What You Want
U Two Lyrics
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Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbor in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You all I want is
You all I want is
You all I want is
You
The song "What You Want" by U2 is a reflection on the nature of love and materialism. The song begins with the persona describing someone who wants diamonds on a ring of gold and a story that remains untold. However, the persona confesses that all they want is this person, and not material things. The song then goes on to explore the promises we make to each other from the cradle to the grave, and how these promises are often broken. The persona acknowledges that they want their love to work out, but it is not about the material possessions that are often used to prove love.
The song could be interpreted in various ways, but one way of understanding it is that it is a critique of consumerism and the way that material possessions have become the currency of expressing love. The persona in the song recognizes the temptation of luxury and extravagance, but still emphasizes the importance of that one unique individual. The song advocates that love should be built on trust, commitment, and companionship, not on material possessions.
Overall, the song is a reminder that love is not a transactional relationship but one of genuine affection and commitment. The music video features the band playing live and elements of a Western film, with a final shot of a young couple driving off into the horizon, the perfect depiction of a love that lasts beyond material wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you want
You express a desire for something
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Specifically, you want diamonds on a gold ring
You say you want
You repeat your desire from the previous line
Your story to remain untold
You also want to keep some aspects of your life private
But all the promises we make
However, the promises we make to each other
From the cradle to the grave
Throughout our entire lives
When all I want is you
It's all meaningless compared to having you
You say you'll give me
You promise to provide me with certain things
A highway with no one on it
One such thing is a highway where we can be alone
Treasure just to look upon it
You'll also give me treasures to admire
All the riches in the night
And wealth beyond my wildest dreams
You say you'll give me
You reiterate another promise
Eyes in a moon of blindness
You'll give me sight in the darkest of times
A river in a time of dryness
And water in the driest of times
A harbor in the tempest
A safe haven in the midst of turmoil
But all the promises we make
Again, these promises may not mean much in the end
From the cradle to the grave
As we're all destined for the same fate
When all I want is you
As long as I have you, nothing else matters
You say you want
You change the subject back to your own desires
Your love to work out right
Specifically, you want our love to succeed
To last with me through the night
And last through all obstacles and challenges
You say you want
You repeat yourself, almost as if you're unsure
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Again, you mention your desire for a diamond ring
Your story to remain untold
And once again, for some parts of your life to remain private
Your love not to grow cold
And for our love to never diminish
All the promises we break
As human beings, we will inevitably break promises
From the cradle to the grave
Until the day we die
When all I want is you
Ultimately, our love for each other is what matters most
You all I want is
In fact, you are the only thing I truly want in life
You all I want is
I want you above all else
You all I want is
You are my everything
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind