Question:
I was figuring that "Pop" was going be an exercise in pure pop.
Yeah, but since when is *any* U2 a "pure" exercise in *anything*?? Oh, I love dem onionskins 
) BonnyVox Looky, I’m Official!: Assistant Manager of the U2 Bootleg Webring Shameless Plug Alert: http://members.aol.com/younglust1/mystuff.html
Response:
Whooo. Fundamental mistake #1 in trying to understand Bono’s lyrics: "the *i* is not always him". repeat after me, "the *i* is not always him" … it ain’t that simple folks. TRiSH –Wide Awake In The UK
then, there is no sleeping there, and she’ll be imagination {o/} ./_. Angel Power.
Whooo-ooo-wow, you surprised me with a left jab and a right hook. Would you now also add a few ounces of complexity to our simple thinking by kindly sharing your own special and personal opinions re: the meaning of the lyrics? Would you let your imagination soar on the wings of your fundamental lesson, "the *i* is not always him"? -which of course is partially true, certainly as true as the *i* here is not always the fullness of her or even me-. Your input on faith [and btw, faith she's al'right , with or without U2] might add sophisticated sweetness -or bitterness- to this thread. Either way, *i* remain interested in hearing more about the subject. Thanks. mElya " Take the colours of my imagination take the scent hanging in the air take this tangle of a conversation and turn them into your own prayer" (do you feel loved?)
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Just to add to the fray. The refrain "Wake Up Dead Man" is paraphrased from Psalm 44 and was spoken BY King David to GOD. (Psalm 44:23 "Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? Arise! do not reject us for ever.") The situation was that all hell had broken loose (i.e., it was REALLY fucked up) and David was feeling very alone and very abandoned. He was demanding to know where God was in the mess, and how all the shit he saw around him fit into God’s "perfect" plan. David felt like God was asleep or dead and not paying attention to all the terrors surrounding him.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this bit of Old Testament info with us. I believe "Wake Up Dead Man" is one of their most quietly powerful songs. And when you juxtapose it against the opening track of "Discotheque" it’s hard to believe that they’re from the same album. I always thought that "Wake Up Dead Man" referred to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Kinda like Bono (or the persona he took while singing the song) was demanding a clear and concrete "miracle" to prove beyond a doubt that God is still with us. – john
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Just to add to the fray. The refrain "Wake Up Dead Man" is paraphrased from Psalm 44 and was spoken BY King David to GOD. (Psalm 44:23 "Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? Arise! do not reject us for ever.") The situation was that all hell had broken loose (i.e., it was REALLY fucked up) and David was feeling very alone and very abandoned. He was demanding to know where God was in the mess, and how all the shit he saw around him fit into God’s "perfect" plan. David felt like God was asleep or dead and not paying attention to all the terrors surrounding him. Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this bit of Old Testament info with us. I believe "Wake Up Dead Man" is one of their most quietly powerful songs. And when you juxtapose it against the opening track of "Discotheque" it’s hard to believe that they’re from the same album.
but as they have said time and time again, this album starts off like a party and ends like a funeral. i personally find the last 3 songs really really depressing. not only the lyrics, but mostly the music. — "You only get disillusioned if you had illusions to begin with." – Bono, December, 1987 I am happy to go blind. Thank you and good night.
Response:
but as they have said time and time again, this album starts off like a party and ends like a funeral. i personally find the last 3 songs really really depressing. not only the lyrics, but mostly the music.
Speaking of Pop’s ending, the first time I listened to it I didn’t try to follow the track listing, and I thought for certain that "Please" was the album-closing song – it just sounds like the type of track to end an album on. I was surprised to find "Wake Up Dead Man" following it – ending it on an even more somber and contemplative note than "Please." The transition from "party" to "funeral" was certainly the most surprising thing about the album – since, based on the title, I was figuring that "Pop" was going be an exercise in pure pop.
Response:
I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest?
