I Shall Be Released
U2 featuring Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Yet every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say every man needs protection
They say every man must fall
But I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Yonder down here in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he's been framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
I Shall Be Released is emblematic of U2 and Bob Dylan’s musical prowess as it speaks of freedom and hope in times of difficulty. The song primarily conveys the idea that any person, regardless of their circumstances, can reach the light and gain their freedom. The lyrics “They say everything can be replaced, Yet every distance is not near” suggest that although people may try to replace what is lost in life, the distance between the individual and their objective may still seem far away. Nevertheless, the song encourages listeners to remember every face of those who have placed them in their current situation, to hold onto the hope that they too shall be released.
The lyrics also touch upon themes of protection, power, and self-worth. The line “They say every man needs protection, They say every man must fall” alludes to the inevitability of challenges and struggles in life. However, the following line, “But I swear I see my reflection, someplace so high above this wall” suggests that freedom is achievable and that personal strength can aid in overcoming obstacles. The accompanying imagery of light shining from the west unto the east further emphasizes the hope of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
People say that anything can be substituted or exchanged
Yet every distance is not near
However, some gaps or separations remain distant, even if they can be replaced or substituted
So I remember every face
Therefore, I recall every person who has contributed to my current situation
Of every man who put me here
All the people who have been responsible for my imprisonment or captivity
I see my light come shining
Despite my current situation, I can still see a glimmer of hope or positivity
From the west unto the east
This hope or positivity shines from one horizon to the other
Any day now, any day now
I know that soon, very soon, my situation will change
I shall be released
I will be set free from my confinement or captivity
They say every man needs protection
Commonly believed is that every individual needs safety or security
They say every man must fall
It is commonly believed that every individual will experience a downfall or failure
But I swear I see my reflection
However, I am confident that I can see a glimmer of myself, even in challenging times
Some place so high above this wall
I see myself overcoming the limitations of captivity or imprisonment
Yonder down here in this lonely crowd
Here in this isolated group or community
Is a man who swears he's not to blame
There is an individual who insists that he is not responsible for his current circumstance
All day long I hear him shout so loud
This person continues to vocalize his grievances throughout the day
Crying out that he's been framed
He is shouting that he has been falsely accused or implicated
Any day now, any day now
Just like myself, this individual is convinced that his freedom is imminent
I shall be released
And just like myself, this individual believes that he will be released from his circumstances
Any day now, any day now
Both of us are certain that we will be set free in the very near future
I shall be released
We both share the hope and belief that we can overcome our current situations and be set free
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
robpallot88
Bono takes the song in a different direction. Different feel, different chords, different harmony - but still true to the song, and it sounds good! Way too many Bono haters out there.
VeggiePopper
Sounds like a traditional Irish song. Bono's voice will always be his best talent. Forget the wacky shenanigans as McPhisto and his Fly persona, it's his voice what made him what he eis -a great singer. Beautiful rendition of a beautiful classic. Both Bob and Bono are geniuses, albeit on different ways, opf course.
Антон Жуков
maybe Bono just confused the chords?:)
nilradem
@MrRadionave Surprisingly, it gets worse. There is a cover by Maroon 5. Yikes. There are so many great covers, though - Joe Cocker, Nina Simone and Joan Baez are three of my favorites. Jeff Tweedy/WiIclo do a pretty good job as well, though it is a straight cover and doesn't take much of a creative turn.
Alex Sene: reflexão
👏👏👏👏👏
neobx2
Joe Cockers versions is amazing
Moot Huckle
It's good except it's missing heart... woops