What do you think it means?

[AltRockAddict]

I've been reading like 100 books about U2, Bono and the stories behind the songs...  But what do real people think they mean?  Like, I'll go first...
Staring at the Sun:  Those of us who are preoccupied with Jesus will keep a focus on Him and His mission instead of going out into the world to do what He would do -- charitable and life saving work.  We might be satisfied with Staring at the Son, when we should return back inside to get His work done.

Any interpretation is fare game!  What do YOU think...?

[JoshuaTree94]

I always figured Staring at the Sun was about being okay with complacency. You're stubborn and just won't budge, so you're happy to go blind.

[Aqua]

hmm, yknow, i was never much into looking at the song as a whole, then trying to figure out it's meaning.
LINES were the things that caught me. it's lines that I try to interpret. I (very surprisingly) just realised I dont care much for the meaning of a song.
just something i realised, just something i'm putting out there. nice thread by the way.

[Rock N Roll Girl]

hmm, yknow, i was never much into looking at the song as a whole, then trying to figure out it's meaning.
LINES were the things that caught me. it's lines that I try to interpret. I (very surprisingly) just realised I dont care much for the meaning of a song.
just something i realised, just something i'm putting out there. nice thread by the way.

But you can get so much more out of the meaning of a line, or make sense of one that otherwise doesn't, if you understand the overall theme(s) of the song. Just sayin'. 

[Aqua]

hmm, yknow, i was never much into looking at the song as a whole, then trying to figure out it's meaning.
LINES were the things that caught me. it's lines that I try to interpret. I (very surprisingly) just realised I dont care much for the meaning of a song.
just something i realised, just something i'm putting out there. nice thread by the way.

But you can get so much more out of the meaning of a line, or make sense of one that otherwise doesn't, if you understand the overall theme(s) of the song. Just sayin'. 

.... very true .
*.. hides in corner*

[HEY!youtwo!]

I always thought it was about sticking your head in the sand and pretending that everything in the world is ok, when it is really not, but you would rather go blind by staring at the sun so you can't see these bad things

[Rock N Roll Girl]

hmm, yknow, i was never much into looking at the song as a whole, then trying to figure out it's meaning.
LINES were the things that caught me. it's lines that I try to interpret. I (very surprisingly) just realised I dont care much for the meaning of a song.
just something i realised, just something i'm putting out there. nice thread by the way.

But you can get so much more out of the meaning of a line, or make sense of one that otherwise doesn't, if you understand the overall theme(s) of the song. Just sayin'. 

.... very true .
*.. hides in corner*

No need to hide  Just trying to enrich your experience...

[AltRockAddict]

What other songs do you have personal meanings for?

[cathalmc]

I thought Staring At The Sun was also about Norn Ireland, the peace negotiations were going on in 1997 for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

[AltRockAddict]

I think that when Bono sings about God he uses the pronoun he, but whenever he sings about the Holy Spirt he uses she ()