Just to add to the fray. The refrain "Wake Up Dead Man" is paraphrased from Psalm 44 and was spoken BY King David to GOD. (Psalm 44:23 "Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? Arise! do not reject us for ever.") The situation was that all hell had broken loose (i.e., it was REALLY fucked up) and David was feeling very alone and very abandoned. He was demanding to know where God was in the mess, and how all the shit he saw around him fit into God’s "perfect" plan. David felt like God was asleep or dead and not paying attention to all the terrors surrounding him.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Just to add to the fray. The refrain "Wake Up Dead Man" is paraphrased from Psalm 44 and was spoken BY King David to GOD. (Psalm 44:23 "Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? Arise! do not reject us for ever.") The situation was that all hell had broken loose (i.e., it was REALLY fucked up) and David was feeling very alone and very abandoned. He was demanding to know where God was in the mess, and how all the shit he saw around him fit into God’s "perfect" plan. David felt like God was asleep or dead and not paying attention to all the terrors surrounding him.
And how did God speak to him? In a very quiet voice… TRiSH –Wide Awake In The UK Check it out… <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Patburn1/trish.html"LET GO LET’S GO…ahh DISCOTHEQUE </A {o/} ./_. Angel Power.
Response:
TRiSH says: Whooo. Fundamental mistake #1 in trying to understand Bono’s lyrics: "the *i* is not always him". repeat after me, "the *i* is not always him" … it ain’t that simple folks. TRiSH
**Doc adds: Don’t you just *love* it because it is not that simple. Add that "she" is not always "female" as well. Doc, loving this conversation. "Teach me how to sit still" "Listen above the rhthym that is confusing you"
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Jesus…Jesus, help me… I’m alone in this world… …and a fucked up world it is, too…" I always saw that line as summing up the entire song. A man who wants to believe so badly, and yet can’t because of everything he sees around him. Bono questioning his own faith? Maybe. Maybe as the man himself has changed, so did the forms of his faith; but not its essential reality and in the lyrics the dialogue between the self and God remains vibrantly alive : " The word of God lay heavy on my heart I was sure I was the one" Rather than faith, social religion is what he seems to sometimes question: " I stopped outside a church house Where the citizens like to sit They say they want the kingdom But they don’t want God in it. " ( the Wanderer ) It seems that his own faith -often expressed as faith in Jesus- is strong. " Jesus never let me down you know Jesus used to show me the score It’s what some people have done to the Teacher that sometimes gets in the way : then they put Jesus in show business now it’s hard to get in the door." ( If God will send his angels ) Personally, I figure that if you question your faith, it doesn’t make you an athiest or a disbeliver…I’ve always figured it makes your faith stronger, because you come to terms with it in your own head. If you can sort out your own reasoning as to why you believe in something, your faith is reenforced because you really understand WHY you believe. That’s key. You’re not believing because you’re being told you have to, or you’re being scared into it. You’re believing because you want to – it was your choice. After all, who’s he praying to if he’s convinced The Big Guy doesn’t exist? That makes good sense. Melia.
Whooo. Fundamental mistake #1 in trying to understand Bono’s lyrics: "the *i* is not always him". repeat after me, "the *i* is not always him" … it ain’t that simple folks. TRiSH –Wide Awake In The UK Check it out… <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Patburn1/trish.html"LET GO LET’S GO…ahh DISCOTHEQUE </A {o/} ./_. Angel Power.
Response:
You can see the progression of his (and the band’s) faith throughout the albums. If you just listen to the albums straight through from the start, you can see that they were strongest Christians during "October," developed their faith for a while, then began to be disillusioned. I think one of the more telling songs is "The Wanderer," from Zooropa, where they (or Johnny Cash) explain that they still haven’t found what they went looking for. They still believe in God, however, as can be seen from the omnipresent religious overtones in their lyrics. Personally, I figure that if you question your faith, it doesn’t make you an athiest or a disbeliver…
That’s true…It makes you agnostic in the true sense of the word (from the Greek root "gnost" meaning knowledge and the prefix "a-" meaning without)–it means that you believe there’s a God out there somewhere, but you don’t know what that God is like. U2 used to know what they believed, but they’ve been through a gradual process of questioning that belief that is very evident in their songs.
Response:
"Jesus…Jesus, help me… I’m alone in this world… …and a fucked up world it is, too…" I always saw that line as summing up the entire song. A man who wants to believe so badly, and yet can’t because of everything he sees around him. Bono questioning his own faith? Maybe.
