U2 Drowning man

[14worldfilm]

Aren't they the same? Why does it have to be about one or the other? Why just God or Lovers...I could love someone I just met if I felt they needed me or needed my help. People show that they love God and each other every day in their actions and sacrifices...but I think it is interpretive like any great song or poem or film or photo, any great work of art, can have many meanings to each of us.

[earthalien77]

*** Here it is.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

[AngelOfHarlem1704]

One of their best songs.

[NewBrain01]

This song is dedicated to Adam Clayton from bono.

Love as Friendship

[Niesha18C]

WOW! I WAS HOOKED FROM THE BEGINNING!! OMG!!

[sounddesignerr]

Let me just say... Larry is such a nice guy... I was so lucky! Just 10 years of age I was!

[rhythmismythang]

i heard this song for the first time before i went over seas it is without a doubt the greatest U2 song and it kept me going through a really tough time. I love this song

[beckaboo0112]

@subculturess...yes, the lyrics are Biblical.

[zcars6]

i've just re discovered this song after first hearing so many years ago.......i had forgotten how special it is , i WILL NOT  let it slip away again...

[cees40m]

One of my top 5 U2 songs!!

[goddesslovr88]

November 5, 1983. My first year in college and The Police were in concert on campus on their final tour. My brother and I had just bought tickets on the floor and it would by my first real concert experience. We got there early, and the sound man was playing an album I had never heard. It was incredible music. And then "New Year's Day" played and I knew it must be U2. I loved that song but had not bought the album. Then "Drowning Man" started. I almost cried. CHANGED MY LIFE TO WHO I AM TODAY.

[estonea]

I have never written anything on the internet but given my extremely strong feelings for this song I am compelled to toss in my two cents. Yes, it is a love song. Whether that love is romantic or spiritual is the beauty and wonder of the thing. It's all up to you as to how you wish to interpret it.

It's been with with me for over 27 years now. I expect that it will wrap itself around my heart forever.

[SuperPatricia88]

i just whanna tell you that song makes me happy were hever this play,i love then.u2 always the best i love him,u2 u2 u2 u2 portugal drowning for you,u2 in portugal 2 and 3 october coimbra

[hornraiser]

absolutely beautiful song. did they ever play it live?

[u2andbruce]

@hornraiser no. they didn't!!!! I can't understand this!! They rehearsed before some concerts but they did never play it on the concert! =(

[twochordcool]

@u2andbruce I don't think U2 would want to kill their audience - I'd die if they ever played this at a show I was at! Peple would be having heart attacks and passing out all around!

[Jiltedin2007]

Hearing this song was "Love at first sight". When I had the album "War", this was the song that stuck out in my mind the most, and the one I loved to hear the most. I loved this song even more than the Big Hit Track "New Year's Day". It's been almost 30 years since this album came out, but listening to this really brings back memories.

[kirs2fish]

@Jiltedin2007 Ditto.

[WecklStyle93]

AMAZING... <3

[phattofujam]

My sky is an ocean and my promise is a wish...so take my hand...

Love this!

[Croagh]

This song has been with me for 25 years and never held more meaning than now.

[subculturess]

Based on Bono's deep religious faith, I always interpreted this song as being about God's love, not love between lovers.."rise up, rise up, with wings like eagles, you'll run and not grow weary" Like the power of God's love will save a drowning man through all the troubles of the worlds. Anyone else interpret it similarly?

[WLOVESF]

subculturess, I'm 99% sure Bono wrote this song for Jesus, but my Jesus lives in France. :D

[twochordcool]

@WLOVESF That's a little disappointing - this is my favorite U2 song and I always interpreted it as a romantic song.

[beerbu]

@subculturess

Yup,even I (the non-believer) interpret it that way :)

[twochordcool]

@subculturess I'd MUCH rather interpret it as a romantic lovers song.

