crutchead January 31st, 2006 03:58AM  
I definitely agree with Picasso here. Thought I was the only one who had that kind of comprehension to the song. As 'tis unknown to many- U2's one of the pioneering acts to banner the label 'Christian band' in their arses, which a lot've seem to discourage, mainly record lables and them "proffesional" critics, perhaps due to the interest of fearing that that may not make them marketable. It's peculiar- playing the song backwards kind of say a line that runs just the opposite of what the song is on the line 'with or without you'. Just stating though.;

CroftD1 April 16th, 2006 09:58AM  
I don't buy it. It isn't about Christ at all. Although they do often have such lyrics in their songs this isn't one of them. "In 'With or Without You', when it says 'And you give yourself away', everybody in the group knows what it means. It's about how I feel at times- exposed. And the rest of the group feels that I give myself away."-Bono It is a very personal song about himself, dealing with love and other relationships with people. You can say it is about Christ but get a quote or something if you are "all knowing" of U2. Not that I clam I am, but I know this song and a decent knowledge of their stuff.

qhtrinh June 9th, 2006 09:11AM  
Bono has a reputation of being able to write lyrics that start out as very literal, but being able to take on hundreds of meanings. But, he has often said that at the beginning it was always the most obvious one.

And knowing that he has been with his wife since he was 16 (!!) I guess it's about her. Hes talking about how he would die if she would die, or how he has a hard time living on the road without her. Hence, "I can't live, with or without". And the beginning is probably an image of their death and reunion in heaven. Other parts here:

"You give yourself away": You sacrifice yourself for your lover.

"Nothing to win and, Nothing left to lose": Whatever happens in life, they'll be together.

Of course, we can start to talk about religion, humanitarian projects, even politics... but hey, listen to Vertigo, we can say the same thing with that song. What is vertigo? A climax, heaven, nirvana, peace haven...?

anonymous September 1st, 2006 09:09PM  
One of the citations dealing with christ, since someone asked, can be seen in the line "through the storm, we reach the shore" (christ calming the seas for Peter while fishing)

Another, although not strictly accurate, can be seen with the thorn in the side (thorns were on the head of christ, a spear in his side).

I also believe the "you" is christ...Not a girl. (otherwise, why refer to each with different pronouns?) "she" can be referring to a girlfriend, perhaps.

Isn't bono torn between loyalty to christ and the temptations of the flesh? Growing up as a christian in a fairly orthodox country, he must have felt the opposing forces of morality and temptation (especially since he was fairly young when writing this song) he is being pulled in two directions in this song...Choose the moral path, or give in to temptation.

Having said all this, I believe great lyric writing is all about providing enough substance to wrestle with, while leaving the literal meaning elusive enough so that each listener can attach his or her own meaning to it.

anonymous September 6th, 2006 10:25AM  
I'm sorry I don't buy the drugs theory at all... All u2's songs about drugs have darker, more sinister edges to them, everything about with or without you is beautiful, down to edge's harmonies and the bass line
I personally think the song has many interpretations...

Not the words so much but the music makes me think of sex (shocking I know :p) the bass line is like a thudding heartbeat; then the drums come in a growing rhythm; then 'you give yourself away', the feeling of being so exposed and vulnerable; the song builds and builds to a climax (note the lack of words, just woooow, ever had that experience? ;) hee hee) and then dies away to a soft, tender melody...

There's also the phrase 'my hands are tied' but I don't think that's him exposing his kinky side, I think that's meant to be taken less literally :p

Well, that's just my take on it lol

anonymous September 30th, 2006 04:33PM  
Is it about his...

Wife? "I can't live with or without you" =
"I can't live with you" + "I can't live without you"
but he can live with his wife, so it's not about her.

Drugs? An addict can't seem to live without them, and yet the drugs are killing the addict. But the song is too uplifting to be about drugs. It could be made to fit the references to stones, thorns, nails, bruises, storms, shores, etc. But it's a real stretch.

Mother? Perhaps "I can't live without you" is how he felt when she was dying. But then why the reference to a storm and his body being bruised?

Jesus? Can't live without god, and if he follows jesus then he can't live either (baptism = death to old self). Fits with the references to thorns, nails, stones, storms, etc. But it's too easy. And why would bono's body be bruised?

A good intepretation would fit with all of the lyrics not just selective parts. So, I don't think any of us have it figured out. Sorry folks!

anonymous November 13th, 2006 05:54AM  
This song is simply about a person who can't live with or without a person. If they live with them - they cause grief "thorn twist in your side" & "you give it all but I want more" relates to him always finding faults in the person they love. Its about a girl that gives all she can....But was never enough for the man.....Now he is lost without her....He has nothing left. Dvr

anonymous March 5th, 2007 09:34AM  
Come on people its not about his wife obviously because it says "With or without you" he can live with his wife or he wouldnt have married her

mattyboy May 9th, 2007 10:06AM  
Okay, let me clear all this up. I never said what I thought it was about. Only, that it he wrote it FOR his wife.

crutchead July 30th, 2007 02:26AM  
Being Irish and among the first to profess as a Christian Band - U2 was grossly mistaken for being catholics at certain points. However, the band's up with the born-again until their fourth album when the Edge and the rest saw the predicaments of crap and pretense of legalism within their church. "With or Without You" stands quite notably ironic to become a hit in a world that did not really know them at the time.

