Poll

What do you think?

One of their best lyrics. A beauty.
13 (33.3%)
One of their worst. Horrible.
5 (12.8%)
Don't feel strongly either way.
21 (53.8%)

Total Members Voted: 38

Voting closed: July 29, 2011, 12:36:44 PM

Author Topic: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head  (Read 4555 times)

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Offline Droo

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2011, 07:52:31 PM »
This line singlehandedly killed the song for me.

Do you not like Levitate either?

I adore Levitate. I just was already vaccinated with regards to that line as a result of Miracle Drug.

I also just find Levitate overall musically and lyrically more engaging and striking than Miracle Drug.

Offline U2-obsessed and proud

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2011, 09:13:07 PM »
This line singlehandedly killed the song for me.

Do you not like Levitate either?

I adore Levitate. I just was already vaccinated with regards to that line as a result of Miracle Drug.

Levitate is 4 years older than Miracle Drug though

Offline Droo

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2011, 10:59:48 PM »
I didn't hear Levitate until last year.

Offline U2-obsessed and proud

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2011, 11:23:48 PM »
I didn't hear Levitate until last year.

Oh...

so the fact that Miracle Drug got that lyric from Levitate doesn't bother you, I take it

The Grave

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #19 on: July 25, 2011, 11:56:51 AM »
A beauty

Offline Droo

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #20 on: July 25, 2011, 04:48:03 PM »
I didn't hear Levitate until last year.

Oh...

so the fact that Miracle Drug got that lyric from Levitate doesn't bother you, I take it

No, because while that line is merely the low point of Levitate, MD is chock full of other major problems/flaws in my opinion.

Offline Farisfan (take this shirt)

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #21 on: July 30, 2011, 10:27:28 AM »
It is kind of bang on - just as SG says  :)

Yep, bang on, as Sing and SG say.

Offline satellitedog01

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #22 on: July 30, 2011, 11:46:47 AM »
It's kind of bang on think SG, Sing anf Faris

Offline sherri

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #23 on: August 13, 2011, 07:08:01 AM »
I like it (the OP)

Offline Dali

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #24 on: September 03, 2011, 04:21:38 PM »
The lyric is a much more natural fit in "Levitate". It does not seem to fit well with the rather pessimistic point of view of the rest of "Miracle Drug".

Offline DGordon1

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #25 on: September 06, 2011, 03:46:00 PM »
The lyric is a much more natural fit in "Levitate". It does not seem to fit well with the rather pessimistic point of view of the rest of "Miracle Drug".

Pessimistic point of view? For me it's an extremely uplifting song. The message behind it is that with love and science, "miracles" can happen and people are saved through medical advances. I think it's a very positive message, that humanity has a kind of control over its own destiny to an extent. I seem to remember Bono saying during the Vertigo tour, that the song was an expression of thanks towards doctors and other medical staff (presumably in regards to his father).

Offline hartroc

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #26 on: September 16, 2011, 04:36:50 PM »
The lyric is a much more natural fit in "Levitate". It does not seem to fit well with the rather pessimistic point of view of the rest of "Miracle Drug".

Are you kidding? Miracle Drug is the opposite of a pessimistic song.  :D

Offline U2DreamOutLoud ...Everything you know is wrong

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #27 on: September 19, 2011, 03:23:24 AM »
The lyric is a much more natural fit in "Levitate". It does not seem to fit well with the rather pessimistic point of view of the rest of "Miracle Drug".

Pessimistic point of view? For me it's an extremely uplifting song. The message behind it is that with love and science, "miracles" can happen and people are saved through medical advances. I think it's a very positive message, that humanity has a kind of control over its own destiny to an extent. I seem to remember Bono saying during the Vertigo tour, that the song was an expression of thanks towards doctors and other medical staff (presumably in regards to his father).

I read something different from Bono saying this song is about a boy whose mother he met, and that boy has a very rare disease and noone has an idea to help him. I don't know what it is exactly but part of it is, that the boy is kind of locked up in his own head, can't speak and express, but his mind is fully present. So both mum and boy hoping for a miracle drug. But already, with a lot love, they found a way to communicate tho she still doesn't know what he really sees, hears, feels, thinks and realizes "I want a trip inside your head, spent the day there" and since sure she still sees him as her little baby boy, the newborn baby line makes totally sense to me. Since love can't do it all, they both hope for more "I've had enough of romantic love, I'm not giving up on a miracle drug" since we already know what science is able to do today.

And yes, it's a very positive song.

Offline singnomore

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #28 on: September 19, 2011, 04:01:55 AM »
It's kind of bang on think SG, Sing anf Faris

Indeed we do  :D

Offline A_Fly_On_The_Wall

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Re: Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head
« Reply #29 on: January 25, 2012, 12:19:00 PM »
Has anyone thought that this lyric isn't referring to freedom smelling like a newborn baby's head?

Is it supposed to be in two parts?

Instead of:
"Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head"

Maybe it should be viewed as:
"Freedom has a scent
Like the top of a newborn baby's head"


Perhaps it means that having freedom is a feeling of release and fresh air, hence the useage of "scent"?
"The top of a newborn baby's head" could just be a metaphor for the kind of feeling that freedom has with it?

Either way it is a beautiful lyric and it fits in well with the song  :)