Musically, "Zoo Station" originated from another song that the group were working on for Achtung Baby. The song's lyrics were inspired by a story that lead vocalist Bono heard about Berlin from World War II, when overnight bombing damaged the zoo and allowed animals to escape and wander around the city's rubble. Bono was also inspired by the city's Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station and used it as a metaphor for a reuniting Germany. During the Zoo TV Tour, "Zoo Station" opened every concert except for one. The song received positive reviews from critics, many of whom analysed the song as a representation of the band's reinvention.
Zoo Station
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ready
I'm ready for what's next
I'm ready to duck
I'm ready to dive
I'm ready to say
I'm glad to be alive
I'm ready
In the cool of the night
In the warmth of the breeze
I'll be crawling 'round
On my hands and knees
Just down the line
Zoo Station
Got to make it on time, oh Zoo Station
I'm ready
I'm ready for the gridlock
I'm ready
To take it to the street, uh huh
I'm ready for the shuffle
Ready for the deal
Ready to let go of the steering wheel
I'm ready
Ready for the crush, uh huh
Zoo Station
Zoo Station
Zoo Station
Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Hey baby, hey baby, hey baby, hey baby
It's alright, it's alright
Time is a train
Makes the future the past
Leaves you standing in the station
Your face pressed up against the glass
I'm just down the line from your love (Zoo Station)
Under the sign of your love (Zoo Station)
I'm gonna make it on time, make it on time (Zoo Station)
Just a stop down the line (Zoo Station)
Just a stop down the line
The opening track of U2's 1991 album "Achtung Baby", "Zoo Station" is characterized by its distorted guitar riff, pounding drums, and relentless energy. The lyrics are full of urgency and a sense of readiness, as if the singer is preparing to embark on a journey or confront a challenge. The repeated line, "I'm ready," is both a reassurance to the self and a challenge to whoever or whatever may stand in the way. The imagery of crawling on hands and knees and letting go of the steering wheel reinforces the sense of surrender to fate or destiny.
The song's title refers to a train station in Berlin that was located near the Berlin Zoological Garden. This location was significant to U2 because it was where they recorded many of the songs that would later become "Achtung Baby". The station was also where many of the refugees from East Berlin would arrive, giving it a symbolic resonance as a place of escape and new beginnings. The line "Time is a train" reinforces this sense of movement and transition.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ready for the laughing gas
I'm ready to take on whatever is coming my way. I'm ready to face a challenging situation with a positive attitude.
I'm ready
I'm mentally prepared and have everything needed to tackle any obstacle that comes my way.
I'm ready for what's next
I'm prepared to face the next phase of my life with great enthusiasm and eagerness.
I'm ready to duck
I'm ready to avoid any immediate danger that may be coming my way.
I'm ready to dive
I'm ready to take the plunge into an opportunity with full commitment and dedication.
I'm ready to say
I'm willing to express my feelings or thoughts without hesitation or fear of judgment.
I'm glad to be alive
I'm appreciative of being alive and experiencing life to the fullest despite any challenges that may arise.
I'm ready for the push, uh huh
I'm eager and motivated to face any obstacles that come my way and overcome them with determination.
In the cool of the night
During the calm and peaceful moments of the night when everything seems to be quiet and still.
In the warmth of the breeze
During a pleasant and refreshing breeze that brings comfort and tranquility.
I'll be crawling 'round
I'll be navigating through a difficult situation on my hands and knees with great diligence and focus.
On my hands and knees
In a position of humility and willingness to work hard to achieve success and overcome obstacles.
Just down the line
Located nearby or immediately after a specific point in time or space.
Zoo Station
A metaphorical representation of the chaotic and bustling city life filled with obstacles and challenges.
Got to make it on time, oh Zoo Station
I need to reach the destination on time and face the challenges that come my way with determination and resilience.
I'm ready for the gridlock
I'm ready to overcome any challenges or difficulties that may arise due to a difficult situation or circumstance.
To take it to the street, uh huh
To overcome obstacles or challenges in a public domain or space with confidence and courage.
I'm ready for the shuffle
I'm willing to adapt and adjust to any unexpected obstacle or challenge that may come my way in a constantly changing environment.
Ready for the deal
Ready to face any challenge or obstacle that requires strategic decision-making and negotiation skills.
Ready to let go of the steering wheel
Willing to relinquish control and trust the process to unfold organically, allowing life to steer its course.
Ready for the crush, uh huh
Readiness to face high-pressure or crowded situations where there are many obstacles or challenges that need to be addressed.
Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
Expressing confidence and determination in the situation despite any obstacles or setbacks that may arise.
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
An expression of reassurance and positivity despite any challenges or difficulties that may arise.
Hey baby, hey baby, hey baby, hey baby
A term of endearment used to express affection or love towards someone.
Time is a train
A metaphorical representation of time that depicts it as an unstoppable force that continuously moves forward.
Makes the future the past
Time continuously moves forward, making future moments become past memories.
Leaves you standing in the station
Time moves forward and leaves you behind in a specific situation, making you feel stuck or unable to move on.
Your face pressed up against the glass
The feeling of being trapped or stuck in a specific situation without being able to move forward or progress further.
I'm just down the line from your love (Zoo Station)
I'm close to experiencing the love and affection of someone I care about, but I'm still not quite there yet.
Under the sign of your love (Zoo Station)
I'm surrounded and influenced by the love of someone I care about, and the impact it has on me is apparent to those around me.
I'm gonna make it on time, make it on time (Zoo Station)
I'm determined to reach a significant milestone or goal in my life, and I'm confident that I'll achieve it in due time.
Just a stop down the line (Zoo Station)
A reference to the next destination in life or the next milestone that needs to be achieved to progress further.
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