Running To Stand Still
U2 · The Joshua Tree [1987]
And so she woke up
Woke up from where she was
Lying still
Said I gotta do something
About where we're going
Step on a steam train
Step out of the driving rain, maybe
Run from the darkness in the night
Singing Ha, Ah La La La De Day
Ah La La La De Day
Ah La La De Day
Sweet the sin
Bitter taste in my mouth
I see seven towers
But I only see one way out
You got to cry without weeping
Talk without speaking
Scream without raising your voice
You know I took the poison
From the poison stream
Then I floated out of here
Singing...Ha La La La De Day
Ha La La La De Day
Ha La La De Day
She runs through the streets
With her eyes painted red
Under black belly of cloud in the rain
In through a doorway she brings me
White gold and pearls stolen from the sea
She is raging
She is raging
And the storm blows up in her eyes
She will...
Suffer the needle chill
She is running to stand
Still.
Woke up from where she was
Lying still
Said I gotta do something
About where we're going
Step on a steam train
Step out of the driving rain, maybe
Run from the darkness in the night
Singing Ha, Ah La La La De Day
Ah La La La De Day
Ah La La De Day
Sweet the sin
Bitter taste in my mouth
I see seven towers
But I only see one way out
You got to cry without weeping
Talk without speaking
Scream without raising your voice
You know I took the poison
From the poison stream
Then I floated out of here
Singing...Ha La La La De Day
Ha La La La De Day
Ha La La De Day
She runs through the streets
With her eyes painted red
Under black belly of cloud in the rain
In through a doorway she brings me
White gold and pearls stolen from the sea
She is raging
She is raging
And the storm blows up in her eyes
She will...
Suffer the needle chill
She is running to stand
Still.
Running To Stand Still
Released in 1987 on The Joshua Tree, this track stands as a defining moment in U2's evolution from post-punk revival to expansive rock. Recorded during the band's most critically acclaimed period, the song features the group's signature layered harmonies and dynamic shifts, blending folk influences with driving rock rhythms. The track explores themes of existential anxiety and the struggle to maintain composure amidst chaos, resonating deeply with listeners who have experienced moments of vulnerability. Its enduring legacy lies in its ability to capture a specific era of Irish rock while establishing a sonic template that would influence countless artists in the alternative and indie genres for decades to follow.