blue June 28th, 2008 12:57PM  
This song was often attributed to Michael Hutchence, singer for the band INXS. He and Bono were good friends and they reportedly had a conversation about suicide, where they both condemned it. Hutchence later committed suicide (though there's still some question about the intent).
I think the song is partly about what fame does to people, such as how they feel empty even though they're wealthy and how they go to great extents to get this wealth ("you kind of lose yourself along the way," "you changed your name, but that's okay, it's necessary," "taking steps that make you feel dizzy").
In the chorus I think Bono is basically singing about how he's not saving Michael. In most Christian ideologies, those who commit suicide go to Hell. Bono is saying how if Hutchence is there and (I suppose assuming) Bono is in Heaven, he's "not coming down" to help him.
Still, it's a real brain-teaser of a song and I don't claim to have all the answers.

anonymous November 21st, 2008 06:46AM  
Great interpretation. This song is a glorious riddle that rings and rings forever in my heart. I love it to death. I didn't know it existed until the year 2004! It's about being a rock star. "You hurt yourself, you hurt your lover then you discover, what you thought was freedom is just greed" A beautiful lyric about, I think, how he got this fame and just started having way to much fun for too long and probably did some stupid, selfish things. The thing about suicide you speak of I don't think Bono is referring to Michael. He's just talking about how he's come to the conclusion that he's gonna to keep exploring and growing as an artist despite the unavoidable hassles of being a star, something less or more than the man that he actually is, which the world makes of its stars. A work of genuis--the song's construction is masterly. These dudes are very good!

anonymous June 4th, 2009 09:53AM  
The Pop album was released in March 1997 and Michael Hutchence died in November 1997, so this song is obviously not about him. You're probably thinking of "Stuck in a moment you can't get out of" which Bono has said is partly about Micheal Hutchence.