One Tree Hill
U2 Lyrics

We turn away to face the cold, enduring chill
We are facing away from warmth and comfort, forced to endure the cold and discomfort of the situation.

As the day begs the night for mercy, love
The day is ending and the impending darkness is pleading for respite from the hardships of life.

The sun so bright it leaves no shadows
The brightness of the sun is so strong that it creates a world without any darkness or secrecy to conceal hardships.

Only scars carved into stone
Painful memories have been etched into unyielding natural materials as a permanent reminder of the emotional pain felt over time.

On the face of earth
This phrase acknowledges the existent pain which is marked on the face of nature itself.

The moon is up and over One Tree Hill
The natural phenomenon of the moon is affording a sequestered sentiment of hope and empathy for the predicaments currently faced by the afflicted.

We see the sun go down in your eyes
The singer is able to see the reflection of natural beauty in the eyes of those who are showing signs of sorrow.

You run like river on like a sea
The person referenced moves with the fluidity and strength of an unbridled force such as a river or a sea.

And in the world, a heart of darkness
The world is generally depicted as a space of darkness, hopelessness and despair.

A fire zone
The world is further described as a flammable area which has a potential to erupt into destruction at any moment.

Where poets speak their heart
Conversely, the poetry world is one that provides a safe haven for all the outpouring of emotions and heartbreaks.

Then bleed for it
The vulnerability and honesty shared through poetry often come at a heavy cost and pain.

Jara sang, his song a weapon
This is a reference to the Chilean singer, Victor Jara who used his music to crusade against oppressive regimes in South America.

In the hands of love
Victor Jara's songs were under the guidance of love and unity.

You know his blood still cries
Victor Jara's legacy still lives on and remaining voices of those who fought against injustice still echo today.

From the ground
Victor Jara's message of hope and love has spread from his mere existence and his fundamental stand against oppression.

I don't believe in painted roses
The artist does not fall victim to the false beauties or facades of life.

Or bleeding hearts
The singer will not be fooled by the less honest parts of lives where dishonest intentions lead towards superficial compassion.

While bullets rape the night of the merciful
Amidst other calamities that life presents, there are moments of extreme, undeserved affliction.

I'll see you again
This phrase refers to recognizing the persistence of love over time and through hardship.

When the stars fall from the sky
This is clearly a fleeting time but hope, love and other essential elements of life presist.

And the moon has turned red
This could mean both either the moon turning blood red in a lunar eclipse or a possible reference to any powerful event that was transpired.

Over One Tree Hill
The above-mentioned events take place in a specific hill overlooking the region.

Raining, raining in your heart
This phrase details the idea of sorrows heavily weighing on someone's heart.

Raining in your heart
Once again, this is an imitation of someone whose heart is weighed down by personal tragedy.

Raining, rain into your heart
This is a reference to the heavy weight of personal sorrows heavily relying not just on the mind but also the heart.

Raining, raining, raining
Sorrow upon sorrow upon sorrow seems like the only escape from the sheer amount of pain.

Rain into your
This fragment alone doesn't convey a distinct meaning, but when paired with the previous lyrics, it seems to imply that strains of sorrow are so immense that they envelop one's entire being.

Raining, ooh, rain in your heart, yeah
This phrase underscores the deep emotional pain that individuals may feel throughout their lives.

To the sea
These four simple words could mean that the weight of sorrow would never endure or could fade and be merged with the ocean of emotions brought by the sea.

Oh, great ocean
Here we see a shift in focus as the singer looks towards the great, mystical and powerful ocean for solace.

Oh, great sea
The ocean is once again referred to, emphasizing its vastness and vibrancy.

Run to the ocean
In times of trouble, it is beneficial to run to any sort of refuge, and the ocean provides just that to the artist.

Run to the sea
The artist hits his point home again, to any who listen that the ocean provides the most effecient solace in one's time of need.