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U2 — Lemon
Album: Zooropa
Avg rating:
6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1027









Released: 1993
Length: 6:47
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Lemon, see-through in the sunlight
She wore lemon, but never in the deep
She's gonna make you cry, she's gonna make you whisper and moan
And when you're dry, she draws water from the stone
I feel like I'm slowly, slowly, slowly slippin' under
And I feel like I'm holding on to nothing

She wore lemon, to colour in the cold grey night
She had heaven, and she held on so tight

A man makes a picture, a moving picture
Through the light projected he can see himself up close
A man captures colour, a man likes to stare
He turns his money into light to look for her
And I feel like I'm drifting, drifting, drifting from the shore
And I feel like I'm swimming out to her

Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Lemon, see-through in the sunlight

A man builds a city, with banks and cathedrals
A man melts the sand so he can see the world outside (you're gonna meet her there)
A man makes a car (she's your destination) and builds a road to run them on (gotta get to her)
A man dreams of leaving (she's imagination) but he always stays behind

And these are the days when our work has come asunder
And these are the days when we look for something other

Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins

Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins

A man makes a picture, a moving picture
Through the light projected he can see himself up close
A man captures colour, a man likes to stare
He turns his money into light to look for her
Lemon
She is the dreamer, she's imagination.
Through the light projected, he can see himself up close.
Comments (112)add comment
Timeless. What's not to like.
Posted 1 year ago by ca2brede    [ Reply ]
Yep. It's a lemon.
Posted 2 years ago by trevc    [ Reply ]
 aonley wrote:

Their greatest artistic achievement, this album and song


Thankfully that's not true.
Posted 3 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 argexpat wrote:

See...this album and Achtung Baby is when I started to like U2...when they stopped trying to be an "important" band and resigned themselves to making good pop songs. 




Which is why most people stopped listening to them during this phase.  They weren't "trying to be an important band".  They were delivering an important message through their music.  Did it go to their heads?  Probably.  But it doesn't detract from what they were trying to do.  And by just trying to be a pop band, they lost the appeal that attracted their following at the beginning.
Posted 3 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
"And these are the days when our work has come asunder
And these are the days when we look for something other"

— U2, Lemon
Posted 3 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
reminded me that i like numb on this album
Posted 3 years ago by dischuckin    [ Reply ]
Their greatest artistic achievement, this album and song
Posted 3 years ago by aonley    [ Reply ]
I sure wouldn't encourage U2 by playing this
Posted 3 years ago by bullshipped    [ Reply ]
 mbop wrote:
leeeemmmmmmooooooonnnnn
Makes me think 'Sandi Toksvig has a son' (apologies to Elton & Bernie, and the rest of you!).

Posted 4 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
 aelfheld wrote:
Too many notes.
 '... but not necessarily in the right order' (kudos to Eric Morecambe).

Posted 4 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
Bin absolut kein U2 Fan, aber dieser Song gefällt mir tatsächlich, ich geb ihm eine 6.

Greetings from Bavaria to all the listerners outside. Stay safe
Posted 4 years ago by ger-man    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by JiffyPark    [ Reply ]
Different! ...But I like it!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Too many notes.
Posted 4 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
One of their best albums for sure....awesome f/u to Archtung Baby...Pop after this not so much
Posted 4 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
See...this album and Achtung Baby is when I started to like U2...when they stopped trying to be an "important" band and resigned themselves to making good pop songs. 
Posted 4 years ago by argexpat    [ Reply ]
this song is entitled lemon the song is by the band u2 u2 are from dublin dublin is in ireland ireland is an island of the west coast of the island of england england (and ireland) are off the west coast of mainland europe its closest mainland neighbour is fronce us has direct connection with fronce this song came out when my dad was dying of cancer when the line came up that went: "man paints a picture, a moving picture...." i would not be able to stop myself from crying, still cant fig the connection.....
Posted 16 years ago by harold    [ Reply ]
tiggers wrote:
Superb track from a superb album. LOL at all those who get upset because U2 dared to try something different.
I think that it's good to do something different, but try to do it properly. Numb is better and is different. Even The wanderer is a remarkable song. But, Lemon, sorry but not.
Posted 17 years ago by qosforever    [ Reply ]
Superb track from a superb album. LOL at all those who get upset because U2 dared to try something different.
Posted 17 years ago by tiggers    [ Reply ]
Even before I saw the rating of this song I knew it was gonna be low. People normally hate when great bands try different things. Great song from a great album. I actually wish that U2 had stuck with trying new great things than going back to their " roots " like in the last 2 albums. saludos P.
Posted 17 years ago by paloeguevo    [ Reply ]
U2 worst single ever!!!
Posted 17 years ago by qosforever    [ Reply ]
Morrissey called....And then hung up in disgust.
Posted 17 years ago by CafeRacer    [ Reply ]
mamerjamer wrote:
Is that Bono or Adam Sandler singing? LMAO!!!!!!!!
Bwuahahah now I cant quit picturing Sandler up on stage, in tight leather pants and big shades, running around with the wedding singer perm
Posted 17 years ago by jenakle    [ Reply ]
Bono does not do a good falsetto. Stick to what you're good at, matey.
Posted 17 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
A huge 9. I frickin' LOVE this song!!
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
This album was one of the best tests to separate the true U2 fans from the ones who were just there for the accessible (read: joshua tree) stuff. it takes some serious guts for a band to experiment like this and kiss nostalgia goodbye. here is a band who does not live in the past, despite many of their biggest fans being stuck in decades gone by.
Taking a stab at it, I would say that their sound just changed according to their influences. Early U2 was very much a British/Irish sound, but JT and R&H were VERY American. Pop, etc., went European...especially Amsterdam, Germany, Belgium, etc. Nowadays, I don't know what the influence is. U2 has been boring me for several years now. Pity, I used to be a HUGE fan.
Posted 17 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
uote="nalle wrote:
A solid 1
what the h#ll???
Posted 17 years ago by fuace    [ Reply ]
INXS covers the Talking Heads?
Posted 17 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
Interesting comments. I find this a lot more palatable than typical U2. Not a fan.
Posted 17 years ago by karen    [ Reply ]
RobK wrote:
I remember feeling somewhat thrown for a loop by this whole album when it came out, but I did like it. And that feeling goes double for this particular song. I knew it was a very weird sound for U2 and definitely qualified as 'experimental'. There was always something very catchy about it to me.
Ditto. POP was a fairly weak album but despite seeming "out there" when it was released ZOOROPA has many little treasures. The first time I hard disco/falsetto U2 I didn't know what to make of this but, more than a decade later, it stands as a rather daring and bold song. It's not their best but it has a sweet groove and it's hard to slam this song, say Bono can't sing and talk about how annoying U2's self-importance is while listening to it. Someone will anyway...
Posted 17 years ago by TJOpootertoot    [ Reply ]
nalle wrote:
A solid 1
No, but a good 3. U2: WTF happened, dudes? This is boring.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
A solid 1
Posted 17 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
I remember feeling somewhat thrown for a loop by this whole album when it came out, but I did like it. And that feeling goes double for this particular song. I knew it was a very weird sound for U2 and definitely qualified as 'experimental'. There was always something very catchy about it to me.
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
I appreciate the experimentation, but I'm still not crazy about it. It's alright...
Posted 17 years ago by tinybubbles    [ Reply ]
Cake, and now lemons!
Posted 17 years ago by skdenfeld    [ Reply ]
I always liked this one- memories of walking around high school halls singing "lemo-on" in a faux-Bono falsetto...
