Sunday, June 19, 2011

A singing bird in an open cage

"Walk On" is usually dedicated to the long-imprisoned political leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. Since her release from house arrest in 2010, U2 has also dedicated the song not only to her but also to those who remain imprisoned in Burma for their political beliefs and to the work of Amnesty International.

I had never seen this video, apparently filmed in Rio de Janeiro, until researching this blog. It's almost light-hearted with lots of shots of the band signing autographs, playing soccer on the beach and of course, playing the song. Watch to the end for a glimpse of the rougher side of Rio and a brief appearance of Aung San Suu Kyi herself.



Walk On - Lyrics

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for one second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No, they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
Walk on, walk on
You stay safe tonight

And I know it aches, how your heart it breaks
You can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one
Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is

And I know it aches and your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
It's only time
All that you bear
No more than a feeling on my mind
All that you see
All that you wear
All that you sense
All that you scheme
All you dress up
All that you've seen
All you create
And all that you wreck
All that you hate

1 comment:

  1. I have to say, I greatly prefer the other version of the video (though that one is also kinda moving, in its own simple way). Anyway, good explanation of the song! It's really one of the best things they've ever written, IMHO.

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