Medley
Green Day / U2 Lyrics
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Lover I'm off the streets
Gonna go where the bright lights
And the big city meet
With a red guitar, on fire
Desire
She's the candle
I'm like the needle
Needle and spoon
Over the counter
With a shotgun
Pretty soon, everybody got one
And the fever when I'm beside her
Desire
Desire
Desire
Desire
Burning
Burning
She's the dollars
She's my protection
Yeah, she's the promise
In the year of election
Ah, sister, I can't let you go
I'm like a preacher
Stealing hearts at a traveling show
For the love or money, money?
Desire
Desire
Desire
Desire
The lyrics of Green Day / U2's song Medley paint a vivid picture of the singer's intense desire for a mysterious woman. The singer is leaving the streets and heading to the big city with a fiery red guitar, indicating that he is ready for adventure and excitement. The woman he desires is like a candle burning in his room, a source of light in the darkness. He compares himself to a needle and spoon, indicating that he may be struggling with addiction, and the line "pretty soon, everybody got one" suggests that this struggle is widespread.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the woman as "the dollars" and "my protection," implying that she is wealthy and may be his only source of security. He also refers to her as "the promise in the year of election," which could be interpreted in a political sense, suggesting that she is a symbol of hope or change. However, the line "for the love or money, money?" suggests that the singer is aware of the transactional nature of their relationship and is uncertain of what he truly wants.
Overall, the song is about the intense and conflicting emotions that arise when pursuing desire, whether it be for love, money, or fame. The lyrics are cryptic but evoke a sense of longing and desperation that is common to anyone who has ever desired something deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
The song Medley by Green Day / U2 starts with a simple expression of affirmation.
Lover I'm off the streets
The singer's lover has taken them off the streets, indicating that they are no longer living a life of danger or recklessness.
Gonna go where the bright lights
And the big city meet
The singer is going to seek out the lights and energy of the big city with its nightlife and excitement.
With a red guitar, on fire
Desire
The singer's guitar is symbolically on fire, indicating the passion and desire that they feel inside.
She's the candle
Burning in my room
The singer's lover is like a candle, burning brightly and providing warmth and light in their life.
I'm like the needle
Needle and spoon
Over the counter
With a shotgun
Pretty soon, everybody got one
The singer is like a drug addict, using needles and spoons to inject drugs into their system, and a shotgun is available over the counter to anybody who wants one, indicating a sense of despair and hopelessness in the world around them.
And the fever when I'm beside her
Desire
The singer feels a burning passion and desire when they are next to their lover.
Desire
Desire
The word 'Desire' is repeated, emphasizing the intense feeling that the singer is experiencing.
Burning
Burning
The word 'Burning' is repeated, emphasizing the intensity of the passion and desire that the singer feels.
She's the dollars
She's my protection
Yeah, she's the promise
In the year of election
The singer's lover is their source of financial stability and emotional protection, and holds the promise of a better future in a tumultuous time.
Ah, sister, I can't let you go
I'm like a preacher
Stealing hearts at a traveling show
The singer cannot let go of their lover, and is like a preacher who captures people's hearts with their words and actions.
For the love or money, money?
Desire
Desire
Desire
Desire
The singer is left wondering whether their lover is with them for love or money, as the word 'Desire' is repeated several times to emphasize the intensity of their feelings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL HEWSON, DAVE EVANS, ADAM CLAYTON, LARRY MULLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind