U2: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Meaning

Song Released: 1987

Covered By: Matt McAndrew (2014)

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Lyrics

I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you, you, you...

I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   Wolverine

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   Nov 15th 2014 !⃝

   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.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Mar 20th 2007 !⃝

   This song is about the search for spiritual fulfillment and the conflict between knowing that God exists and the desire for earthly things. It's about sin, the mistakes we make because, even though we know God is there, it's not enough -- because we are weak and fall to temptation.
   
   "I have spoke with eternal angels. I have held the hand of the devil. It was warm in the night. I was cold as a stone."
   
   This is a common theme in U2's lyrics.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 29th 2005 !⃝

   I think it's basically about going through life searching for the one thing that will fill the hole in your heart, but because you have sought it in the wrong places i.e. "I have held the hand of the devil, it was warm in the night, I was cold as a stone...."...basically looking everywhere except to God. He even says that sometimes you believe Jesus died for you but you are still struggling with your faith "..carried the cross of my shame..you know I believe it..but I still haven't found what I'm looking for."
   
   I'd say it's about finding peace/surrendering all to God. Just my two cents :o)
4. Oliviaka

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   Feb 18th 2022 !⃝

   I have this interpretation in mind : although the narrator, a man, is in a relationship with a lady and they had a child together, he feels increasingly closer to the LGBT community. But his coming out puts a stop to his couple, he takes homophobic insults and finds himself alone with his child, in search of a safe shelter and, of course, a man with whom he can start a new life.
   I know Bono is a straight, married man and has children, but the Irish singer shows his involvement against AIDS, so LGBT communities must be concerned by this problem.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Dec 7th 2017 !⃝

   song sucks he found what he looking for, writing lousy songs and getting laid with the band he hs not found what hes looking for,a talent like bob dylan, the song is all show no meaning.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   Dec 6th 2017 !⃝

   This song is about having a beautiful relationship with somebody, putting all your energy into it and convincing yourself that it completes you, only to realise after time that you're still searching for something more. In Bono's case he might be referring to religion but the perfect thing about this song is that it can apply to anything. We've all been there, we've all had relationships where we convince ourselves that we've found everything in this person. Over time though, as the dust settles we realise that while we still love them, there is still something more to life. While you can find happiness in other people, you'll never feel complete if you're not doing what you love.
   alkalinefanon February 21, 2012 (songmeanings)
   Individualist
7. anonymous

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   Dec 6th 2017 !⃝

   This song is about having a beautiful relationship with somebody, putting all your energy into it and convincing yourself that it completes you, only to realise after time that you're still searching for something more. In Bono's case he might be referring to religion but the perfect thing about this song is that it can apply to anything. We've all been there, we've all had relationships where we convince ourselves that we've found everything in this person. Over time though, as the dust settles we realise that while we still love them, there is still something more to life. While you can find happiness in other people, you'll never feel complete if you're not doing what you love.
   alkalinefanon February 21, 2012
   Individualist

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Dec 5th 2017 !⃝

   This song is obviously about the quest to find an offshore tax avoidance scheme whilst still being able to preach about stopping poverty .
9. anonymous

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   Sep 27th 2017 !⃝

   What if you look at this song as a look at the American struggle to overcome it's history of slavery and the quest to find equality among us all, and yet, something isn't quite settled? The ups and downs of life and death, and after de-segregation, where are we now?

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
10. anonymous

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    Aug 13th 2017 !⃝

    Yes well it is a sweet song that leaves one to go the direction one needs to. The strong need for more but more what? Once you have had the earthly things there is still a stronger need that only gets stronger the older you get. There is an answer but only you can find it and the answer comes in many different forms. "you know I believe"
11. Wolverine

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    Oct 22nd 2014 !⃝

    I think this song came from BONO's faithful heart.Sometimes it's really defficult to be sure that God exists because we are too weak alone.However,we need to keep looking for the signal showing what is God.This is what this song's title means.For nonchristian people,this song might sound like a love song.Especialy, when it says "only to be with you",they might think this means that I want to be with my girlfrined or boyfriend.However,it means they want to be with God and Jesus Christ.But also,I think it can mean that they want to take their dearest one to the God's country.Anyway,it's a beautiful song.
12. anonymous

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    Mar 19th 2014 !⃝

    My Theology class at school listened to this song when we were discussing what we are looking for in life. We made some interpertations that I thought were really good.
    
