When I Look At The World
by U2

Album: All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
Play Video
  • When you look at the world
    What is it that you see
    People find all kinds of things
    That bring them to their knees

    I see an expression
    So clear and so true
    That it changes the atmosphere
    When you walk into the room

    So I try to be like you
    Try to feel it like you do
    But without you it's no use
    I can't see what you see
    When I look at the world

    When the night is someone else's
    And you're trying to get some sleep
    When your thoughts are too expensive
    To ever want to keep

    When there's all kinds of chaos
    And everyone is walking lame
    You don't even blink now do you
    Or even look away

    So I try to be like you
    Try to feel it like you do
    But without you it's no use
    I can't see what you see
    When I look at the world

    I can't wait any longer
    I can't wait 'til I'm stronger
    Can't wait any longer
    To see what you see
    When I look at the world

    I'm in the waiting room
    I can't see for the smoke
    I think of you and your holy book
    When the rest of us choke

    Tell me, tell me
    What do you see
    Tell me, tell me
    What's wrong with me Writer/s: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • John from Budapest, Hungary I've always loved this song! I consider much of it to be a believer trying to imagine what God must think when He looks at the world. "I can't see what you see, when I look at the world " implies that a mere human just cannot regard his fellow men with the love that God has when He looks at the world.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.