Maybe as the man himself has changed, so did the forms of his faith; but not its essential reality and in the lyrics the dialogue between the self and God remains vibrantly alive : " The word of God lay heavy on my heart I was sure I was the one" Rather than faith, social religion is what he seems to sometimes question: " I stopped outside a church house Where the citizens like to sit They say they want the kingdom But they don’t want God in it. " ( the Wanderer ) It seems that his own faith -often expressed as faith in Jesus- is strong. " Jesus never let me down you know Jesus used to show me the score It’s what some people have done to the Teacher that sometimes gets in the way : then they put Jesus in show business now it’s hard to get in the door." ( If God will send his angels ) Personally, I figure that if you question your faith, it doesn’t make you an athiest or a disbeliver…I’ve always figured it makes your faith stronger, because you come to terms with it in your own head. If you can sort out your own reasoning as to why you believe in something, your faith is reenforced because you really understand WHY you believe. That’s key. You’re not believing because you’re being told you have to, or you’re being scared into it. You’re believing because you want to – it was your choice. After all, who’s he praying to if he’s convinced The Big Guy doesn’t exist?
That makes good sense. Melia.
Response:
I agree with all the responses here. An anti-religious sentiment would be one in which the possibility of doubt is erased and one would no longer be able to hear the "ideational" rhyme of hope and peace. It is a beautiful song….earnest to the bone. Michael
Response:
I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest?
Well, I’m of the opinion that anyone who doesn’t question their faith is a fool to start with. If you blindly accept everything that’s thrown at you, in any facet of life, you’re _always_ missing something. As the man himself said, "Everything you know is wrong." Having said that, I see this song as a natural continuation of the idea behind the ZooTV tour, but instead of questioning the media, he’s questioning religion – which is, by its nature, a much more personal belief. That means it’s a lot harder to understand and a lot harder to question without backlash (from your own mind and others). Religion’s a minefield when it comes to questioning it, especially when you’ve been innundated by organized religion. Questioning God’s intentions or his grand plan for the world is labelled ‘blasphemy’ – which means that you’ll be rotting in hell for it. (That’s what it meant when I was growing up Roman Catholic, anyway.) "Jesus…Jesus, help me… I’m alone in this world… …and a fucked up world it is, too…" I always saw that line as summing up the entire song. A man who wants to believe so badly, and yet can’t because of everything he sees around him. Bono questioning his own faith? Maybe. Someone else questioning their own faith? Undoubtedly. That’s an old argument – if God exists (and is a ‘good’ God), how can all the suffering in the world exist without Him doing something about it? How can He sit back and do nothing? Personally, I figure that if you question your faith, it doesn’t make you an athiest or a disbeliver…I’ve always figured it makes your faith stronger, because you come to terms with it in your own head. If you can sort out your own reasoning as to why you believe in something, your faith is reenforced because you really understand WHY you believe. That’s key. You’re not believing because you’re being told you have to, or you’re being scared into it. You’re believing because you want to – it was your choice. This song actually confirms God’s existance to me. The singer wants to believe, and really, if you want to believe, that’s all it takes. After all, who’s he praying to if he’s convinced The Big Guy doesn’t exist? Anyway, I love this song – it sums up my belief system pretty damn well. (FYI – I consider myself a spiritual agnostic. That’s just a fancy name to say that while I believe in God and his existance, I just can’t seem to agree with any sort of organized religion. Still haven’t found what I’m lookin’ for, I guess.) And these are my opinions, but y’all knew that anyway. Todd McGillivray – TIP#467 – The_Rev on IRC http://members.tripod.com/~cplhicks/ Mailing me? toddmc at nbnet dot nb dot ca. "You’ve been living underground, you’ve been eating from a can – you’ve been running away from what you don’t understand. Love." — U2, Mysterious Ways
Response:
think that is a great interpretation. However, I thought that that the person was asking God to wake up and see that he is needed? Guess not. Either way, I would have to say that I do not think that U2 or any of its’ members is in any way athiest – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Jesus, Jesus help me I’m alone in this world and a fucked up world it is too Tell me, tell me the story the one about eternity and the way it’s all gonna be WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, I’m waiting here boss I know you’re looking out for us But maybe you’re hands aren’t free Your Father, he made the world in seven He’s in charge of heaven Will you put a good word in for me WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you listen to the reed of the saxophone listen over the hum of the radio listen over sounds of blades in rotation listen through the trafiic and the circulation listen as hope and peace try to rhyme listen over marching bands playing out their time WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, were you just around the corner? did you think to try and warn her? or were you working on something new? if there’s an order, in all of this disorder is it like a tape recorder? can we rewind it just once more WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN" I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Comments, please….. BF (np: please) The WAKE UP DEAD MAN part is God talking back to