Posted 17 years ago by accordionista    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
This album was one of the best tests to separate the true U2 fans from the ones who were just there for the accessible (read: joshua tree) stuff. it takes some serious guts for a band to experiment like this and kiss nostalgia goodbye. here is a band who does not live in the past, despite many of their biggest fans being stuck in decades gone by.
I think I got an "F" on the test."> Though I do indulge in a good falsetto when no one's home.
Posted 17 years ago by rascal420    [ Reply ]
I really like this song. It's not the "typical" U2 sound, which can get repetitive.
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
mamerjamer wrote:
Is that Bono or Adam Sandler singing? LMAO!!!!!!!!
good one!
Posted 17 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
I like the line about man melting sand to see the world outside. Not sure why...maybe cause you rarely hear about the base mechanics of making windows?
Posted 17 years ago by FilmSurgeon    [ Reply ]
This album was one of the best tests to separate the true U2 fans from the ones who were just there for the accessible (read: joshua tree) stuff. it takes some serious guts for a band to experiment like this and kiss nostalgia goodbye. here is a band who does not live in the past, despite many of their biggest fans being stuck in decades gone by.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
Is that Bono or Adam Sandler singing? LMAO!!!!!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by mamerjamer    [ Reply ]
exciter76 wrote:
I remember zooropa was a very strange xperiment when U2's were in the middle of the zoo tv tour.... recorded during the breaks of the tour, in a couple of months in the 1993's spring... I've always thought that this album contained a lot of great and even less great ideas.... some great stuff (music + lyrics) and some approximate songs... lemon was in my opinion one of the best episodes.... musically speaking... great guitar treatments, a very good groovy rithm, great lyrics... and a superb "Eno's touch" on the middle synths (always loved that growing and growing synth scale...till the refrain reprise)
really well said..
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
I think this is the first album to receive a grammy for "Best Alternative Music" or something like, and I remember the collective gasp in the room when Bono accepted on public tv saying thank you and that "we will continue to fok op the mainstream." Although this album is overall very alternative, I think "Stay, Faraway so close" is one of U2's best songs - ever. The title track also kicks goodly amts of ass...
Posted 17 years ago by MadPercolator    [ Reply ]
Another song about Bono's mom. Awesome tune nonetheless.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
mistake in judgment
Posted 17 years ago by sutcliff    [ Reply ]
I think this came out at a time when U2 and REM were re-inventing themselves with every album (Monster came out in 1994). I liked Zooropa, even though it was quite a departure for U2.
Posted 17 years ago by moonbat    [ Reply ]
Interesting to hear this...I have to say though, this is the album where they started to loose me. One of their weaker songs, and what's that cover art?
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Ah, lemon.
Posted 17 years ago by Boodah    [ Reply ]
I'm generally fed up with U2 - the heros of my youth... But this song is the worst they ever came up with...
Posted 17 years ago by mogwei85    [ Reply ]
While I generally love U2, I have to say that this particular song is a running joke between my friends and I. This song is horrible. To make fun of one another we simply repeat the annoying chorus of "Lemon". Just plain terrible. Almost sounds like the Fine Young Cannibals trying to sing U2.
Posted 17 years ago by Land_Shark    [ Reply ]
I almost want to give them a point for being so frankly honest in naming this song but no
Posted 17 years ago by pret-a-porter    [ Reply ]
bokey wrote:
I was wondering whatever happened to Roland Gift.Bono ate him.
Posted 17 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
Arty and nice...Adams bass is whaaaaaa!
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
I've always loved it. Especially all its musical facets and the piano part. Midnight ... is where the day begins
Posted 17 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
bono does prince. i dig u2 but this song is a lemon.
Posted 17 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
I was wondering whatever happened to Roland Gift. Bono ate him.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Love U2 but sometimes Bono just needs to be slapped!
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I remember zooropa was a very strange xperiment when U2's were in the middle of the zoo tv tour.... recorded during the breaks of the tour, in a couple of months in the 1993's spring... I've always thought that this album contained a lot of great and even less great ideas.... some great stuff (music + lyrics) and some approximate songs... lemon was in my opinion one of the best episodes.... musically speaking... great guitar treatments, a very good groovy rithm, great lyrics... and a superb "Eno's touch" on the middle synths (always loved that growing and growing synth scale...till the refrain reprise)
Posted 17 years ago by exciter76    [ Reply ]
