City of Blinding Lights
U2 Lyrics
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The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now
Neon heart, day-glo eyes
The city lit by fireflies
They're advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Don't look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs, purple irises the camera can't see
I've seen you walk unafraid
I've seen you in the clothes you've made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?
And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Time, time, time
Time won't leave me as I am
But time won't take the boy out of this man
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Yeah, the city of blinding lights
The more you know, the less you feel
Some pray for what others steal
Blessing's not just for the ones who kneel, luckily
The lyrics of U2's song, City of Blinding Lights, talk about the beauty and complexity of city life. They suggest that the more people see and experience, the less they actually know or understand about it. The neon heart and day-glo eyes are a metaphorical representation of the vibrancy of the city, while the advertising in the skies is a symbol of the temptations and consumerism that the city offers. The singer talks about missing someone when they're not around and getting ready to leave the ground - perhaps in a plane, leaving the city behind. The chorus is a tribute to the stunning visual spectacle of city life - the blazing lights that inspire and overwhelm at the same time.
In the second verse, the singer urges the listener not to judge others based on superficial factors. He also talks about seeing the beauty inside people, questioning why we should focus on external appearances. This sentiment is echoed in the repetition of "Oh, you look so beautiful tonight". The final lines of the song suggest that blessings are not reserved for those who kneel or pray, reminding the listener that life is not always fair.
Line by Line Meaning
The more you see the less you know
As we experience more in life, we realize how little we truly understand
The less you find out as you go
Despite exploring new places and meeting new people, we never truly understand everything around us
I knew much more then than I do now
As we age, we realize how much we still have to learn and how much we've forgotten
Neon heart, day-glo eyes
This city is vibrant and full of bright lights
The city lit by fireflies
The city is alive with energy and activity
They're advertising in the skies
The city is filled with advertisements and marketing trying to capture our attention
For people like us
These advertisements are targeting people like us, presumably urban dwellers
And I miss you when you're not around
Being apart from someone we care about is difficult
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
The artist is excited and anticipatory; they're preparing for a journey, emotional or physical
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
The artist admires the beauty of another person
In the city of blinding lights
This city is full of awe-inspiring and eye-catching lights
Don't look before you laugh
Don't worry about your outward appearance when you're having a good time
Look ugly in a photograph
Being your true, unguarded self is more important than looking photogenic
Flash bulbs, purple irises the camera can't see
Despite capturing a physical image, a photograph can't fully capture a person's essence
I've seen you walk unafraid
The singer admires the courage and fearlessness in the other person's demeanor
I've seen you in the clothes you've made
The artist has seen the other person's artistic ability and creativity
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
The artist is asking if the other person can see beyond their physical appearance and appreciate their inner qualities
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?
The singer is wondering if they've lost touch with their inner beauty over time
Time, time, time
Time is a recurring theme in this song, emphasizing its inevitable march forward
Time won't leave me as I am
The artist acknowledges that they will change and evolve over time
But time won't take the boy out of this man
Despite growing older, the artist still sees themselves as youthful and full of life
Yeah, the city of blinding lights
A repetition of the song's title
The more you know, the less you feel
Sometimes, knowledge can prevent us from feeling the joys of life
Some pray for what others steal
Some people have a moral code that causes them to aim for lofty goals, while others will resort to theft to get what they want
Blessing's not just for the ones who kneel, luckily
One doesn't have to be religious to feel blessed; one can find happiness and joy without adhering to any religious beliefs
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@onisuwaplay5464
The more you see, the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then
Than I do now
Neon-heart, day-glow eyes
A city lit by fireflies
They're advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Don't look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs, purple irises
The camera can't see
I've seen you walk unafraid
I've seen you in the clothes you made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?
And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Time, time, time, time, time
Won't leave me as I am
But time won't take the boy out of this man
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
The more you know, the less you feel
Some pray for, others steal
Blessings are not just for the ones who kneel
Luckily
@Britinsweden
One of the most underrated songs of all time!
@jwhat8515
Agreed
@ingrid8994
Ashley James Baller Yes!
@hshshshhahsbs8140
That is the true word of all times
@ikzelf100
178 likes on your comment is also underrated for the opinion you typed.
@dann.pakpahan
This comment comes from he who can not creep into the mainstream nature of u2 life..
@hadesmyg1114
Thank the “devils wears Prada” for introducing me💕❤️
@WillyJunior
Great Movie
@hadesmyg1114
@@WillyJuniorit really is ❤
@slackstarfish8133
I still think this is one of the greatest songs of all time