What in the world is the meaning of Promenade?

[spooked1oo]

The lyrics make little sense (or maybe none). Is there a meaning to it and I haven't just figured it out yet, or is it just supposed to be random?

[Sugarcube]

The lyrics make little sense (or maybe none). Is there a meaning to it and I haven't just figured it out yet, or is it just supposed to be random?

It's kind of a love song. 'the spiral staircase to the higher ground' refers to the Martello tower bona and his wife shared. The rest of the song is pretty impressionistic but the 'seaside town, coca cola' refers to the seaside town said Martello tower was in.

Like a lot of great songs this one paints a picture without saying anything explicitly

[Droo]

It's quite simply about Bono and Ali on vacation in America. It's about his appreciation for what he sees on an evening stroll (a promenade).

[Sugarcube]

It's quite simply about Bono and Ali on vacation in America. It's about his appreciation for what he sees on an evening stroll (a promenade).

It's not. It's an impressionistic piece about the seaside morello tower they shared in Ireland.

Amazingly, the whole world doesn't revolve around America

[Droo]

I'm Canadian, so don't rant at me like I'm some sort of egocentric American.

I had always heard that the song was about the USA, what with the very American references in it, like Coca-Cola, football, fireworks, etc. Combined with sharing the album with a song called 4th of July and Elvis Presley & America it seemed to fit.

[Sugarcube]

I'm Canadian, so don't rant at me like I'm some sort of egocentric American.

I had always heard that the song was about the USA, what with the very American references in it, like Coca-Cola, football, fireworks, etc. Combined with sharing the album with a song called 4th of July and Elvis Presley & America it seemed to fit.

Aren't America and Canada the same? 

The song is an impressionistic piece about the seaside town bono and Ali shared a Martello tower in. The spiral staircase refers to this tower. It's well documented

[northstarjo]

I'm Canadian, so don't rant at me like I'm some sort of egocentric American.

I had always heard that the song was about the USA, what with the very American references in it, like Coca-Cola, football, fireworks, etc. Combined with sharing the album with a song called 4th of July and Elvis Presley & America it seemed to fit.

Aren't America and Canada the same? 

The song is an impressionistic piece about the seaside town bono and Ali shared a Martello tower in. The spiral staircase refers to this tower. It's well documented

Um, NO -- no they are not (I love my American friends, but...  )

[Sugarcube]

I'm Canadian, so don't rant at me like I'm some sort of egocentric American.

I had always heard that the song was about the USA, what with the very American references in it, like Coca-Cola, football, fireworks, etc. Combined with sharing the album with a song called 4th of July and Elvis Presley & America it seemed to fit.

To expand...

The song concerns a house Bono and his wife Ali owned in Ireland in a town called Bray- a "seaside town"- across Dublin Bay from Howth (where Larry still lives with Ann and their kids.) The "Spiral staircase" is in the Martello Tower that Bono had redesigned for her as an anniversary gift early in their marriage. The staircase led from the living room to the bedroom. Bono had a glass roof put over the bedroom so he and Ali could look at the stars at night.

The tower overlooks a promenade where there are snooker halls, arcades, restaurants.

Higher Ground refers to having sex

[Droo]

Well, my mistake then. Nice copy and pasting from songmeanings by the way.

[Sugarcube]

Well, my mistake then. Nice copy and pasting from songmeanings by the way.

Touché! 

[The Exile]

I had always heard that the song was about the USA, what with the very American references in it, like Coca-Cola, football, fireworks, etc. Combined with sharing the album with a song called 4th of July and Elvis Presley & America it seemed to fit.

Typically American of you, Droo. Has it never occurred to you that "football" to a Dubliner means soccer? Or that there's a bloke from Cork named "Elvis Presley" who broke Ireland's record for most shots of Bushmill's drunk in a single day back on July 4th, 1975?

But whatever, just go ahead and assume all these are American references.

[Droo]

Yeah, I happen to know for a fact that Elvis Presley & America is about the rock singer. Bono recorded it looking at a picture of him.

[Starman]

I forget how Promenade goes.

Typically American of you, Droo. Has it never occurred to you that "football" to a Dubliner means soccer? Or that there's a bloke from Cork named "Elvis Presley" who broke Ireland's record for most shots of Bushmill's drunk in a single day back on July 4th, 1975?

But whatever, just go ahead and assume all these are American references.

Oh, so there MUST be Coca-Cola in England too, right?! Ha, yeah right. 

Well, my mistake then. Nice copy and pasting from songmeanings by the way.



Yep.

[BringCitrus]

I thought there was some mention that they could see a football (soccer) field from the tower too.

[The Exile]

I thought there was some mention that they could see a football (soccer) field from the tower too.

And there was that massive cherry that Bono danced with.