sahlman wrote:
great song! great album! much overlooked.
Yes, and under-rated too. Love the song with Johnny Cash.
Posted 18 years ago by racerx    [ Reply ]
Has a Brian Ferry styling when singing harmonies. I like it again.
Posted 18 years ago by greatfulted    [ Reply ]
I was surprised to hear these vocals and then find out it's U2. Bizarre.
Posted 18 years ago by auburntigerrich    [ Reply ]
An oft-overlooked U2 gem, FYC analogy and all.
Posted 18 years ago by catrip    [ Reply ]
Profound lyrics all over this album. Love It!
Posted 18 years ago by Ibis99    [ Reply ]
leeeemmmmmmooooooonnnnn
Posted 18 years ago by mbop    [ Reply ]
great song! great album! much overlooked.
Posted 18 years ago by sahlman    [ Reply ]
The falsetto reminds me of the Fine Young Canibals singing "She Drives Me Crazy". Not a great U2 tune IMO.
Posted 18 years ago by thatch    [ Reply ]
I always thought that the really high singing on a lot of U2 songs, including this one, was done by The Edge. Haven't seen them do this live, so can't say what happens exactly.
Posted 18 years ago by keymaster    [ Reply ]
I remember people not thinking as highly of this album, and I didn't take any note of this song. But it has some resonance with me now which I don't understand. I like it. Can music come of age? There's no accounting for taste.
Posted 18 years ago by dingomuse    [ Reply ]
is david bryne on this?
Posted 18 years ago by MCKY    [ Reply ]
This is a great album, all you naysayers!
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
AWESOME! I haven't heard this song in so long! I love it!!!!
Posted 18 years ago by amandamustdance    [ Reply ]
I owned the album for a few years as I was very much into U2 in the early 90's. This was a bit of a wacky album but Lemon is one of the songs I really liked. Dig the falcetto singing from Bono here, and the jiggly tempo.
Posted 18 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Brillant!!
Posted 18 years ago by savoyard    [ Reply ]
U Pooh,...they stink.
Posted 18 years ago by hitz    [ Reply ]
Wow...never heard this (or much of anything from this era of U2 tunes), but this is really cool! I guess I'll have to check out more.
Posted 18 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
Yup it's a lemon. Bono sounds like he's trying to do a Fine Young Cannibals voice
Posted 18 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
Hated it but... I had never heard it before and that is why I LOVE RP!! Mix it up! Thanks, Bill!
Posted 18 years ago by DJHill    [ Reply ]
Black_Kettle wrote:
Yeah right! Squeeze that lemon!
Until the juice runs down my leg.
Posted 18 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
Didn't really care for this album when it was new and was given to me as a gift. But now I realize, unlike most bands, I really like the newer stuff better than the old Joshua Tree stuff. I think they matured out of a mold and starting doing more experimental stuff with their talent even though it's super "poppy".
Posted 18 years ago by JGD    [ Reply ]
Aptly named song.
Posted 18 years ago by underarmor    [ Reply ]
A man makes a picture A moving picture Through the light projected He can see himself up close A man captures colour A man likes to stare He turns his money into light to look for her I read somewhere that this song was inspired by Bono seeing a home movie of his mom (looking beautiful while wearing a yellow dress). She passed away when he was 9 - lots of his songs are about the longing of this wee lad for his ma.
Posted 18 years ago by squidish    [ Reply ]
RP repeatedly surprises me. This is another one of those songs that I heard on the radio back in the day and didn't ever expect to hear again. Thanks for digging in the vault! -David
Posted 18 years ago by jone_ston    [ Reply ]
I'm a U2 fan, but this song is very annoying IMHO.
Posted 18 years ago by MickMan    [ Reply ]
It reminds me very much of the Stones' early eighties answer to contemporary dance music Emotional Rescue. Especially because of Jagger's falsetto in that song. Also just like the Stones, U2 manages to keep in touch with their original sound, though maybe not that convincing, because the Stones were more a band to dance to from the beginning.
Posted 18 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by hurrah    [ Reply ]
rgio wrote:
The difference between the two albums you reference is that even the band will confess that Zooropa was a rushed, below average outting. I've seen them state during interviews that they didn't really bring their best to that album...versus Achtung that was done during a lot of in-fighting and worries that the band was going to split.
Actually, Zooropa was originally intended to be a 5-track EP, but they padded it with filler stuff to make it album-length. And it shows. Not sure why Bill is resurrecting this track, better to let it rot in the vault. Dirty Day or The First Time would be much better picks.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
wonderunit wrote:
This is a relic from Bono's failed "Mr. Mephisto" experiment. You are defying the laws of nature by trying to revive it, Bill. Let it decompose in peace.
ditto. this song doth majorly sucketh the big one!
Posted 18 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
Mary_Read wrote:
I think Zooropa and Achtung baby were great albums! I like that U2 actually stretched themselves creatively. It was pretty risky, and I think they were very successful with their experiments. I like it as much now as I did then.
