Levitate – English Lyrics

• By: U2
• Album: All That You Can’t Leave Behind

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the soaring melodies and introspective lyrics of U2's "Levitate," an unreleased gem from the *All That You Can't Leave Behind* era. This song offers a unique opportunity to explore themes of freedom and spiritual yearning, showcasing U2's signature blend of rock and thoughtful introspection.

[English]

It's in your voice, I can feel it, I can tell

It's in your voice, has me ringing me like a bell

Peace of mind, peace comes dropping slow

I'm in the mind, to let go of control

Spirit come on down, no I'm not coming down

...

In the backstreets, in the backstreets of our love

Through the locked doors, deep down, deep down is not enough

Spirit come on down, no I'm not coming down

...

Who can stop us now?

It's much too late

Can't slow us down?

We can't hesitate

I want a love that's hard

As hard as hate

Levitate

To be the bee, to be the bee and the flower

Before the sweetness, before the sweetness turns to sour

When freedom comes, freedom has a scent

It's like the top of a newborn baby's head

Baby we can taste it, you and I

Spirit come on down, no I'm not coming down

...

Who can stop us now?

Who could make us wait?

Who could slow us down?

Make us hesitate

I want a love that's hard

As hard as hate

Levitate

Oh, lift me up

...

Spirit come, come on down, no I'm not coming down

Spirit come on down, no I'm not coming down

Spirit come, come on down, no I'm not coming down

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
levitate /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/ C1	verb - to rise or cause to rise and hover in the air, typically by magical means
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B1	noun - the non-physical part of a person, often associated with emotions and character
hesitate /ˈhɛzɪteɪt/ B2	verb - to pause or delay before doing something, especially because one is uncertain or afraid
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ A2	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
scent /sɛnt/ B1	noun - a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one
control /kənˈtroʊl/ A2	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events
sweetness /ˈswitnɪs/ A2	noun - the quality or state of being sweet in taste or smell
sour /saʊr/ A1	adjective - having an acidic taste
hate /heɪt/ A1	noun - intense dislike or hostility
hard /hɑːrd/ A1	adjective - solid, firm, and difficult to break or bend
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
drop /drɒp/ A1	verb - to fall or let something fall
locked /lɒkt/ A2	adjective - secured with a lock
taste /teɪst/ A1	noun - the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth
newborn /ˈnjuːbɔːrn/ B1	adjective - recently born

Key Grammar Structures

• I can feel it

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can' for Ability

  ➔ "can" expresses the speaker's ability or possibility to "feel" something.

• I'm in the mind, to let go of control

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive "to let go" explains the purpose or intention of being "in the mind."

• no I'm not coming down

  ➔ Present Continuous for Future Intention / Ongoing Action

  ➔ The phrase "I'm not coming down" indicates a firm future intention or an ongoing refusal to descend.

• Through the locked doors

  ➔ Past Participle as an Adjective

  ➔ "locked" is the past participle of the verb 'to lock,' used here as an adjective to describe the state of the "doors."

• I want a love that's hard

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause "that's hard" provides essential information about the kind of "love" the speaker wants.

• As hard as hate

  ➔ Comparative Structure 'as...as'

  ➔ The structure "as hard as" is used to show that two things (the desired love and hate) are equal in a certain quality (hardness).

• Who could make us wait?

  ➔ Causative Verb 'make'

  ➔ The verb "make" is used to show that someone or something causes "us" to "wait."

• It's like the top of a newborn baby's head

  ➔ Preposition of Comparison 'like'

  ➔ "like" is used to compare the scent of freedom to "the top of a newborn baby's head."

• When freedom comes, freedom has a scent

  ➔ Temporal Clause with 'When'

  ➔ The clause "When freedom comes" indicates the time at which the main action ("freedom has a scent") occurs.

• Peace comes dropping slow

  ➔ Adverbial Modifier (Present Participle Phrase)

  ➔ "dropping slow" acts as an adverbial modifier, describing how "peace comes," suggesting a gradual and continuous process.