawling over me
A sense of unease, of something creeping or crawling over one's skin, is felt.

Over me and over you
This sense of unease is pervasive, affecting everyone.

Stuck together with God's glue
Despite our fears and apprehension, we are all still bound together by some greater force, like a divine glue.

It's going to get stickier too
This bond between us will only become stronger, for better or for worse.

It's been a long hot summer
The tension and unease felt in the first stanza has been building up for a long and uncomfortable season.

Let's get under cover
Let's find a place to hide and protect ourselves.

Don't try too hard to think
It's pointless to overanalyze and obsess over our current situation.

Don't think at all
Perhaps it's better to just numb our thoughts and emotions for a little while.

I'm not the only one
Others are feeling the same way as me.

Staring at the Sun
We're looking directly at something that could blind us, something we're not equipped to handle.

Afraid of what you'll find
We're afraid of what we might discover if we continue down this path.

If you took a look inside
If we were to confront our fears and worries head-on.

I'm not just deaf and dumb
We're not blind to the potential consequences of our actions, but we're also not sure how to navigate them.

Not the only one
Others are also struggling with this decision.

Who's happy to go blind
We're willing to take the risk of going blind, of facing the unknown, if it means avoiding our current situation.

There's an insect in your ear
There's a small voice or thought that won't go away, that's always buzzing around in our minds.

If you scratch it won't disappear
Trying to get rid of this thought won't make it go away.

It's gonna itch and burn and sting
This thought will persist and cause discomfort, like an itch that can't be scratched.

You want to see what the scratching brings
Despite the discomfort, we're still curious and want to explore what this thought could mean.

Waves that leave me out of reach
We feel like we're being tossed around in a turbulent sea, out of our depth and unable to swim to shore.

Breaking on your back like a beach
These waves are crashing down on us, relentlessly pounding us into the ground like the waves on a beach.

Will we ever live in peace?
Will we ever find respite from these constant worries and fears?

'Cause those that can't do
Those who are unable to act or move forward.

Often have to
Are often forced to rely on other methods to cope.

And those that can't do
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the struggle of those who are stuck.

Often have to preach
Those who are struggling will often try to convince others of their beliefs, in hopes of finding solidarity and support.

To the ones
To those who are listening.

Afraid of what you'd find
Like the first time this phrase is used, it emphasizes the fear and apprehension that plagues us all.

You step back inside
We retreat back into ourselves, shutting out the world and the potential rewards of risk-taking.

Not sucking on my thumb
We're not children, blindly following what we're told to do or say.

I'm staring at the Sun
We're still looking out at the world, trying to navigate our way through this sea of uncertainty.

Who's happy to go blind
Like before, we're still willing to risk it all, to face the consequences of our actions, if it means we can avoid the pain of our current situation.

Intransigence is all around
Stagnation and stubbornness are everywhere, preventing progress and growth.

Military still in town
There's a sense of control and order, of higher forces dictating our every move.

Armour plated suits and ties
These forces are protected and fortified, powerful and nearly invincible.

Daddy just won't say goodbye
Like a father figure, these forces are ever-present, refusing to leave or relinquish their hold over us.

Referee won't blow the whistle
There's a sense of unfairness or imbalance, of a referee who refuses to call the game fairly.

God is good but will He listen
Despite our prayers and pleas, we're not sure if anyone or anything is listening.

I'm nearly great
We're almost at the top, almost able to achieve greatness.

But there's something missing
Despite all of our accomplishments, there's still something we can't quite put our finger on, something that's preventing us from reaching true greatness.

I left it in the duty free area
Perhaps the thing that's missing is something we left behind, something we didn't think we needed until now.

But you never really belonged to me
Despite our initial connection or sense of ownership over this missing piece, it was never truly ours to begin with.

You're not the only one
Others have gone through this same struggle.

Staring at the Sun
Looking out at something bright and blinding, something that could overwhelm us if we're not careful.

Afraid of what you'd find
Like before, we're hesitant to confront the unknown and all of its potential pitfalls.

I'm staring at the Sun
Despite the dangers, we're still bravely moving forward, staring down our fears and doubts.

Who's happy to go blind
We're still willing to risk everything, to throw caution to the wind in hopes of finding something better on the other side.