The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Exit" by the artist "U2"

The song "Exit" by U2 is a dark and disturbing tale of a man struggling with mental illness and his tragic descent into violence. The lyrics are full of symbolism and metaphors that convey the character's mental state.

In the beginning, we see a man desperately trying to cope with his condition ("you know he got the cure, but then he went astray"). He suffers from insomnia, trying to "sleep the demons away" - a vivid image of his inner struggle. His desire to "believe in the hands of love" speaks to a longing for healing and salvation.

The protagonist's journey "across the land" symbolizes his inner search, and the howling dog becomes a harbinger of tragedy, embodying a "man with a shattered heart." The "wind in the wires" amplifies the feeling of anxiety and hopelessness.

The vision of stars "like nails in the night" is a powerful image reflecting the character's distorted perception of reality. He is on the edge, where the hope for "healing hands of love" intertwines with darkness.

The culmination of the song is the moment when the protagonist finds the gun. The repetition of "beat on, beat on, beat on" conveys the terrifying speed with which violence takes hold of him.

The final lines – "The hands that build can also tear down. The hands of love" – leave the listener in deep thought about the duality of human nature and the destructive power of despair.