U2 initially did not perform "Tomorrow". Its live debut came over halfway through the October Tour when the band performed a hometown concert on 26 January 1982 in Dublin. This debut featured Vincent Kilfuff accompanying the band on Uilleann pipes. The song was only attempted twice more on the October Tour: at a Saint Patrick's Day concert in New York City and a show at the same venue the next day. For the War Tour, the band rehearsed a new live version: "October" segued into it and the Uilleann pipes were replaced by The Edge playing a tin whistle. The song was played at all shows on the tour's first leg for which complete setlists are known. It then appeared at the first two weeks of concerts on the War Tour's second leg before its final live performance in early May 1983.
Tomorrow
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Can I sleep tonight?
Outside
Somebody's outside
Somebody's knocking at the door
At the side of the road
Don't go to the door
Don't go to the door
I'm going out
I'm going outside mother
I'm going out there
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Will you be back tomorrow? La, la, la, la
Who broke the window?
Who broke down the door?
Who tore the curtain?
And who was he for?
Who healed the wounds?
Who heals the scars?
Open the door
Open the door
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Will you be back tomorrow?
Can I sleep tonight?
'Cause I want you, I, I want you
I really, I, I want, I, I
I want you to be back tomorrow
I want you to be back tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow?
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Will you be back tomorrow?
Open up, open up
To the lamb of God
To the love of he who made
The blind to see
He's coming back
He's coming back
Oh believe it
Jesus's coming
I'm gonna be there
I'm gonna be there mother
I'm gonna be there mother
I'm going out there, ooh
U2's song Tomorrow seems to be a lyrical representation of someone anxiously awaiting the return of a loved one, possibly a parent or a lover, who may have left for an extended period. The repetition of the phrase "Won't you come back tomorrow?" highlights the separation anxiety and the desire for the person to return soon. The verses then take a sudden turn to depict an ominous situation with the appearance of an unknown person knocking on the door with a black car parked outside. The lyrics create a sense of danger with the repeated plea to not open the door.
The switch back to the chorus of "Won't you be back tomorrow?" after the mention of an intruder could essentially mean that the anxiety is still there, but it is centred on the safety and well-being of the person whom the song is addressed to. The sudden inclusion of religious imagery at the end with the line "Open up to the lamb of God" seems to suggest that the singer is seeking divine intervention and protection from harm.
Overall, the song Tomorrow is a poignant portrayal of longing, fear, and hope, all wrapped in the inimitable, haunting style of U2.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Can I sleep tonight?
Asking if it's safe to sleep tonight
Outside
Describing the location of the artist
Somebody's outside
Noting the presence of someone outside
Somebody's knocking at the door
Noting the presence of someone knocking at the door
There's a black car parked
Noting the presence of a black car parked nearby
At the side of the road
Identifying where the black car is parked
Don't go to the door
Warning someone not to go to the door
Don't go to the door
Warning someone not to go to the door
I'm going out
Announcing the artist's departure from the current location
I'm going outside mother
Announcing the singer's departure to the outdoors and addressing their mother
I'm going out there
Announcing the singer's departure to the outdoors
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow? La, la, la, la
Asking if someone will return tomorrow
Who broke the window?
Asking who broke the window
Who broke down the door?
Asking who broke down the door
Who tore the curtain?
Asking who tore the curtain
And who was he for?
Asking about the person who caused the previous damages
Who healed the wounds?
Asking who healed the wounds
Who heals the scars?
Asking who heals the scars
Open the door
Requesting someone to open the door
Open the door
Requesting someone to open the door
Won't you come back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow?
Asking if someone will return tomorrow
Can I sleep tonight?
Asking if it's safe to sleep tonight
'Cause I want you, I, I want you
Expressing a desire for someone to return
I really, I, I want, I, I
Reiterating a desire for someone to return
I want you to be back tomorrow
Expressing a desire for someone to return tomorrow
I want you to be back tomorrow
Expressing a desire for someone to return tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow?
Asking if someone will return tomorrow
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Won't you be back tomorrow?
Requesting someone to return tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow?
Asking if someone will return tomorrow
Open up, open up
Requesting someone to open up
To the lamb of God
Referring to Jesus as the 'lamb of God'
To the love of he who made
Referring to God's love for mankind
The blind to see
Referring to the miracle of restoring sight to the blind
He's coming back
Referring to Jesus coming back to earth
He's coming back
Referring to Jesus coming back to earth
Oh believe it
Encouragement to believe that Jesus will return
Jesus's coming
Referring to Jesus coming back to earth
I'm gonna be there
Announcing the artist's intention to be present
I'm gonna be there mother
Announcing the singer's intention to be present and addressing their mother
I'm gonna be there mother
Announcing the artist's intention to be present and addressing their mother
I'm going out there, ooh
Announcing the singer's departure to the outdoors
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Paul 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