The lyrics describe a man searching for God in a post-Apocalyptic world. U2 had never performed it live in concert until a television special entitled I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash, following Cash's death in 2003.
The Wanderer
U2 Lyrics
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Through streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones
Saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking
Under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn
Like the tears when I said goodbye
Yeah I went with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
I went drifting
Through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk
Or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it
I went out riding
Down that old eight lane
I passed by a thousand signs
Looking for my own name
I went with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
I went out there
In search of experience
To taste and to touch
And to feel as much
As a man can
Before he repents
I went out searching
Looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I went out walking
With a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
Jesus, I'll be home soon
Yeah I went out for the papers
Told her I'd be back by noon
Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
Oh ho
The Wanderer by U2 is a song about the search for meaning in life, and the emptiness that can come from pursuing material wealth and power. The song's speaker recounts their journey through various places and experiences, all in search of something elusive. They start in a city without a soul, where they observe the emptiness of a materialistic society. Then they move on to other places, including a church where the residents want a kingdom but not God, and a highway where the singer is looking for their own identity. Throughout all of this, the singer is motivated by the thought of someone they care about, who they hope to find or meet again someday.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly desperate in their search for meaning. They start looking for a "good man" who won't bend or break, and end up wandering with a Bible and a gun, convinced that they are the one chosen by God. However, even as they call out to Jesus, they seem to have lost their way and turned towards violence and vigilante justice. Ultimately, the singer leaves with nothing but the thought of their loved one, wandering on and on in search of something that they may never find.
The song can be interpreted in many ways, but it seems to be a critique of the pursuit of material wealth and power at the expense of other values like love, spirituality, and community. The singer is a wanderer, unable to find a sense of belonging or purpose, because they are searching in the wrong places. The song's message is both melancholy and hopeful, suggesting that we must all search for meaning in our own ways, but emphasizing the importance of staying true to our values and relationships along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
I went out walking
I started a journey on foot
Through streets paved with gold
I walked on a road that looked luxurious
Lifted some stones
I looked under some rocks
Saw the skin and bones
I saw the decaying state of the surroundings
Of a city without a soul
I saw a place that lacked spirit or purpose
I went out walking
I continued walking
Under an atomic sky
I walked in a place where radiation is present
Where the ground won't turn
I felt like time was standing still
And the rain it burns
The rain was acidic and could possibly harm someone
Like the tears when I said goodbye
It reminded me of the heartbreak I experienced
Yeah I went with nothing
I started my journey without any material possessions
Nothing but the thought of you
The only thing I had on my mind was you
I went wandering
I went on a journey without a specific destination
I went drifting
I went without any particular direction or purpose
Through the capitals of tin
I travelled through areas where people work hard but live poor lives
Where men can't walk
It's a dangerous place where people are afraid to walk
Or freely talk
It's a place where freedom of speech is restricted
And sons turn their fathers in
Some people betray their family members for personal gain
I stopped outside a church house
I halted in front of a place of worship
Where the citizens like to sit
Where people gather for communal worship
They say they want the kingdom
The people desire political stability and prosperity
But they don't want God in it
They don't want to follow the religious customs and beliefs associated with the kingdom
I went out riding
I continued my journey on a motor vehicle
Down that old eight lane
I drove on an old and spacious road
I passed by a thousand signs
I drove by numerous billboards and advertisements
Looking for my own name
I searched for recognition and fame
But the thought you'd be there too
I still had you in my thoughts
I went out there
I ventured out to find something
In search of experience
I set out to gain knowledge, skills, and wisdom
To taste and to touch
I wanted to experience everything firsthand
And to feel as much
I desired to experience a range of emotions
As a man can
To live life to the fullest
Before he repents
Before asking for forgiveness for past wrongdoing
I went out searching
I continued searching for something specific
Looking for one good man
I was in search of someone with good character or worthy of trust
A spirit who would not bend or break
I was looking for someone who is steadfast and committed
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I was searching for someone who would be rewarded greatly in the afterlife
With a bible and a gun
I was carrying two things: a holy book and a weapon for self-defense
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
My religious beliefs had a big impact on my life
I was sure I was the one
I believed that I was chosen by God for a special purpose
Jesus, don't you wait up
I had complete faith in my religious beliefs
Jesus, I'll be home soon
I expected that my journey would soon be over
Yeah I went out for the papers
I left to run some errands
Told her I'd be back by noon
I promised to return home by midday
Oh ho
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm
Yeah I left with nothing
I departed without valuable things
But the thought you'd be there too
But with you in my mind all throughout the journey
Looking for you
Searching for someone who gives my life meaning
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