I think this is a song about Christ unselfish love and sacrafice for Bono and the human race. Through the song Bono sings about a woman on a bed of nails and in the last verse he says "she's got me with nothing to win and nothing else to lose". I think this represents sin and how we really don't gain anything from it, but we feel that we have nothing left to lose since we have pushed God away so manytimes before. "And you give yourself away" I believe refers to how ever time we sin Christ redeems us through the cross; giving his pain for our sin. Finally With or without you sums up the idea how sin controls all of us. We can't live without Christ, but Bono, and most of us, feel that we we can't live with him because we always let him down. "My hands are tied, My body bruised, she's got me with ...." sin traps us on earth, but through Jesus giving himself away we can be with God.
Michael Aaron Smith mismit24
vt.edu (contributed before the 20:th of February 1998)
I think this song is more about love when it is requited, ie real relationships, than anything else. Its a song about how totally futile love can be...even when shared with another person. Its like the old addage "you cant live with them and you cant live without them". Infact it is exactly that. Its about how when apart from your love, the only thing you want is them, the sun rises and sets by them, and you would give anything to be with them. Then once you are reunited you start to notice tiny little annoying things or you realise that you cant stand the person you thought you loved....only to not be able to live without them again when you are seperated from them.
Its about giving yourself wholeheartedly to another person and them giving all of themselves to you, but it is not enough....and its never enough.You give it all but I want more Its about going into these situations knowing what you are in for but doing it anyway.
I think the she that is refered to in the song is love.she got me with nothing to win and nothing left to lose, which is exactly the way love can make people feel, its futile and useless but its fantastic and we cant wait till it happens again.on a bed of nails she makes me wait, meaning that love has got Bono in an uncomfortable position...but its alright because it is love.
FarawaySoClose u2_rockshotmail.com (29:th of May 1998)
U2's With or Without You is a song about how painful life can be. So often we are torn in two by our feelings, thoughts, and actions. We want something, yet it scares us to death. We hate having to say good-bye to someone we love, yet we are relieved somehow when the person is gone. We want to believe, love, and trust in God, yet to do so can mean giving up so much that we can't seem to let go of.
All this inner turmoil wears on the soul, it makes us question why we're ever put here on this earth to suffer on that bed of nails. Why do we love someone so much, yet hate what that might mean to our lives. Why do long to believe in a loving God, yet love to do evil. It hurts, it leaves nothing else to lose, we can't live either way.
We are TORN. That's why, when Bono cries out to a concert night sky, I can't live ... With or without you ... Oohhh ... there will always be 50,000+ people crying out with him.
Daniel Mallett djm6ualberta.ca (29:th of November 1998)
In an interview with Hot Press in Dec. 1987, Bono said the following "the album is almost incomplete. With or Without You doesn't really make sense without Walk to the Water or Luminous Times."
Eric ejj1geneseo.edu ( 4:th of March 2000)
According to the biography "The Unforgettable Fire", the song With or without you is about Bono's 'relationship' with his audience/his fans. Right from their beginnings, Bono, during their live shows, has always given of himself COMPLETELY to his fans, which over the years has taken a toll, physically and emotionally.
It is also worth noting from the book "into the heart" by Nial Stokes, Bono says that "You" can also refer to the group. "You" might be refering to the group as much as the audience in this case.
The best interpretation of the song is to watch the video POPMART Live from Mexico City. Here you can clearly see how much he gives of himself and how much, we the audience, mean to him.....definately the best performance of the song ever.
Justin Barry justin_ac30hotmail.com (14:th of April 2000)