What is the meaning of the song I still havent found what im looking for?

I still haven't found what I'm looking for by U2 was released in 1987 and reached number 1 in the US charts and number 4 in the UK charts.

The lyrics in this song refer to a search for love and spiritual enlightenment. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Bono said the song was "an anthem of doubt more than faith."

The Edge thought up the melody and title, and Bono took that and wrote the lyrics around it.

This is one of many spiritual songs by U2. This one makes obvious references to Jesus Christ: "I believe in the kingdom... you broke the bonds and you loosed the chains" he is talking about salvation but he still hasn't found what he is looking for.

The need for more out of life leaves him feeling disappointed and disillusioned with regard to his faith.

This setback leaves him feeling confused but instead of getting back onto the road towards a better faith, another disappointment occurs and he feels like he would rather just give up.

What really comes across from the lyrics of this song is the feeling of doubt and how the singer is desperate to overcome it.

July 26, 2019

• Elizabeth Blair

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The Edge and Bono perform in the Netherlands during U2's The Joshua Tree tour in 1987. The U2 song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," inspired by gospel, has become a rock and roll hymn, even finding its way into real-life church services. (Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images)

I think this song came from BONO's faithful heart. Sometimes it's really
DIFFICULT to be sure that God exists because we are too weak alone.
However,we need to keep looking for the signal showing WHAT GOD IS.This
is what this song's title means.For non-christian people,this song might
sound like a love song. Especially, when it says "only to be with you",
they might think this means that I want to be with my girlfriend or
boyfriend.However, there are strong reasons why I think he focuses on his faith in GOD through this song.
First, ” I have spoke with the tongue of angels,I have held the hand of a devil, It was warm in the night ,I was cold as a stone”.This line shows his experiences.He might have been likely to lose his faith in GOD.
Second, there is a line describing that he believe in GOD.”I believe in the kingdom come,Then all the colors will bleed into one,Bleed into one,Well yes I'm still running”. I think this line is very strong.He believes in GOD and also,he is sure any bloody situation can be disappeared thanks to GOD.
Third,this following line also shows his spirit,but it describe his dearest one who has same faith.”Carried the cross,Of my shame,Of my shame,You know I believed it”.He definitely knows what Jesus Christ has done for us and he is still believing it.You can see he is believing it when you hear “Well yes I'm still running.”
For these reasons, BONO really shows what he believes and how he believes.This song is truly strong and fascinating for especially christian people.

U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” has been likened to the proverbs of King David. And from the onset it definitely sets a similar tone of the narrator having claimed he has basically traversed the known world in search of the addressee. Or let’s say more specifically, the addressee resides at an undisclosed location. And the singer will stop at nothing in order to find this place so that he can be with him or her. Yet despite this effort, he ‘still hasn’t found what he’s looking for’.

Second Verse

The second verse starts off with a more-romantic undertone but eventually morphs into the singer using metaphors which basically allude to the idea of him having gone through virtually all types of experiences, both good and bad. If this section were also to be compared to a part of the Bible, it reads somewhat similarly to the Book of Ecclesiastes which also features a narrator who did not deny himself any experience in his search for the meaning of life. But still, in the case of the song itself, the singer can’t find what he’s ‘looking for’.

Third Verse

Then the third verse is the most-overtly religious passage in the song. Here the singer states that he “believe(s) in the Kingdom Come”, which is a direct reference to the Bible, specifically its concept of the ideal afterlife. He goes on to make a reference to Jesus himself, expressing a sentiment tantamount to believing in the figure while simultaneously acknowledging his own “shame”. But as you’ve probably already concluded, despite holding onto these convictions, he ‘still hasn’t found the thing he’s searching for.

A Gospel Inspired Song

Now one of the reasons the song is structured so is because it was in fact influenced by gospel music and musicians. So in a way you can say, as Bono himself has, that this track is “kind of a gospel song”. Simply put, it is U2’s version of a gospel. Thus, as Bono has also pointed out, the true sentiment which is being relayed throughout isn’t one of faith but actually “doubt”. That is to say that despite his strivations and internal beliefs, the singer is frustrated, if you will, that these efforts and thought processes have not yielded the desired results.

And another point which must also be noted is that the addressee is never actually identified. Thus some people have even interpreted this song as being romantic in nature. In other words, the “you” the singer is looking for can arguably be an elusive love. And there is enough general ambiguity amongst the lyrics to support such a theory.

Conclusion

But conclusively, it is clear that U2 are operating on a higher, spiritual plane on this song. And going back to the King David comparisons, the lyrical content of this track can be likened to those instances where he was in search of God but felt as if his spiritual pleas were being ignored.

Music Video

The music video was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada. And it has been recognized for improving the image of the city amongst musicians in general.

Release Date of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

Island Records released this song as the second single from U2’s classic album, “The Joshua Tree”, on 25 May 1987.

The other singles from “The Joshua Tree” album are as follows:

• “With or Without You“
• “In God’s Country”
• “Where the Streets Have No Name”
• “One Tree Hill“

Production and Writing Credits

Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois not only produced this U2 classic but also provided background vocals to it.

And the song was written by the members of U2:

• Bono
• Adam Clayton
• The Edge
• Larry Mullen Jr.

The track originated from a demo called “Weather Girls” which the band recorded while having an informal jam session. They scraped the model but retained Larry’s drum beat, which served as the foundation for “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”.

And “Weather Girls” itself went on to be featured on the 20th anniversary remastered edition of “The Joshua Tree”.

Accolades of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was ranked amongst the top 100 on Rolling Stone’s 2010 ranking of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

It topped the Billboard Hot 100, the US Cash Box Top 100 and U2’s native Ireland Singles Chart. The track also peaked at number 6 in Britain and charted in as many as 10 other countries.

Additionally, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” has been certified Gold in the UK.

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was also nominated for a couple of Grammy Awards in 1988. It was nominated in the following categories:

• Song of the Year
• Record of the Year

Notable Covers of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

Artists who have covered this song include Seal (1997) and the cast of “Glee” (2014).  And one of the most-successful renditions chart-wise has been a 1990 cover by a Scottish band called The Chimes.

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