volcano
Adam Clayton/Bono/Larry Mullen Jr./The Edge/U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can hurt yourself tryin’ to hold on
To what you used to be
I’m so glad the past is all gone
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Your eyes were like landing lights
They used to be the clearest blue
Now you don’t see so well
The future’s gonna land on you
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Do you live here or is this a vacation
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
You’re on a piece of ground above a volcano
You were alone
And now you’re not alone
You were alone
But you are rock n’ roll
You and I are rock n’ roll
But you are rock n’ roll
You and I are rock n’ roll
Oh, volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
You’re on a piece of ground above a volcano
In "Volcano," U2 describes the feeling of being stuck in a perpetual state of uncertainty and instability. The world is spinning so fast that it's difficult to hold onto anything solid, and the singer is grappling with the person they used to be. While they're glad to have left the past behind, they're nervous about what the future holds, and they're worried that something within them wants to erupt like a long-dormant volcano.
The song suggests that the singer has spent a lot of time wandering, both physically and mentally, and they're not sure if they belong in their current situation. They're standing on a piece of ground that could be destroyed at any moment, and they're grappling with the idea that they're alone in the face of such danger. However, despite all of this, they're still determined to embrace their identity as a rock and roll star, and they hope that this will give them the strength to weather any storms that may come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is spinning fast tonight
The current state of affairs is rapidly changing and unpredictable
You can hurt yourself tryin’ to hold on
Trying to hold onto what was is dangerous and potentially harmful
To what you used to be
Holding onto the past and not embracing change
I’m so glad the past is all gone
Relieved and thankful that the past is behind and the present is filled with possibilities
Been out in the wild
Venturing outwards and exploring
Been out in the night
Going out at night and experiencing the world in a different light
Been out of your mind
Pushing boundaries and daring to be different
Do you live here or is this a vacation
Questioning whether one is truly living life to the fullest or simply going through the motions
Volcano
An explosive force waiting to erupt
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Being afraid of the consequences and repercussions of unleashing that force
Something in you wants to blow
Feeling the urge to let go and unleash one’s true potential
Your eyes were like landing lights
Your eyes were once bright and clear, guiding the way
They used to be the clearest blue
Your eyes were once full of hope and promise
Now you don’t see so well
Feeling lost and uncertain in one’s vision and direction
The future’s gonna land on you
The future is imminent and waiting to happen
You’re on a piece of ground above a volcano
Sitting on the edge of danger, with the potential for greatness or disaster
You were alone
Feeling isolated and disconnected
And now you’re not alone
Finding a sense of community and shared experience
But you are rock n’ roll
Embracing the spirit of rock and roll, a symbol of rebellion and freedom
You and I are rock n’ roll
Together, we embody the spirit of rock and roll
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pleeman
Saw them in Detroit in 1984, (12/8/84) small 5 thousand-seat Fox theater and they were on fire!
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
I Will Follow
Seconds
MLK
The Unforgettable Fire
Wire
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Cry / The Electric Co. / Send in the Clowns (snippet) / Amazing Grace (snippet)
A Sort Of Homecoming
Bad
October
New Year's Day
Pride (In the Name of Love)
encore(s):
Gloria
Party Girl
40
What a magic night! We got in when we could not afford scalper tickets and a side door flew open!
We found faith in the future with these guys and next year (3/23/1985) I saw them at Cobo Hall playing to 20k and I saw a band literally BLOW UP in 4 months! Two years later Joshua Tree would send them into the stratosphere. I was a HUGE MTVer back then and the videos they did were impressive.
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
I Will Follow
Seconds
MLK
The Unforgettable Fire
Wire
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Cry / The Electric Co. / Amazing Grace (snippet)
A Sort Of Homecoming
Bad / Ruby Tuesday (snippet) / Sympathy For The Devil (snippet)
October
New Year's Day
Pride (In the Name of Love)
encore(s):
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Gloria
40 / Do They Know It's Christmas (snippet) / We Are The World (snippet)
@leokimvideo
Before The Edge discovered the Digital Delay guitar pedal
@LKtube1
or pedals ..
@TheAgentAssassin
Oddly enough The Edge was singing in delay pedal fashion repeating Bono's lyrics. 01:03
@partyguinness
Curious. Som many young bands in the 70s…dudes were still teenagers and actually playing instruments..! You don’t see that today.
@paulj0557tonehead
Good memory man.
@free322001
And yet, no one else saw how to use it like he did.
@karmicselling4252
The Edge plays more notes on his guitar in this one song than he has done in all the playing he has done since.
@4himsanctified
right. who'd have known
@pguilhaus3378
The solo of his life😁 Not great but decent.
@marcelobaez6115
Here all his style was very very different indeed