    1. When he sings "I have kissed honey lips" he is refering to a perfect angel-like girl who he was in love with. Although she was like an angel, he still wasn't satisfied so he leaves her.
    
    2. When he sings " I have held the hand of a devil" he is speaking of a time when he dated a edgy, shady, evil girl. He also sings "It burned like fire, this burning desire," refering to how she was like hell and at the same time she wasn't filling his passionate desire to find what he's looking for.
    
    3. Finally at the end he realizes that human love cannot make you happy and he finds God, the only one who can fill the emptiness he was feeling.
    
    Thanks for reading guys.
    Bye!
13. anonymous

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    Sep 10th 2012 !⃝

    i think it's simple.. they shoot this film in vegas,,it's about gambling but what is masterfull is you can apply this song to love,relationships,etc..

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
14. anonymous

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    Sep 6th 2012 !⃝

    I believe this song is about Christianity. A person who accepts Christ and the forgiveness he offers is Born Again. However, one does not actually find what they are looking for until their fight on this earth is over and the Lord calls them home. Then and only then will we be free from our sinful bodies. We will be in a place (Heaven) where there is no more wars, poverty, crime, no more pain and suffering, etc. This is when we will truly find what we are looking for!
15. anonymous

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    Feb 17th 2012 !⃝

    This song is clearly about Christianity, it is full of Christian symbols. It is an acknowledgement by the composer that he has fallen to the temptation of sin, but believes that Christ has released him from these chains. He states that he is still running the race of faith and wants to claim the prize of eternal life in heaven. But, I believe that the composer is still working towards other things in this earthly life that he is looking for - end to poverty and hunger, world peace, possibly spreading the message of Christianity through his lyrics and music. It is an acknowledgement of his responsibilty to his God to do His will on earth.
16. anonymous

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    Dec 5th 2011 !⃝

    you're part of the falling world. nothing will be changed if you don't break down your own pride, & to confess your sins to The Saviour. by practising on the sermon on the mount, Gandhi chased the entire English colony out from his country.
    do you believe if you're doing the same, your blood & tear will turn to chanting of cheers by seeing our brothers in the middle east embracing us?
17. anonymous

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    Apr 17th 2011 !⃝

    I was told the song was about finding the ultimate high and searching for it.
18. anonymous

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    Jul 9th 2009 !⃝

    God has been playing me this song for the last 3 years and I never understood what He was trying to convey until tonight. I have recently broken free from religeous bondage and received my prayer language, (the tongue of angels), played with fire in the past, danced with the devil in my unsaved life and been searching searching searching, seeking and killing myself with the ways that the WORLD teaches you to "find" God. He's RIGHT THERE. ALL THE TIME. HE's RIGHT THERE. All you have to do is stop running and turn around and follow His lead. At any rate... Ive climbed a mountain - literally to get close to heaven and torn down walls within me to "get real" and be free to receive. This song is about the journey, the struggle, the fight, the lies, the gifts God's provided(praying in tongues is THE KEY whether you believe in it or not it IS the truth)(When Jesus left His final words were that He had to go so The Helper would come and He BREATHED on them and they spoke in an unknown language. The Book of ACTS, Chapter 2) the song is about GOD. And how man can be so hungry for GOd that nothing in this world will EVER fill that God shaped hole inside us, not money, adventure, material possesions or other relationships. We were DESIGNED to commune with The Father. His heart pours out to ours, reaching,... but you must extend your hand to touch His.

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