Vértigo
Jazz And U2 Lyrics

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Unos, dos, tres, catorce
Turn it up loud, captain

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Hello, hello (hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something
I can feel, feel

The night is full of holes
'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance, at least they know
I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck
Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa)
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Hello, hello (hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something
I can feel, feel

Checkmated
Just fun
She made it in, yeah

All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt

Hello, hello (hola)
We're at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
Lights go down, and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jazz and U2's song Vertigo are open to interpretation, but one could interpret it as being about the feeling of being overwhelmed by the world and the need for someone to anchor you to something real. The song opens with a countdown in Spanish (unos, dos, tres, catorce) which translates to "one, two, three, fourteen", a play on the band's name, U2. The lyrics describe a jungle in the mind and the heart, a place that cannot be ruled, and being caught in the moment of feeling rather than thinking. The reference to the bullets ripping the sky representing the night full of holes seems to be a metaphor for the violence and turmoil in the world.

The lyrics in the chorus express the sentiment that despite all the chaos, there is something real, something tangible that can be felt, and it comes from the connection with another person. The repeated line "Hello, hello, I'm at a place called Vertigo" could be seen as a call for help or an attempt to connect to someone on a deeper level. As the song progresses, it becomes more frenzied, with references to Jesus and a girl with crimson nails swinging to the music. The ending of the song is slower and more contemplative, with the lyrics "Your love is teaching me how to kneel", perhaps indicating a sense of humility or submission in the face of all the chaos.

Line by Line Meaning

Unos, dos, tres, catorce
Counting off to start the song

Turn it up loud, captain
Requesting the music to be played loudly

Lights go down, it's dark
The lighting in the venue changes

The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
Your mind is like a jungle, full of thoughts and emotions that your heart controls

A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
Emotions can be more powerful than rational thoughts

Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
You are excited and engaged even though you can't buy happiness

Your mind can wander
Your thoughts can drift to unexpected places

Hello, hello (hola)
Greeting the listener

I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
Being at a place that is unsettling and disorienting

It's everything I wish I didn't know
The experience is overwhelming and intense

Except you give me something
Finding consolation with a person or experience

I can feel, feel
Sensations are intense and real

The night is full of holes
The darkness feels incomplete or imperfect

'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
Metaphorically describing gunfire and its effect on the sky above

They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
The lights flicker as the band performs

They know that they can't dance, at least they know
Admitting to a lack of dancing ability

I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check
Feeling overwhelmed and ready to leave

Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck
Noting a religious symbol on a person

Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa)
Moving to the rhythm of the song

Hello, hello (hola)
Greeting the listener again

I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
Reiterating the disorienting location

It's everything I wish I didn't know
Again expressing the overwhelming and intense experience

But you give me something
Finding solace with the same person or experience as before

I can feel, feel
Sensations are still intense and real

Checkmated
Admitting defeat

Just fun
Saying that the experience was enjoyable despite the sense of defeat

She made it in, yeah
Referring to someone's successful entry

All of this, all of this can be yours
Implying that something is available for the taking

Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt
Making a threat or demand

Hello, hello (hola)
Another greeting to the listener

We're at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
Referring to the song's title again

Lights go down, and all I know
Returning to the lighting in the venue

Is that you give me something
Returning to the sense of solace found in someone or something

I can feel your love teaching me how
Receiving a sense of guidance or instruction from love

Your love is teaching me how
Emphasizing the idea of learning from love

How to kneel
Metaphorically describing submission or worship

Kneel
An exclamation or command to kneel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating a chorus-like segment of the song

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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