"When I Look at the World" is the ninth track from U2's 2000 album, All Tha… Read Full Bio ↴"When I Look at the World" is the ninth track from U2's 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The song is about a person's faith being troubled by tragedy. It has been described by Bono as being told from "the point of view of someone who is having a crisis of faith looking at someone who has built their house upon the rock" "When I Look at the World" has also been described as being about the commitment of Ali Hewson towards Chernobyl and the victims of the tragedy.

The guitar, drums, and bass were recorded during a short time span during the sessions for All That You Can't Leave Behind, and by the time the recording of the album was finished The Edge realized that the song had been recorded so quickly he couldn't remember how to play it.[1] Because of this, the song was one of only three from the album never played live in its entirety, the other two being "Peace on Earth" and "Grace".[3] "When I Look at the World" was snippeted during one performance of "Bad" on the Elevation Tour in Kansas City[4] - this is the only recorded performance of the song by U2.

When I Look at the World
U2 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you look at the world
What is it that you see
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees

I see an expression
So clear and so true
That it changes the atmosphere

When you walk (in)to the room

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world

When the night is someone else's
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep

When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now do you
Or even look away

So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world

I can't wait any longer
I can't wait 'til I'm stronger
Can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world

I'm in the waiting room
I can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
When the rest of us choke

Tell me, tell me
What do you see

Tell me, tell me
What's wrong with me

Overall Meaning

In U2's poignant ballad "When I Look at the World", the singer is in deep contemplation over what he sees when he looks at the world. He wonders if others see the same things as he does or if they see something different that makes them fall to their knees in awe. The singer is struck by the expression of his friend's face, which is so authentic and genuine that it changes the entire atmosphere when he walks into a room. The singer confesses that he tries to be like his friend and feel what he feels, but it's no use - he simply can't see what his friend sees when he looks at the world.

The second verse sees the singer attempting to sleep in the midst of chaos and noise, struggling to keep his thoughts together. He sees that his friend is unaffected by any of this, refusing to even blink or look away. In the chorus once again, the singer expresses his desire to see what his friend sees and expresses his growing impatience. The final stanza sees the singer in a waiting room engulfed in smoke, wondering what's wrong with him and imploring his friend to tell him what he sees.

"When I Look at the World" is a reflective and introspective song that delves into the nature of individual perception and experience. It's a song that acknowledges that not everyone looks at the world in the same way, and that we all have unique experiences that shape our perspectives. It could be interpreted as a quest for meaning and understanding, a search for a deeper connection with the world around us.

Line by Line Meaning

When you look at the world
What is your perspective on the state of the world?

What is it that you see
What exactly do you perceive?

People find all kinds of things
Individuals come across a multitude of phenomena

That bring them to their knees
Some of which render them powerless

I see an expression
I observe an aspect

So clear and so true
Remarkably lucid and genuine

That it changes the atmosphere
It alters the ambiance

When you walk (in)to the room
Upon your arrival

So I try to be like you
Therefore, I endeavor to emulate you

Try to feel it like you do
Attempt to experience it similarly to you

But without you it's no use
Yet in your absence, it proves futile

I can't see what you see
I am unable to perceive as you do

When the night is someone else's
Once night-time belongs to others

And you're trying to get some sleep
As you endeavor to get some rest

When your thoughts are too expensive
When your thoughts are too precious

To ever want to keep
To want to retain

When there's all kinds of chaos
When there's pandemonium in the world

And everyone's walking lame
And individuals are struggling

You don't even blink now, do you
You remain unfazed

Or even look away
You don't even look elsewhere

I can't wait any longer
I cannot persist in waiting any further

I can't wait 'til I'm stronger
I cannot keep waiting until I'm more resilient

Can't wait any longer
I cannot continue the waiting process

To see what you see
In order to understand what you perceive

When I look at the world
As I behold the world

I'm in the waiting room
I'm in a state of anticipation

I can't see for the smoke
I'm unable to view anything because of the smoke

I think of you and your holy book
I ponder on you and your scripture

When the rest of us choke
As everyone else around me struggles to breathe

Tell me, tell me
Please share with me

What do you see
What exactly do you observe?

What's wrong with me
What flaw prevents me from seeing as you do?

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

01Beautiful Day6:08

02Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of7:05

03Elevation5:01

04Walk On4:53

05Kite5:34

06In a Little While6:38

07Wild Honey3:46

08Peace on Earth4:22

09When I Look at the World4:17

PT4M17S

10New York5:50

11Grace5:31

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

Jim McDonough

8y↑57

Gives me metaphysical shivers.