anonymous September 27th, 2007 09:31PM  
I can see why everyone relates this song to a christian with lines like "See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side" that however is not enough in my opinion to support that. I believe this song is more related to a woman. "Sleight of hand and twist of fate" Sleight of hand is another way of saying trickery twisting fate. Talking about a love deceiving him/whoever. "You give yourself away" is saying to me she is with another man and he/or whoever the song is about doesn't want that. Now that she has been with another man you get "I can't live
With or without you" He is still waiting wishing things had been different. However, fate is set and he now feels that he cannot live without her as it has always been yet now he cannot live with her always thinking about the other lover she had chosen over him. Their is a lot more in the song to support this. Also suppose that "See the stone set in your eyes" is relating to her decision to chose another man. You can say I am wrong but this is how this song relates to me because I have lived with this situation for many years.

anonymous October 4th, 2007 12:24AM  
This song, was written about his mother..
His mother passed away when he was a teen,he is telling his mom, that he still needs her & he can't live without her!!
If you want proof that it is Bono had said it himself!!

anonymous October 31st, 2007 04:40PM  
Hi everyone, I want this song as my 1st song at my wedding because the song is amazing and I think it sums up how I feel about my g/f but, she thinks that the song is about breaking up and it has a darker side, pls help people as this is the only thing I'm gonna get a say in for the wedding;)
Rory, Dublin.

anonymous November 15th, 2007 09:12PM  
I feel it's about falling in love with someone that's taking and the wanting to wait and not wanting to be a fool but the love is strong and no matter what happens will hurt

anonymous January 13th, 2008 09:04PM  
I think it's about a former gf/lover/partner. Its at the end of a painful yet passionate relationship - probably a girlfriend who cheated on you...so that explains the 'I can't live
With or without you' the love and the heartbreak parallelly.

anonymous March 8th, 2008 07:33AM  
Fuck whatever Bono says; this song is about a stubborn woman who, for example, hardly ever gives you a callback or at least a timely one. You are crazy about her but her stubborness about this issue really grates on you. Her eyes are like stone, suggesting being stubborn. You implore her but to no avail. Without her, you feel in hell. But even with her, you're still in hell because of her disregard for your feelings. So either way, it is hell being in this relationship. But whoever said love is logical? You are so crazy for her that you try to withstand this lose-lose situation. (I know first hand!!)

anonymous March 15th, 2008 07:35PM  
Feels like you guys are more discussing your past relationships and your annoying ex-girlfriends than the actual song -

but I definitely agree that there are many possible interpretations. I guess that's what makes the song so unique!

My favorite one has to do with my last experience - a guy who is not able to live in a relationship cause he's afraid to get hurt by the girl he likes ...

anonymous April 30th, 2008 07:33PM  
What I've always imagined while listening to this song is a man who has a very sexual kind of relationship with a woman. Maybe they meet a couple of times a week and go to a hotel or whatever. The man falls in love with the woman, proposes to her and all the song is about him waiting for an answer. I agree that the stone in her eyes has to be the ring, and the bruises on his body are related to the very intense sexual relation that they shared.
That's my interpretation.
Pablo, Argentina

patinoire May 5th, 2008 02:58AM  
First, I doubt it's about his mother ("you give yourself away" to whom?)

Second, it's not _about_ his wife ("I can't live with ... you"? he's going to say to someone he's been with by that time for 15 years?).

Third, Bono said every band member knows (suggesting personally) the meaning and it had to being exposed and on the orad.

I agree it was written _for_ his wife, in more ways than one --instead of being Bono's voice, it is him speaking for his wife His wife is lamenting that she can't live with or wihout him. She can't leave him because she loves him, but she has trouble staying with him, because he's always on the road, givin himself away (to his fans or philanthropic causes), and thus always waiting for him. The refrernces that seem to relate to Jesus could even be her own attack on his self-deification persona, that helps perpetuate his own desire to be away from her. She blames fate (the "her," as fate is feminine for most authors) for the fortune of the band--and her hands are tied because he is who he is and is also doing it to be the bread winner. (in this case, the "body bruised" is just a metaphor for her feelings.)

anonymous June 17th, 2008 03:48PM  
This is the greatest song ever.
It's really open to different interpretations, depending on how you feel at the moment you listen to it. That's what makes it the best U2's song.

I first thought it was about Christ (the crucifixion viewed by Christ eyes). Then I realized it has nothing to do with Him.

There's a "You" and a "she" in the song ... and also a "we" when it says "we reach the shore"
All these make me believe it's about a relationship with a woman.
"See the stone set in your eyes" ... a precious stone, like a diamond meaning shiny eyes... or a cold stone meaning no feelings? ... "see the thorn twist in your side" means that she's in pain (not physical of course).
I think it's about a relationship that reached its ending.. "through the storm we reach the shore" means all the hard times we passed through..
"You give it all but I want more"... means he's pushing and pushing.. Trying to get her back

"You give yourself away"... This means that she's betraying herself. She does not want to do anything for the relation.

"I can't live with or without you"... He can't live without her... but he can't neither live with her in the way they are now.

My hand are tied... my body bruised... nothing to win.. nothing to lose...
He can't do anything else... He's hurt (spiritually) and does not care for anything anymore...

There's a live version from Rattle and Hum (the best version I've ever heard) that says at the end:
"we'll shine like stars in the summer night, we'll shine like stars in the winter lights, one hug, one hope, one love"

If this is not a man waiting for her lover to come back, what is it?? :)