Cute Irish Bono

I find Smile to be one of Bono's most personal and honest spiritual songs. I think it comes from very deep inside of him.
I will post the lyrics and then explain why I find "Smile" a spiritual song.

Gravity is not pulling me
I won't be a picture with no sign
Decaying I'm praying
You are my abbot
I need the ground to kneel upon
And love can't be your song
I don't want to see you smile

I'm breaking it taking it
I'm breaking it slowly in mind
I'm seeing it freeing it
I know love is in this soul of mine
It's not in your eyes

I don't want
I don't want to see you smile

I started light-hearted

It won't be easy like you said
I'm going flowing
I'm leaving on the day of the dead
I will never get, you will never get
I don't want to see you smile

God knows it, knows it
Knows it, knows it
You sing
Hear me love
Sing it again
Going out blind
The smoke machine is yours not mine
I don't want to see you smile

I will live again
You will live again
I just don't want to see you smile

The song says God and has a reference to prayer too. But could there be a another reference to God? Look at this, abbot (on the fourth line) means a superior man but it could also mean father, for a title of honor. Bono secretly using codes to say God to display God's beauty, I believe. Like "Yahew" in HTDAAB. He choose that word, he could of just as easily used Lord, Jesus, or another common word for God. Also in the song it says, "I will live again. You will live again, it could mean salvation.

I just love this song because Bono paints a picture of his faith life and admits it's hard to follow his faith ("It won't be easy like you said.") It's like his telling God, I don't want to you to look down and smile at me during my hard times. Just come over here and save me! Bono's honest and lovingly says he loves God but wants God to make his faithful journey a little bit more easier. I don't know, but can't other Christians or believers relate to this?

Rachel D.

I honestly never could figure out what this song is about. But what you said really makes sense.

I have noticed, though, Bono's "code words" for God in other songs. "Mercy," for example. (I don't think it's really just about "love.")

Cute Irish Bono

Cool. My thoughts exactly.

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"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." - John 16

U2isthebest

I absolutely love your interpretation of "Smile" I'm like Rachel, I was always not sure what this song meant to Bono and the band or to me. This really gives me a new way of looking at it. Thanks for this!!

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"After the flood, all the colors came out."

Trinity3000

Interesting... I never understood that song.

I will live again
You will live again

The afterlife and the second coming?

biff

I like your interpretation as well, but I'm pretty certain the fourth and fifth lines read: "You are my air/But I need the ground to kneel upon".

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Cute Irish Bono

Yes!

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"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." - John 16

last unicorn

You got some of the lyrics slightly wrong:

Smile
Gravity, it’s not pulling me
I won’t be a picture with no sound
Decaying, I’m praying
You are my air
But I need the ground to kneel upon
And love can’t be your song
I don’t want to see you smile

I’m breaking it, taking it
I’m breaking slowly in my mind
I’m seeing it, freeing it
I know love is in this soul of mine
It’s not in your eyes
I don’t want
I don’t want to see you smile

I started light-hearted
I won’t be easy like you said
I’m going, flowing
I’m leaving on the day
Of the dead
I will live again
You will live again
I don’t want to see you smile

God knows me
knows me
Knows me, lonely
You see, hear me, love

Say it again
Pull that blind
The smoke machine
Is yours, not mine
I don’t want to see you smile

I will live again
You will live again
I just don’t want to see you smile


But interesting interpretation. I have always loved this song, but it's meaning is still a mystery to me.

The Disciple

This is one of those songs that is so heartbreakingly beautiful from the first listen.... and I can't xplain why.

And I don't want 2 have 2..... but interesting perspective!

Jeannieco

I think this song is about forgiveness.
Forgiving someone that has done something really horrible, he doesn't want to see them smile...and coming to terms with the anger that he feels, but in the end
we are all children of God....

I will live again
You will live again
I just don’t want to see you smile


Just my take...

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:Praying for peace this holiday season...

Cute Irish Bono

I totally agree! Good observation.

__________________
"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." - John 16