Brandon Moore

I wanna wish a Happy early 61st Birthday to U2’s Drummer Larry Mullen Jr

buzz shop

From the day the song released ....!!!'

Marisa Delmare

5y↑31

that guitar riff always gets me
beautiful!

GREGG WARIS

weeping axe break, awesome

Hildo Pacheco

Música que toca na alma, literalmente.

Johnny West

5y↑18

This was one of the best times in my life i used to listen to this all the time

J Daniel Charles

6y↑18

Probably among U2's best song

David Payter

When I look at the world and find out this kind of jams, my heart almost boom up!!! thanks for this!!!

Robert Ledesma

2y↑7

Underrated Gem, Edge’s solo 👌

Brandon Moore

2y↑1

Happy Early 61st 🎂 to U2'S Lead Guitar David Howell Evans The Edge!When I Look At The World The Edge!!!!

Lena Rodríguez

4y↑7

Just got laid off work, and this gives me peace somehow. Love them

Luck anos 80

6y↑5

Que musica!!

Tyler Fahey

8y↑36

I think this was possibly U2's last great album. However, there were a few good ones off How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Vertigo was good as well as City of Blinding Lights. But overall this I think is one of there last great albums where every song on it's really good. Ciao.

James Kovacic

2y↑1

Wild Honey is the only skip for me

duncan w craig

2y↑1

As a rusted on fan from 1983 to 2001, who saw them live three times (84, 93, Vertigo tour), 100 percent agreed.

All That You Can Leave Behind was their last great album. Yes to Blinding Lights, No Songs on the Horizon and Bomb were terrible overall, and Innocence x2 was embarrassing.

But they had a good 20 year run, 1980 to 2001. Do they have one good album left in them?

Fred H

I used to prefer no line and atomic bomb to this, but I've warmed to this one so much, I believe there are no weak songs on it. Kite is probably my least favourite but I really love it it's definitely one of their best. Mind you, I think achtung baby is massively overrated (I even prefer Zooropa), and think songs of innocence is another of their best. So 🤷

Jon War

4y↑1

Atomic bomb and no line are way better. Don't get me wrong it's a good album but it's really too soft for me

Timothy Dannenhoffer

5y↑4

@McCracken216 Congratulations, you're a fucking idiot with a black soul. How anyone could get to know this album and not find it incredible...they'd be destined for Hell if it existed!

7 More Replies...

duncan w craig

6y↑20

I was living in Hong Kong back then - this album was a soundtrack for those days. Great memories..

Brandon Blume Music

2y↑5

2:44 hits me right where it hurts so good every time.

Manny Ramirez

2y↑1

After that mark, this song shines

Arcangela Quarto

😌

Brandon Moore

2y↑2

I wanna say Happy Belated 62nd Birthday to U2'S Bass Guitar Adam Clayton!Adam Clayton When I Look At The World!!!

duncan w craig

2y↑1

this is the moment of take off.

Ayan Siddiqui

2y↑1

This song brings back memories when I was a little kid

Otávio A. Vanelli

5y↑6

I use to imagine myself alone in an sunset beach, after did a great thing for humanity, while i listen this song.

Herbert De Jesus Castillo

6y↑4

Love this song ...

Brandon Moore

3y↑2

U2 When I Look at the World is one of my personal favorite song from the album All That You Can't Leave Behind!

Daniel Morais

4y↑1

Ou som 💥

John Rush

6y↑19

Reminds me of my Dad. Hope he will be proud. 👍😎👍

JOÃO FILHO GOIOERÊ - VIDEOS DE COMÉDIA

essa musica é sensacional! faz parte da minha vida,

Brandon Moore

@JOĀO FLIMO GOIOERÊ- VIDEOS DE... U2 When I Look At The World is one of my personal favorite song

Joseph Dewey

6y↑3

Magnificent!

Em

7y↑7

One of the best!!

Maja Neralic

4y↑5

I see an expression, so clear and so true, that changes the atmosphere when you walk into the room...

Cynthia Bascuñán Vera

5y↑4

So beautiful

David Resch

5y↑14

"So I try to be like you...try to feel it like you do"

Scott beater-man

5y↑2

This makes me think of humanity. Theists and atheists, left wingers and right wingers, race,Creed, nationality,faith, religion. There are so many ways of looking at the world. The best thing we as man can do is to find our own way to see the world and also try our best to respect our fellow man.

Roberto Bascuñán Sanhueza

8y↑8

Have u noticed, what a great music they did, until they've turned into the eye's worshippers? Good music, we miss that, we need that.

