According to lead singer Bono, there are a couple of his favorite people rolled into the lyrics of "Grace" and they personify his favourite word: "It's not a song about people being graceful in their actions but covering over the cracks." He wrote the song thinking about how Grace enters and turns Karma upside down: "Grace interrupting Karma", in his words. For bassist Adam Clayton, "Grace" was a beautiful way to end the album. Bono said, "Grace is the idea I get most excited about, more so than karma. If I have to live by karma then I'm coming back as a frog."
Grace
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
Grace
It's the name for a girl
Changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness
In everything
Grace
She's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside
Of karma, karma
She travels outside
Of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty
In everything
Grace
She carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl
In perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty
In everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
The song Grace by U2 is a tribute to the power of grace and its ability to heal and transform. The lyrics talk about a woman named Grace who embodies this quality and radiates it to everything and everyone she encounters. She is described as someone who takes the blame, covers the shame, and removes the stain, suggesting that she has a selfless attitude and a desire to help people overcome their shortcomings.
Grace is also described as a thought that changed the world, which can be interpreted as a reference to the grace of God or a higher power, and how it has the power to transform people and society. When Grace walks on the street, you can hear the strings, suggesting that she is in harmony with the universe and has a positive effect on her surroundings. She finds goodness and beauty in everything, suggesting that she has a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude towards life.
The song suggests that Grace is not bound by the laws of karma, implying that she is free from the cycle of cause and effect and has transcended the limitations of the material world. She carries a world on her hips and a pearl in perfect condition, suggesting that she has an inner strength and beauty that radiates outward. The final verse proclaims that Grace makes beauty out of ugly things, suggesting that she has the ability to transform even the darkest experiences into something positive and life-affirming.
Overall, Grace is a song that celebrates the transformative power of grace and encourages listeners to embrace this quality and radiate it to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Grace
The main subject of the song is introduced, a person named Grace.
She takes the blame
Grace is willing to accept responsibility for mistakes or faults, even if they are not her own.
She covers the shame
Not only does Grace accept blame, but she also tries to protect others from negative or shameful consequences.
Removes the stain
Grace works to get rid of any blemish or wrongdoing so that everything remains pure.
It could be her name
The name 'Grace' both describes her character and is possibly her actual name.
It's the name for a girl
Grace is a name typically given to females.
It's also a thought that
The concept of grace, which is reflected in Grace's actions and persona,
Changed the world
has the power to make significant positive changes.
And when she walks on the street
When Grace is out in public,
You can hear the strings
her presence has a musical quality to it.
Grace finds goodness
Grace is able to see the best in everything and everyone,
In everything
in every situation or circumstance.
She's got the walk
Grace has an elegant and confident way of moving.
Not on a ramp or on chalk
This is not a superficial or artificial kind of walk.
She's got the time to talk
Grace is willing to take the time to have meaningful conversations.
She travels outside
Grace is not bound by,
Of karma, karma
the typical cycle of cause and effect that runs through life.
When she goes to work
In her job or duties,
You can hear her strings
Grace's music or inner goodness is especially present.
Grace finds beauty
Grace is able to discern and appreciate the unique and special qualities in everything and everyone,
In everything
even if it is initially perceived as negative or difficult.
She carries a world on her hips
Grace is strong, capable, and able to carry the weight of the world.
No champagne flute for her lips
Grace has no need for superficial or indulgent pleasures.
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
Grace's movements and actions are deliberate and precise, without unnecessary flourishes or distractions.
She carries a pearl
Grace carries something small and valuable,
In perfect condition
which is in pristine condition.
What once was hurt
Something that was previously damaged or injured,
What once was friction
or caused conflict or tension,
What left a mark
and left a lasting impression,
No longer stings
no longer brings negative emotions or reactions.
Because Grace makes beauty
Grace has the power to transform something unpleasant or mundane,
Out of ugly things
into something lovely and meaningful that reflects her goodness and character.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One