Cedars of Lebanon
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woke up in my clothes in a dirty heap
Spent the night trying to make a deadline
Squeezing complicated lives into a simple headline
I have your face in an old Polaroid
Tidying the childrens clothes and toys
You smiling back at me I took the photo from the fridge
Can't remember what Emily did
Thought of you the whole time, your salty tears
This shitty world sometimes produces a rose
The scent of it lingers but then it just goes
Return the call to home
The worst of us are a long drawn-out confession
The best of us are geniuses of compression
You say you're not gonna leave the truth alone
I'm here 'cause I don't wanna go home
Child drinking dirty water from a riverbank
Soldier brings oranges he got out from a tank
Waiting on the waiter, he's taking a while to come
Watching the sun go down on Lebanon
Return the call to home
Now I got a head like a lit cigarette
Unholy clouds reflect in a minaret
So high above me, higher than everyone
Where are you in the cedars of Lebanon?
Choose your enemies carefully, 'cause they will define you
Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you
They're not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Gonna last with you longer than your friends
In "Cedars of Lebanon," U2 sings about the horrors of the world while also reflecting on personal relationships. The singer wakes up exhausted after spending the night working on a deadline. He thinks back to a photo he has of his loved ones, though he can't remember what his daughter did. The singer hasn't been with a woman in years but can't stop thinking about his significant other. He tries to balance the atrocities of the world, including a child drinking dirty water and soldiers trading oranges, with personal life. Unfortunately, these events are impossible to forget, and it's unclear where his partner is amid the cedars of Lebanon.
In the latter half of the song, the singer reflects on making enemies, a theme that is likely tied to the war-torn world he describes. He suggests choosing enemies carefully, as they will come to define you. These enemies should be interesting because they will matter more than friends in the end. This final sentiment is a sobering reflection on the power of hatred in a world defined by conflict. Ultimately, "Cedars of Lebanon" is a testament to the ways that tragedy and love intersect.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I spent asleep
I was so tired from trying to keep up with the hectic pace of life that I slept through the day
Woke up in my clothes in a dirty heap
I was so exhausted that I didn't even have the energy to change out of my clothes before collapsing into bed
Spent the night trying to make a deadline
I worked all night to meet a deadline, trying to simplify complex situations into catchy headlines
Squeezing complicated lives into a simple headline
I had to simplify real people's lives into soundbites to fit into the news cycle, causing me to feel conflicted and overwhelmed
I have your face in an old Polaroid
I have a physical reminder of someone I care about deeply, a snapshot in time frozen in a photograph
Tidying the childrens clothes and toys
I am trying to keep busy and do mundane tasks like tidying up, but my mind is elsewhere
You smiling back at me I took the photo from the fridge
I am drawn to this photo because it represents a happier, simpler time in my life
Can't remember what Emily did
I am so consumed by my own struggles that I cannot even remember a significant event involving someone close to me
Haven't been with a woman, it feels like, for years
I have not had a meaningful connection with someone in a long time, and feel despondent and isolated as a result
Thought of you the whole time, your salty tears
I am reflecting on someone who has touched me emotionally, and who I may have let down or hurt
This shitty world sometimes produces a rose
Even in trying times, beauty and positive experiences can arise unexpectedly
The scent of it lingers but then it just goes
These moments of beauty and hope are fleeting, and quickly dissipate in the harsh realities of life
Return the call to home
I need to reconnect with my roots and the things that give me a sense of purpose and belonging
The worst of us are a long drawn-out confession
People who do bad things often take a long time to admit their sins and make amends
The best of us are geniuses of compression
Those who are able to do good things in the world are often skilled at making complex tasks appear simple
You say you're not gonna leave the truth alone
You are committed to getting to the truth, and won't shy away from difficult conversations or revelations
I'm here 'cause I don't wanna go home
I am avoiding my personal life and struggles by throwing myself into my work
Child drinking dirty water from a riverbank
I am observing the harsh realities of poverty and suffering in the world, and feeling helpless to make a difference
Soldier brings oranges he got out from a tank
I am seeing the small gestures of kindness that can arise in even the toughest of situations
Waiting on the waiter, he's taking a while to come
I am impatient and uncomfortable, feeling disconnected from the world around me
Watching the sun go down on Lebanon
I am observing the beauty of the world even as I struggle with depression and despair
Now I got a head like a lit cigarette
I feel anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed, as if my head is about to explode
Unholy clouds reflect in a minaret
I am feeling spiritually lost and disconnected, observing the world around me with a sense of despair
So high above me, higher than everyone
I feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, struggling to find meaning and purpose in life
Where are you in the cedars of Lebanon?
I am searching for a sense of spiritual grounding and purpose in a world that often feels chaotic and unforgiving
Choose your enemies carefully, 'cause they will define you
The people we align ourselves against can determine our sense of identity and purpose in life
Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you
Even people we don't like or agree with can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and the world
They're not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Our enemies may not be apparent at the outset of our journey through life, but can emerge over time as we confront challenges and obstacles
Gonna last with you longer than your friends
The people who challenge and motivate us may have a more lasting impact on our lives than the people we call friends
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brian Peter George Eno, Harold Budd, Adam Clayton, David Evans, Paul David Hewson, Daniel Roland Lanois, Laurence Mullen Jnr., Dave Evans, Larry Mullen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mindakros2120
Yesterday I spent asleep
Woke up in my clothes in a dirty heap
Spent the night tryin to make a deadline
Squeezin complicated lives into a simple headline
I have your face in an old Polaroid
Tidyin the childrens clothes and toys
You smilin back at me I took the photo from the fridge
Can't remember what Emily did
Haven't been with a woman, it feels like, for years
Thought of you the whole time, your salty tears
This shitty world sometimes produces a rose
The scent of it lingers but then it just goes
Return the call to home
The worst of us are a long drawn-out confession
The best of us are geniuses of compression
You say you're not gonna leave the truth alone
I'm here 'cause I don't wanna go home
Child drinkin dirty water from a riverbank
Soldier brings oranges he got out from a tank
Waitin on the waiter, he's takin a while to come
Watchin the sun go down on Lebanon
Return the call to home
I got a head like a lit cigarette
Unholy clouds reflect in a minaret
So high above me, higher than everyone
Where are you in the cedars of Lebanon?
Choose your enemies carefully, 'cause they will define you
Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you
They're not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Gonna last with you longer than your friends
@JariLiitolaPikkuApuri
For me as a huge U2 fan since 1984, this is one of the best tracks. Too bad others didn't understand the greatness of this.
@deanperez9426
Well put Jari... well put, ".
@dejan_krsic
absolutely! masterpiece!
@raymondwalsh7520
One of their better songs on the downside of mediocrity that they've churning out for the last 15 years.
@maboleth
@@raymondwalsh7520 I was like you, saying U2 from 1980-1997, sometimes even 1995. But boy I was missing SO many great songs and albums they released from 1997-2023. Like gems, up to their very best. And I'm sad I discovered them now because I missed so many of their concerts.
@DMcCU2
I don't under stand why people, even U2 fans, give this album so much negative criticism. Songs like this, Fez, Magnificent, and White as Snow make this record somewhat of a masterpiece.
@walterygor
Not everybody can appreciate how good this song is but for me this is one of their best songs EVER!! I don't know how to explain it, but when I listen to this song I experience something that feels so soothing.
@OConaill77
walterygor I agree
@hunam3876
+walterygor This song is truly sublime.
@JamesVibe
+walterygor Many U2 songs always had this..... this is what got me into U2 - since the Unforgettable Fire..... that mood music I can't explain...... you should check out the passengers album if you havent already.