Roberto Bascuñán Sanhueza

7y↑1

Orison u r so right (sorry for the year of delay)

rbsk

8y↑6

This was indeed their last great album. I hope they don't ever record again (for their own legacy).

FLÃVIO FÊRREIRA

The best album

Thiago Carvalho

2y↑2

Bono sings this song for Christ. He calls for this vision of Christ in relation to the world. No one loved the world as Christ did.

Astrostevo

6y↑4

Thankyou. Great song.

Khalid Nador

3y↑1

I'love this song i feel free

Brandon Moore

@Khalid Nador U2 When I Look At The World is very good song

Carlos Betancourt

4y↑1

Warm air for the soul

Don Quixote De La Mancha

6y↑7

Most people don't know this, but this song was written after Bono's visit with Pope John Paul II in 1999 after he traded a pair of his sunglasses for the pope's rosary. There's a funny picture of the Pope wearing Bono's sunglasses somewhere on the Internet. Just Google it. And, of course, Bono often wears that Rosary around his neck while he performs. Anyway, the last verse, "I'm in the waiting room, I can't see through the smoke," that's an obvious reference to purgatory. Bono struggles to see the world and feel it the way the JPII did.

Don Quixote De La Mancha

@C W Purgatory is like a smoky "waiting room" for heaven. That may not be 100% theologically correct, but it fits the common understanding. "I'm in the waiting room, I can't see through the smoke, I think of you and your holy book while the rest of us choke." Basically, he's acknowledging the Pope's holiness while admitting that he struggles to see the world in the same way. To put it another way, he recognizes the Pope's sanctity while acknowledging his own lack of sanctity. (A saint need not pass through purgatory but go straight to heaven. Again, that may not be 100% theologically correct, but it fits the common understanding.) The "rest of us" are regular people like you and me who will have to pass through purgatory. The reference to purgatory in the last verse could not be more clear. Can you think of any other smoke filled-waiting rooms circa the year 2000? I don't know about Ireland, but smoking indoors was not allowed in Canada by then, and certainly not in hospital waiting rooms. And it's not just any waiting room mind you, but one where the man with the "holy book" does not choke while every one else does. Finally, the "without you it's no use" does not mean that the Pope would have to be with Bono always. Just present as an important voice in the world.

C W

@Don Quixote De La Mancha No anti-Catholic bias here; I just think that Purgatory doesn't fit the smoke-filled room imagery well and don't see evidence within the song for JPII being the "you." (The placement of the song on the radio special after that discussion is an interesting tidbit, however.) "While the rest of us choke" conveys a sense of the present time, IMHO, not a future Purgatory, with "the rest of us" being human beings in general. It seems to me that Bono is describing the general plight of humanity in the here-and-now, unable to see things from a higher perspective. The present time is also suggested by other phrases ("When the night is someone else's," " When everyone is walking lame") that also apply to the mass of humanity. And "without you it's no use," I think argues against JPII, as the pope would not be able to be with Bono all the time. But I could be wrong and you could be right; I just don't see it.

Don Quixote De La Mancha

3y↑1

@C W Yes, but the smoke filled "waiting room" imagery goes with the lyric "I think of you and your holy book while the rest of us choke." I too have heard Bono say "God has walked into the room" in reference to powerful moments in concerts. Perhaps this was his way of linking JPII with holiness. Notice also that he uses the word "expression" as in "facial expression": " I see an expression so clear and so true that it chances the atmosphere as you walk into the room." Honestly, it seems like he's talking about a person, not God in general. More specifically, he's talking about the moment the pope walked into the room to meet him. Look, I know that people will interpret lyrics however they want. All I'm saying is that I specifically remember listening to my local radio station, 102.1 The Edge in Toronto, way back when this album was first released, where they played this song after a discussion with the band about Bono's visit with the pope the previous year. This seems to be the most obvious meaning of the song. I understand, however, that some people will have biases against Catholic Christianity and do not want to accept this particular interpretation. But it was since that meeting that Bono has been wearing the pope's Rosary around his neck in interviews, videos, and performances. Neither do I think we should ever expect Bono to give a straight-up explanation about his lyrics. If anything, he's more likely to conceal the deeper meaning of his songs, while discussing the more superficial meanings publicly. That's an artist for you. To give away the secret is to give away the mystery/allure of the song. Especially if it has something to do with religion. And especially if he's telling the pope, "Tell me, tell me, what do you see? Tell me, tell me, what's wrong with me?" And "Without you it's not use, I can't see what you see when I look at the world." Also, it's obviously not Jesus he's speaking to because he says, "You don't even sleep now do you or even look away." Does Jesus sleep?