[syzygywell]

@subculturess I believe you are right, and if I recall it was during an interview bono said he wrote this song for Adam.  It's probably my favorite U2 song and for me its okay that it is more about the wildness of god's love instead of being about the passion of lovers. It certainly evokes a love that is deeper than life and a promise that is greater than most deliver. That certainly was part of the strain of U2's many themes in their songs. Love. God. War. Hurt. all tangled up togethe

[casemaster333]

@subculturess - i heard this song was written about Bono's pletonic love for The Edge when he was experiencing some trouble in his life. Not sure if it is true. This is my all time favourite song, which i have loved since i first heard it almost 30 years ago. It WILL be getting played at my funeral or i am going to haunt my wife.

[kathsherman]

@subculturess absolutely. subliminal and beautiful.

[Brok3nC4rrot]

@subculturess Yes, and according to "Into the Heart" by Niall Stokes, it was written to Adam Clayton out of concern for his immortal soul.

[deux55]

@subculturess INFACT: what is god`s love about? its not love only to god, butto someone who you love, and not only to people you know, but to all people around you, that you take everyone as he is,you dont want to own someone, but give yourself to someone, and dont want to change someone or have him in your hand...

when you dont believe in god, then you should believe in something what god means, it means, Doing good and living good, Believe in Love and living it, Living Truth and Doing Justice

[outsideisamerica]

@subculturess thats what i usually thought about most U2 songs, until i read this quote "We've found different ways of expressing it, and recognized the power of the media to manipulate such signs. Maybe we just have to sort of draw our fish in the sand. It's there for people who are interested. It shouldn't be there for people who aren't." -- Bono on faith, quoted in U2 at the End of the World

[outsideisamerica]

@subculturess

and in an interview Bono had w/ rolling stone magazine (available on itunes) he said about the song Mysterious Ways, when asked if the song was about God he replied, "...people [are] always forcing you to make decisions, between flesh and spirit, whereas i wanna dance myself in the direction of God i go out drinking with God, i am flirtatious in the company of God. I am not that person who has to put God out of his mind to go out on the town... "

[BernardWilgers]

@subculturess Yes I do, I estimate it as a godly song. I give you a vote up.

Cheers,

Bernard Wilgers

[NewBrain01]

@subculturess This is for Adam Clayton

[u2akrobata]

oNe of the best songs ever from best band u2....

[alonsospeed]

Man great video mate. Great song also. U2 rocks. :)

[banksfan02]

Believe it or not this song was supposed to be a "filler" song on the War album. This can leave you struggling for air.

[melflash]

"Struggling for air" - most appropriate comment I have ever read on YouTube.

[melflash]

"Struggling for air..." - most appropriate comment I have ever read on YouTube.

[JJF92U2]

hold on, hold on tightly, and don't let go of my love... *sigh* soo good.

[iammovingtomexico]

early U2 is fantastic! october, boy, war, unforgettable fire, under a blood red sky..

[Lornajane2]

20sumthing yrs ago i heard it & still as lovely as bak then ( omg am old :) )))))

[iridikim]

Such an awesome good song!

[twochordcool]

Probably the best of the best among countless great U2 songs.

Stunningly beautiful - goosebumps, hair on the back of your neck and tears....

[beckfrancis]

This song always reminds me of a friend of mine, just love the words and meaning

[NovaNeolith]

Great songs never lose their powerful meaning, they never seem to stay in the past...a beautiful song that is so much more than words can express....

[Terryodo2]

I remember walking through fields on my way home from a summer job on a fruit farm in 1989.

This song came into my head and I ended up running home to put on my vinyl copy of War.

20 years on and I still remember the goosebumps it gave me then and is giving me now.

What an absolutely brilliant song.

I agree that it's a shame it's now well known.

U2 need to release a greatest hits that doesn't contain any singles. Their singles are probably their worst songs.

[phillypizzasteaksub1]

I have heard it said that Joshua Tree is U2's greatest album, which may be so, but my personal favorite by far has to be War, followed by Boy, then Joshua Tree. I love all of U2's work, but I perfer U2's early days. War, in my opinion is their best work. Every song on War is just amazing and awesome, with Drowning Man being particularly mind blowing and beautiful and mysterious and haunting. Thanks alot for posting this great tune. U2 is definintely one of my favorite bands of all time. Peace.

[bdouvill]

I think this might be my favorite U2 song of all of them. A pity it isn't more well known.