the speaker (not necessarily Bono) not the speaker talking to God. The song’s a dialogue. An exchange between two voices. The person and God. It goes like this: The man speaks: "Jesus, Jesus help me I’m alone in this world and a fucked up world it is too Tell me, tell me the story the one about eternity and the way it’s all gonna be God prays? says? in reply: WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN The man carries on speaking: Jesus, I’m waiting here boss I know you’re looking out for us But maybe you’re hands aren’t free Your Father, he made the world in seven He’s in charge of heaven Will you put a good word in for me God replies: WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN God goes on to say: listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you listen to the reed of the saxophone listen over the hum of the radio listen over sounds of blades in rotation listen through the trafiic and the circulation listen as hope and peace try to rhyme listen over marching bands playing out their time WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN The man goes on, not listening to what God is saying: Jesus, were you just around the corner? did you think to try and warn her? or were you working on something new? if there’s an order, in all of this disorder is it like a tape recorder? can we rewind it just once more God practically screams (very quietly) WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN The End. Or is it The Beginning? Personally I think he woke up. TRiSH –Wide Awake In The UK Check it out… <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Patburn1/trish.html"LET GO LET’S GO…ahh DISCOTHEQUE </A {o/} ./_. Angel Power.
1997.
Response:
"Jesus, Jesus help me I’m alone in this world and a fucked up world it is too Tell me, tell me the story the one about eternity and the way it’s all gonna be WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, I’m waiting here boss I know you’re looking out for us But maybe you’re hands aren’t free Your Father, he made the world in seven He’s in charge of heaven Will you put a good word in for me WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you listen to the reed of the saxophone listen over the hum of the radio listen over sounds of blades in rotation listen through the trafiic and the circulation listen as hope and peace try to rhyme listen over marching bands playing out their time WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, were you just around the corner? did you think to try and warn her? or were you working on something new? if there’s an order, in all of this disorder is it like a tape recorder? can we rewind it just once more WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN" I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Comments, please….. BF (np: please) All’s well that ends well. And this is the end!
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Jesus, Jesus help me I’m alone in this world and a fucked up world it is too Tell me, tell me the story the one about eternity and the way it’s all gonna be WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, I’m waiting here boss I know you’re looking out for us But maybe you’re hands aren’t free Your Father, he made the world in seven He’s in charge of heaven Will you put a good word in for me WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you listen to the reed of the saxophone listen over the hum of the radio listen over sounds of blades in rotation listen through the trafiic and the circulation listen as hope and peace try to rhyme listen over marching bands playing out their time WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN Jesus, were you just around the corner? did you think to try and warn her? or were you working on something new? if there’s an order, in all of this disorder is it like a tape recorder? can we rewind it just once more WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN" I want people’s views on this. Do others out there hear that is Bono questioning his faith? Are they his words? (as in, what he personally believes) Or the words of another? Or the views of the ‘typical’ athiest? Comments, please….. BF (np: please)
The WAKE UP DEAD MAN part is God talking back to the speaker (not necessarily Bono) not the speaker talking to God. The song’s a dialogue. An exchange between two voices. The person and God. It goes like this: The man speaks: "Jesus, Jesus help me I’m alone in this world and a fucked up world it is too Tell me, tell me the story the one about eternity and the way it’s all gonna be
God prays? says? in reply: WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN
The man carries on speaking: Jesus, I’m waiting here boss I know you’re looking out for us But maybe you’re hands aren’t free Your Father, he made the world in seven He’s in charge of heaven Will you put a good word in for me
God replies: WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN
God goes on to say: listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you listen to the reed of the saxophone listen over the hum of the radio listen over sounds of blades in rotation listen through the trafiic and the circulation listen as hope and peace try to rhyme listen over marching bands playing out their time WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN
The man goes on, not listening to what God is saying: Jesus, were you just around the corner? did you think to try and warn her? or were you working on something new? if there’s an order, in all of this disorder is it like a tape recorder? can we rewind it just once more
God practically screams (very quietly) WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAD MAN
The End. Or is it The Beginning? Personally I think he woke up. TRiSH –Wide Awake In The UK Check it out… <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Patburn1/trish.html"LET GO LET’S GO…ahh DISCOTHEQUE </A {o/} ./_. Angel Power.
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.