C W

3y↑2

That's an interesting interpretation. Bono has said in interviews, however, that God is the one who "walk[s] in the room," and that the smoke-filled room references his father Bob Hewson's tendency to smoke. So I think (but am open to being persuaded otherwise) that it's a better fit to say that Christ is the primary "you," but there's also some father/son dynamics with Bono's father in play here. Bob was reportedly devout throughout much of his life, but lost faith as his health declined; the making of ATYCLB was concurrently marked by his declining health. When Bob died in 2001 (after the release of ATYCLB), Bono publicly thanked God for giving his father a new body.

james nagle

6y↑6

pure class A1

Virginie Dallongeville

all that you can't leave behind si sous côté , c'est un très bon album de U2 avec Songs of Expérience juste Lights of home 😍😍😍😍😍😍 chanson parfaite arf dommage qu'il ne se soit pas vendu l'album SOE !

Brandon Moore

@Virginie Dallongeville Cool

Virginie Dallongeville

@Brandon Moore beautiful day is one of my favorite songs !

Dario Ferrari

6y↑2

Ho sempre visto solo vita, luce,
in te e intorno a noi...
Splendore!
Dario

Michael Burland

I guess that's it. But then ignore the entire back catalogue and everything else.♥️.
You put me out on the streets with winter approaching you'll sign my death sentence. No way l can go through winter on the streets.

james nagle

6y↑1

pure class A1

tmouser39

4y↑5

So very poignant today in 2020

Brandon Moore

3y↑1

I'm listening to U2 When I Look at the World early February 2021!

Markus Inks

2y↑1

THE LADY & CHILD ARE WALKING INTO A VERY BRIGHT VORTEX (ON THE COVER)..... LOOK CLOSELY..... 🤫😔

Abraham Ririhena

to be like you like you do without you

Jorge

A partir de 1993 grupo en decadencia..

クローン博士

2000年の夏は最高だった。

Brandon Moore

I'm listening to U2 When I Look At The World April 1st 2021 on April's Fools Day Las Vegas NV!

Email Alpha

4y↑5

I wonder if that child in the picture (over Edge's left shoulder) knows that they are on a U2 album cover.

genius israel

4y↑1

Que llevere 👍👍👍👍👍👍😉👌

Avery Adrian

Sums up my mind

Kasia Lotnik

4y↑1

thx for this

sean cole

6y↑3

what is it that you see, baby??

Dar S

I kinda wonder if this is a prequel to Until The End Of The World. Like, that song is about Judas betraying Jesus. And this one sounds like Judas trying and failing to understand Jesus. He wants to believe so badly but can't force himself. Because when he looks at the world all he sees is the bad, the pain, and all the suffering. So he gives up and betrays him.
But what he doesn't understand is Jesus saw all the same awful things too. The difference is Jesus saw the good in the bad, and how all the people hurting and suffering could help themselves and one another.

David Resch

5y↑2

There last great album

Suh Synched

The down hill slope began just after this offering, sadly.

Iqbal Syawali

Dont forget Brian Eno at synth

Raphael Medeiros

8y↑3

Hello from Brazil!!

Astrostevo

6y↑1

Yo from Oz! (Australia.)

Jack O'flynn

I am here because of Henry Rollins :<)

creates100

Is he talking about the Pope?

orange drums

This song is better than their last two pieces of shit combined.

malinwj1

Morning Joe

Spvceboy

😂😂😂 Henry rollins was right! This is utter garbage!! Guitar play has 1 riff, drummer is bland. Wtf lmao

emma duncan

6y↑1

Henry Rollins was exactly right about these bozo's

Ronnie Verhagi

5y↑2

who is Henry rollins??

Justin Storelli

6y↑1

emma duncan LOL Howard Stern?

Sullivan Graham

this one bores me

Brandon Moore

@Sullivan Graham Bono is not boring

Sullivan Graham

@Brandon Moore lyrics are so tacky, just boring Bono talk

McCracken216

5y↑2

This album was trash. Their last great album was achtung baby. The drop off after that was dramatic and obvious. Not saying they didn't come up with a good song or two after that, but most of it I find completely un-listenable, including this song.

damedge07

C'est un bon album de pop rock mais je préfère le u2 des années 90 achtung Zooropa et Pop sont mes préférés !!! No line était bien aussi mais les 2 derniers sont leurs plus faibles !!!

Brandon Moore

@Larry Mullen JR hi I wanna wish a Happy early 60th Birthday 🎂🎂🎂🎂 to you

Brandon Moore

I wanna say Happy Birthday to U2'S Lead Guitar David Howell Evans The Edge who will be turning 60 years old Tomorrow! When I Look At The World The Edge!!!!