One very interesting reference in this song is "...I only see one way out; you gotta talk without speaking, cry without weeping, scream without raising your voice".

That can be seen as a definition of singing, and in that light, it's an absolutely wonderful and amazing definition.

As written, it's a song about herion in dublin, with a subtext concerning bono's own youth and life and choices--the only way he could see out of the dull suburban life that he and his teenage friends loathed was through success in rock and roll.

But over the years, this song has been dedicated to many different people for many different reasons.