U2: Magnificent Meaning

Song Released: 2009

Magnificent Lyrics

Magnificent
Oh, oh, magnificent

I was born, I was born
To be with you in this space and time
After that and ever after
I haven't had a clue only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue, oh, oh

Only love, only...

1. anonymous

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   Jun 6th 2011 !⃝

   I think Bono brilliantly crafts his music so that "those who have ears, let them hear!" If you don't get what he's saying, then you weren't meant to.
   
   Bono has been quoted repeatedly that this song is his version of Mary's Magnificat. "You and I will Magnify" is simply about all of us together worshiping the Lord. Of all of U2's songs this is by far the most blatantly worshipful. It's lovely!
2. anonymous

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   Jan 6th 2011 !⃝

   What comes to mind first is the Magnificat (the song of Mary)... "my soul will magnify the glory of the Lord..." As it seems with most U2 lyrics, the intertwining of romantic (eros) and godly (agape) love are pure genius.
3. bobdylan

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   Apr 12th 2009 !⃝

   I have a complete works of William Blake. There is a passage where a prophet comes to a house and the hosts ask him what his name is and he says "magnificent." "You and I will magnify" (word play). Bono is a hard core poet. He reads all those difficult poets-Seamus Heaney, Dylan Thomas, TS Eliot, etc.
   He knows myth like the back of his hand. Myth sacred numbers in the Bible are--40, 3, 12 tribes of Israel, apostles, also, William Blake talks about the 7 phases of God ending with the seventh Jesus Christ. Makes me wonder!
4. blue

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   Mar 19th 2009 !⃝

   One thing that really struck me about this song is the end of the chorus, "Justified, till we die, you and I will magnify the magnificent." I always interpreted this as referring to praising God, but the references to personal love always made me think in terms of a relationship.
   
   Recently, Bono noted that the song is about both, saying it's about "two lovers holding on to each other and trying to turn their$ life into worship."

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