U2's second album. Easily their most openly "spiritual" album. Bono even discussed this album during U2's induction to the rock and roll hall of fame, stating that it was "about God". Almost every song on the album deals with spirituality. U2 does not shy away from dealing with subject matter regarding their personal beliefs, they just hide it very well in there other albums.

Tracks
Gloria
I Fall Down
 I Threw a Brick Through a Window
 Rejoice
 Fire
 Tomorrow
October
 With a Shout (Jerusalem)
 Stranger in a Strange Land
Scarlet
 Is that All?

Album Info
Released : October 1981
Producer : Steve Lillywhite
Studio : Windmill Lane, Dublin

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Gloria

This is a song that describes Bono's uncertainty and fear. It is sung as though he is singing to God. Bono laments that he tries to sing, stand and speak, but he can't. He proclaims "Only in you (God), I'm complete".

The chorus of this song - "Gloria, in Te Domine -- Gloria, exultate" is Latin. It translate to "Glorious is the Father, Glorius exhalted God"

The second verse even addresses the Lord -- "Oh Lord, loosen my lips". Once again Bono laments about singing and "finding the door" which I believe is a reference to salvation. He proclaims "the door is open, You (God) are standing there, You let me in."

These first two verses show that Bono knows he is nothing without God, and that he needs God to guide him and strengthen him - (to help him sing and stand)

The song is closed with a powerful and revealing statement -- Bono proclaims "Oh Lord, if I have anything, anything at all, I'll give it to you." This shows Bono's willingness to follow God's will for his life.

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I Fall Down

On one of my bootleg albums, Bono says this is a song about trying, and maybe failing, but at least trying.

I think this is a song about a "Christian" or "believer" who is stumbling in his walk with God. He tries to do what is pleasing to the Lord, but he feels as though nothing he does is good enough. This is evident in the first verse - "You know he says I'm getting nowhere, I wrote this letter hoping to get someplace soon" and "When I get up, I fall down"

He is trying to live a "good" life, but realizes he is going to make mistakes. Even with the way he feels, He keeps trying, and doesn't succumb to the mentality of "well I can't win, so why try." He shows this attitude in the line "Gonna walk in the sun, and the wind, and the rain, Never walk back again"

He goes through all kinds of weather (or trials during life), but states he will never turn back (toward his life before Christ)

That is the main point of this song - trying, and maybe failing, but at least trying.

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I Threw A Brick Through A Window

This song is a very lyrically deep song that is rich in spiritual meaning. This is a dialog between two people - Bono and Jesus Christ.

Bono states: "I was talking, I was talking to myself. Somebody else talk, talk, talking" Bono is talking or at least thinking, but somebody else is trying to get Bono's attention. It is Jesus. Bono hears someone talking, but "I couldn't hear a word, a word you said". Bono knows someone else is talking, but he doesn't listen.

The next lyric is where we find out that Jesus is the one trying to talk to Bono. "He was my brother."

To realize this, one must have a knowledge of the Bible. The Bible states that Christians will have a relationship with Christ as though they are His Brothers. The Bible also states that Jesus is the only way to reach Heaven. (I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh to the Father but through Me.) This is put into lyrical terms in the line "Be my brother, I said there was no other way out of here, Be my brother!". The speaker (Jesus) asks Bono to be His brother (or become a Christian) and says that there is no other way (see above verse).

This is the point of the song where Bono realizes he "has to get out".

Now Bono becomes to struggle with his lifestyle and where he is. He feels as though he is walking into walls and going in circles. This is obvious in the line "I was walking, I was walking into walls, I'm back again, just keep walking."

"I walk up to a window, to see myself, and my reflection - when I thought about it, and my direction, going nowhere, going nowhere". This is the line which gives us the title of the song. Bono is now beginning to take an "inner look", that is, a self examination. He steps to a window to see his reflection, and begins to see that his direction is leading him nowhere. This is a very clever part of the song.

Nowhere in the song is the phrase "I threw a brick through a window" mentioned. It can only be assumed that his throwing a brick through a window was the result of him seeing his reflection in the window and not liking what he sees.

Now Bono makes the statement - "No one, no one is blinder, than he who will not see. No one, no one is blinder than me." This is the actual moment that Bono realizes he has been "blind" to Jesus and salvation. Now is the point where Bono begins to get his life on track and "open his eyes."

He begins to consider salvation and Jesus' gift of eternal life. This is evident in the lines "I was talking, I was talking in my sleep. I can't stop talking, I'm talking to you." He is now carrying on a conversation (or praying) with Jesus. Once again, Jesus makes His statement - "Be my brother, there is no other way out of here, Be my brother".

We are left with the idea that Bono did make a change in his life because in the last verse Bono proclaims "Gonna get out, gonna get out of here." Bono finally comes to the conclusion that he needs to change and "get out of here".

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Rejoice

This song has been described by Bono as a call to "Rejoice whenever, over whatever". This song paints a very bleak picture, yet the author says he will "rejoice".

There is a very positive message in the line "And what am I to do, Just tell me what am I supposed to say, I can't change the world, But I can change the world in me, If I rejoice." The writer shows confusion about his purpose and role, yet he will rejoice. He knows he can't change the world, but realizes he CAN change the world in him - if he rejoices.

This songs statement is to "give thanks" in any situation at any time. Very much a type of "praise" song.

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Fire

This song is referencing the spiritual "fire" which "burns" inside Bono.

