What does So Cruel mean?

U2: So Cruel Meaning

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Album cover for So Cruel album cover

So Cruel Lyrics

We crossed the line
Who pushed who over?
It doesn't matter to you
It matters to me
We're cut adrift
We're still floating
I'm only hanging on
To watch you go down
My love

I disappeared in you
You disappeared from me
I gave you...

  1. anonymous
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    Oct 9th 2018 !⃝

    Sounds to me that its about the death of a relationship where the woman wants something the man doesnt want, they've drifted apart, her behaviour hurts him, conflicts with his core values and beliefs and he is faced with the pain of staying vs the pain of departing, and in the end he realises that though he loves her,the pain of staying with her while she does whatever it is that hurts him, is greater than the pain of seperation. The long-term pain of staying vs the shorter term pain of seperating. And he doesnt want to seperate but sees he has no choice. Sounds to me with the mention of kiss to stop the lies and wearing his love like a see through dress, and the moments tenderness hes clinging to,and cut adrift,that she is cheating,routinely,and her words dont match her actions, she's lying to him,routinely, and he cannot allow himself to be tortured by her continued unfaithfulness and the pain its causing him. In short, she sounds like a cheating narcissist and he's realised she won't change and he must let her go, despite that he loves her the same as he ever did, the cheating and lies are just too continually heart breaking and he is being destroyed. He's saving his remaining self esteem and dignity, while he still has some left, and hes separating from a serial cheater.

  2. anonymous
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    Nov 13th 2017 !⃝

    Guitarist the Edge separated from his wife, Aislinn O'Sullivan. The separation had a major effect on the development of the song, as Bono channelled their pain into the lyrics. Bono said "there were lots of other things going on internally within the band and outside it, and I was working through all of that", noting that the Edge's separation from Aislinn was just one component of that. Thematically the song is about unrequited love, jealousy, obsession, and possessiveness. ( wikipedia)

    SIMPLE-WOMAN
    WITH-FEW-FRIENDS

  3. anonymous
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    Nov 12th 2017 !⃝

    i feel that this is about a couple where the girl dies.. and he is stating that even if she isnt there.. he can continue loving her because in Love there is no rules...
    Its not about a breakup but about the miss fortune of loosing someone...

  4. anonymous
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    Jun 19th 2013 !⃝

    How do y'all not realize this is a heartbreak song? A man loves a woman who doesn't return the love. "Oh,oh,ooh love, you say in love, there are no rules"- he's saying why don't you come back to me? "Oh,oh,ooh love, sweetheart, you're so cruel"- he's saying don't you see how much you've hurt me? And finally he realizes the only way out is to let her go- "Oh,oh,ooh love, to stay with you, I'd be a fool".

  5. anonymous
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    Jul 3rd 2012 !⃝

    Good guesses and close but, not accurate. There is a couple in a rut and she think it's about sex. They bring another women in. This was the women's idea, but the man loves her, but she thinks there is a problem. The plan goes. The man is calling her out at the beginning. When the man says "her" he is referring to the other women. When the song goes "You put your lips to her lips to stop the lie.". The lie is that she is a lesbian. And she kissed her to stop it. But that makes it worse. It starts to get sad. The woman is confused about her sexuality. That's why she is not satisfied there for "She wears my love like a see through dress" is referring to her not being satisfied because of her sexuality. When the man relizes, he puts it to an end and they split. He said "To stay with you, I'd be a foul.". That ended it. Take that into consideration while you listen.

  6. anonymous
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    Jan 9th 2012 !⃝

    It is rumored to be about The Edge's ex-wife. They were going through a separation when the album was being made.

  7. anonymous
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    Sep 16th 2011 !⃝

    no woman knows what they want, so in the end ALL guys should fulfill that last line: to stay with you, I'd be a fool.

  8. anonymous
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    Nov 24th 2008 !⃝

    This guy is trying to hang on to his girlfriend, but he doesn't know if the love he feels that "makes him high" is from real love or just temptation. He knows that she does some terrible things to him, but he can't help but let her stay with him. He feels pain and agony from her love, yet he wants to believe their relationship is wonderful: the bumps in the road are just what every relationship experiences. He needs to learn there are other women out there just as beautiful as she is and probably ten times nicer and more caring.


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