Vértigo
U2- live Lyrics

Unos, dos, tres, catorce
The song begins with a count-in from the lead singer, Bono. The count-in is in Spanish, which suggests that the song is about cultural fusion and the power of music to unite people across language barriers.

Turn it up loud, captain
Before the song kicks off in earnest, Bono yells out, 'Turn it up loud, captain.' This is a signal to the sound engineer to raise the volume on the band's instruments, and it highlights U2's iconic sound, which is characterized by soaring guitar riffs and propulsive drumming.

Lights go down, it's dark
The opening line of the first verse describes the start of a concert. As the band walks onto the stage, the lights in the arena go down, which creates a dramatic effect that focuses the audience's attention on the performers.

The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
The lyrics describe the internal battle between reason and emotion that many people face in their everyday lives. The phrase 'the jungle is your head' suggests the chaos of the human psyche, while the line 'can't rule your heart' implies that sometimes our emotions get the best of us, despite our best efforts to be rational.

A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
This is a continuation of the previous idea, emphasizing that our emotions often hold more sway over our actions than our rational thoughts. It's a reminder that, as complex as we might like to think we are, at the end of the day we're still driven by our most basic desires and fears.

Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
This line suggests that music can have a profound impact on our emotions, which can't be bought or sold. The image of eyes being wide open suggests a sense of wonder and awe, as if the music has opened up a new world of possibilities for the listener.

Your mind can wander
The final line of the first verse acknowledges that music is a form of escapism, allowing us to momentarily forget our problems and lose ourselves in the moment. It's the power of music to transport us to another time and place that makes it such a universal language.

Hello, hello (hola)
The chorus of the song begins with Bono shouting out 'Hello, hello,' in both English and Spanish. This reinforces the theme of cultural mixing and suggests that music is a way of breaking down barriers between different countries and communities.

I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
The title of the song is 'Vertigo', and this line defines what that word means for the listener. It's a feeling of disorientation or dizziness that takes over when we're caught up in the moment, whether that's at a concert or some other intense emotional experience.

It's everything I wish I didn't know
This is a reference to the song's verses, which describe the confusion and chaos of everyday life. The singer is acknowledging that sometimes we would prefer to be ignorant of the harsh realities of the world, but that music has a way of forcing us to confront them head-on.

Except you give me something / I can feel, feel
Despite the difficulties of life, music has the power to give us hope and joy. The line 'you give me something / I can feel' is a tribute to the emotional intensity of music, which has the ability to move us and make us feel truly alive.

The night is full of holes / 'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
The second verse of the song takes us outside the concert venue and into the wider world. The reference to bullets and the sky being ripped apart suggest a world of violence and chaos, where everything is uncertain.

They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll / They know that they can't dance, at least they know
Despite the difficulties of the world, there's still a sense of joy and playfulness that can be found in music. The image of the boys playing rock and roll suggests the rebellious spirit of the genre, while the reference to their inability to dance is a nod to U2's own lack of coolness.

I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check / Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck
These lyrics are a self-deprecating jab at the band's own reputation as earnest and uncool. The reference to the 'crimson nails' and 'Jesus around her neck' implies a kind of religious piety or sanctimony, which is contrasted with the singer's own inability to enjoy the music.

Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa) / (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
The repetition of the words 'swinging to the music' is an expression of the sheer joy and abandon of dancing to rock and roll. This is a reminder that, despite its many challenges, life is also full of moments of pure joy and freedom.

Checkmated / Just fun / She made it in, yeah
These lyrics are cryptic, but they suggest a kind of game or competition, where someone has been 'checkmated' but is still having fun. The line 'she made it in' suggests that someone has managed to overcome the odds and succeed against all expectations.

All of this, all of this can be yours / Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt
This line has been interpreted in many different ways, but it's generally seen as a critique of consumer culture and the idea that happiness can be bought with money or possessions. The line 'just give me what I want and no one gets hurt' suggests that the world is a place of conflict and struggle, and that people are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead.

We're at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
The final chorus of the song reiterates the central theme of the song, which is the power of music to give us a sense of disorientation and euphoria. The question '¿dónde está?' (where is it?) implies that the experience of Vertigo is something intangible and mysterious, something that can't be fully understood or explained.

Lights go down, and all I know / Is that you give me something
The final lines of the song return us to the concert venue, where the lights have gone down and the band is playing their final song. The reference to 'you' implies that the experience of Vertigo is both personal and universal, something that we all share in together.

I can feel your love teaching me how / Your love is teaching me how / How to kneel / Kneel
The final lines of the song are a reference to spirituality and the idea that music can be a form of communion with a higher power. The kneeling imagery is a nod to religious worship, but it also suggests a kind of surrender to the power of art and emotion.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah / Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The song ends with a repetition of the refrain 'yeah, yeah, yeah', which is a common feature of rock and roll music. It's a signal to the audience that the concert is over, but it's also a reminder that the power of music lives on long after the last note has faded away.