It starts by painting a picture of turmoil, Using Metaphors such as the sun and moon. The line "falling, falling, and the moon is running red" is a biblical reference to the end times. The bible says that during Christ's return, the stars will fall from the sky and the moon will turn as blood.

Bono states "but there's a fire inside, I'm falling over, there's a fire in me, and I call out, and I feel some fire, I'm calling out." Bono is a believer. That isn't a question. In this song and especially in this line, Bono is describing the "burning desire" that he has for God. He says he is falling down, and he calls out (to God), and he feels the fire.

Again we see references to the end times and Christ's return in the line "The stars are falling down, they knock me to the ground, with the fire, fire..." Bono's resilience is evident in the statement that the fire in him is "burning, burning".

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Tomorrow

The song tomorrow has dual meanings. It is about both Bono's Mother but also about Jesus Christ.

"Won't you come back tomorrow? Won't you come back tomorrow?" The opening line is a plea for Jesus to return. Not only will Jesus' return be the beginning of an eternity in heaven, but it will also be the moment when Bono is reunited with his mother, who died when Bono was fourteen. Bono's mother was a believer, and Christ's return will be the moment Bono is reunited with her.

"Outside, somebody's outside, Somebody's knockin at the door". Jesus says "I stand at the door and knock, if any man open the door I will come unto him".

Bono hears someone knocking at the door. He states "I'm goin to the door, I'm goin outside, I'm going outside mother, I'm going outside". He says he hears Christ knocking and he is going to answer the door. He is telling his mother "I'm going outside".

Then the chorus again, the plea: "Won't you come back tomorrow? Won't you come back tomorrow? Won't you come back tomorrow?"

Now questions, but questions Bono knows the answer to. They are questions to make one think. "Who broke the window? Who broke down the door? Who tore the curtain? And who was he for? Who heals the wounds? Who heals the scars? Open the door." The reference to the curtain being torn is a biblical reference to Christ's death. The Bible says that when Christ died, the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies in the temple from the other part of the temple was ripped from top to bottom. Christ heals the wounds and the scars. Bono pleas with the listener to "go to the door".

Now Bono says "Cause I want you, I want you, I really want you, I want you to be back tomorrow! I want you to be back tomorrow! Will you be back tomorrow?" He is almost begging for Christ to return. He "really wants" Him to return.

Bono cries "Open up to the love of God, to the love of He who made the blind to see, He's coming back, He's coming back, I believe it! Jesus Coming!" Bono knows Jesus will return, he knows about the love of God, and he wants Jesus to be back. That will ultimately mean he will be reunited with his mother.

The last lyric sums up Bono's stance on the issue of Christ's return - "I'm gonna be there, I'm gonna be there, I'm gonna be there mother, I'm gonna be there mother, I'm going out there, I'm gonna be there!"

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October

This is a short song with a powerful meaning.

October.
And the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear.
What do I care?

October.
And Kingdoms rise,
And Kingdoms fall,
But you go on, and on.

Things happen, seasons change, world powers rise and fall, but God goes on and on.

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With A Shout (Jerusalem)

This song opens with a question - "Where do we go? Where do we go from here? Where to go?".

Bono then answers the question - "To the side of a hill, Blood was spilt, we were still lookin at each other, We're going back there, Jerusalem, Jerusalem."

The hill is Galgotha (meaning the place of the skull). Galgotha is the hill where Christ was crucified. That is where the line "blood was spilled" comes from. The bible says that when Christ returns to Earth he will set up reign and the new world capital will be in Jerusalem. That is where the line "were going back there, Jerusalem" comes from.

"I want to go to the foot of the messiah, To the foot of he who made the blind to see" The messiah is referring to Christ. The line about making the blind to see refers to the numerous times when Jesus healed blind people. Bono wants to go to Christ.

The chorus again, slightly different...
"To the side of the hill.
We were still, we were filled,
With a love.
We're gonna be there again..."

This song is a song glorifying Christ's return and when He sets up the new kingdom in Jerusalem. It shows Bono's willingness and wanting to be there.

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Stranger In A Strange Land

No detailed interpretation yet, but when hearing the title, I think of the biblical concept that Christians will be "like strangers in a strange land."

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Scarlet

This song features only two words - "Scarlet" (the title), and "Rejoice". The word "rejoice" is repeated numerous times.

That makes this song very simple yet very powerful and succinct.

When I think of scarlet, I think of the bible verse that says my sins were as scarlet. The verse says "though your sins were as scarlet now they are white as snow." This verse is saying that Jesus' blood has cleansed Christians of the blemish of sin (scarlet). I believe this song is Bono rejoicing because his sins have been paid for by Jesus Christ.

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Is That All?

This song has been said to be a song about Bono's role as a Christian.

The title asks the question "Is that all?" Bono wants to know what God wants from him. Bono sings "Singing this song makes me angry, I'm not angry with you (God). Is that all? Is that all?"

He struggles with what to do. He is happy with his situation, but wants to make sure he is doing what is pleasing to God. This is evident in the line - "Singing this song makes me happy. I'm happy with you. Singing this song makes me pale. Is that all? Is that all? Is that all you want from me?"

Bono, as most Christians, wants to make sure he follows God's will for his life and do what he should in the position he is in. This song is his method for voicing his question. It fittingly finds itself at the end of U2 most openly spiritual song.

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