The meaning of Every Breaking Wave by U2

Every Breaking Wave is a song by Irish rock band U2, from their 2014 album Songs of Innocence. The song's lyrics are deeply personal and introspective, with lead vocalist Bono exploring themes of mortality, spirituality, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

The song begins with the lines "And then I woke up to find that you were gone / And now my heart is broken, and it's breaking still," setting the tone for a meditation on loss and longing. The lyrics are laced with references to biblical imagery, including the Book of Revelation's "every breaking wave" – a phrase that speaks to the relentless pounding of the waves against the shore, and by extension, the fragility of human existence.

Bono has said that the song was inspired by his own experiences grappling with mortality, particularly in the wake of the passing of his mother, Irene. He has also noted that the song is about the search for transcendence, and finding ways to connect with something greater than oneself in the face of uncertainty and doubt. The lyrics "We'll find out what we're made of / We'll find out what we can't be" speak to this desire to push beyond the boundaries of human understanding.

Musically, Every Breaking Wave features a soaring chorus, driven by the Edge's signature guitar work and Adam Clayton's pulsing bassline. The song builds towards a climactic finale, with Bono's emotive vocals rising above the instrumentation like a prayer.

Throughout the song, U2's trademark atmospherics – from the haunting piano motif to the subtle use of ambient textures – create a sense of sonic depth and dimensionality, drawing the listener into the emotional world of the lyrics. As such, Every Breaking Wave serves as a powerful testament to the enduring power of rock music to capture the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.