The difference between the two albums you reference is that even the band will confess that Zooropa was a rushed, below average outting. I've seen them state during interviews that they didn't really bring their best to that album...versus Achtung that was done during a lot of in-fighting and worries that the band was going to split. That said, Lemon has some sort of hook, beat, whatever that I like.
Posted 18 years ago by rgio    [ Reply ]
seems like there's always two U2 camps; you're either the Joshua Tree type or the Achtung Baby type. Personally, I like it all although i think they've kind of lost the thread a bit after "Pop" (certainly their must under rated and least recognized attempt). For me, "Lemon" is one of the strongest tracks from "Zooropa". I'd sure like to see something as sonically experimental from them on thier next effort. ATYCLB and HTDAAB were real snoozers. Only thing that keeps me interested is that they're just unmatched live...
Posted 18 years ago by stevehill    [ Reply ]
I think Zooropa and Achtung baby were great albums! I like that U2 actually stretched themselves creatively. It was pretty risky, and I think they were very successful with their experiments. I like it as much now as I did then.
Posted 18 years ago by Mary_Read    [ Reply ]
I ranked this song a 6 because I always think of my sister's ranting about how "pretensious bullshit like this" is the reason she can't stand groups like U2, REM, Dave Matthews Band (she also has a bee in her bonnet about that "silly bouncy dance" she says Dave does) or other similar groups. I'm not doing her rant justice, but it's quite funny. I smile every time I hear this song and think of her.
Posted 18 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
milarupa wrote:
Ant the ridiculous falsetto is the only time in his whole fucking career that Bono has sounded actually fragile or heartbroken (and desperately trying to conceal it).
IF you're going to attempt falsetto, you best sound at least remotely like Roy Orbison. This almost sounds like a Adam Sandler voice. And I hate the canned-like sound of the music.
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Call me narrow minded, but I still prefer their older stuff better..The early political songs were inspiring.
Posted 18 years ago by ndfan75    [ Reply ]
Best. U2 song. Ever. Well above any other. Or should I say: best Brian Eno song ever? I hope this explains my love for the song. No U2 song sounds so much Eno like this one. Ant the ridiculous falsetto is the only time in his whole fucking career that Bono has sounded actually fragile or heartbroken (and desperately trying to conceal it).
Posted 18 years ago by milarupa    [ Reply ]
kevinc wrote:
Dirty Days, Zooropa, Daddy's Gonna Pay for your Crashed Car and The Wanderer are all high on my list, but I like it all except for Numb and Babyface.
Actually, those are some of my least favorite tracks on the album.. I think Stay (Far Away, So Close!), Numb, and Lemon pull the album together. Lemon is actually one of my favorite U2 tunes, and I'm a pretty hardcare fan.
Posted 18 years ago by ElleGlamour    [ Reply ]
DownHomeGirl wrote:
Lots of people,even a lot of hardcore u2 fans, really don't like zooropa, but it's one of my favorites...
Zooropa was a good album, but Lemon wasn't a favorite (though the bad yard mix was great) and Baby Face was absolute crap. But the title track, Daddy, Some Days are better than Others Stay, Dirty Day and the Wanderer make this album a keeper. And when you consider tracks like Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me came out of these sessions and that this was recorded in less than 6months, I think it's one of the bands most Inspired moments.
Posted 20 years ago by kevinc    [ Reply ]
Lots of people,even a lot of hardcore u2 fans, really don't like zooropa, but it's one of my favorites...
Posted 21 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
U2 is one of my favourite bands, but this song is just not doing it for me... isn\'t there a better U2 song you could replace this with Bill?
Posted 21 years ago by jlind    [ Reply ]
This is a relic from Bono\'s failed \"Mr. Mephisto\" experiment. You are defying the laws of nature by trying to revive it, Bill. Let it decompose in peace.
Posted 21 years ago by wonderunit    [ Reply ]
reminds me of: \'squeeze my lemon until the juice runs down my leg..\' Led Zeppelin...
Posted 21 years ago by obzidian    [ Reply ]
one of my favorite U2 songs, hands down! glad to hear it again.
Posted 22 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Not one of U2\'s better efforts. I really liked their last CD... \"All you can...\" They\'ve still got it
Posted 22 years ago by Heathen    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by kernel_h4cK3R: One of the best songs from the Zooropa record.
Thanks for the info. I'll buy something else instead. Like maybe upgrading my copy of Joshua Tree to CD.
Posted 22 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
stinks....on ice...
Posted 22 years ago by schmibo    [ Reply ]
This really sucks. The vocals remind me of Mick Jagger and the gross hi-pitched affected voice of his live stuff that we know and *love* here on RP.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
The only good U2 is the now-infamous Negativland covers. Bono must go!
Posted 22 years ago by Diatribe    [ Reply ]
Prefer the Bad Yard club mix. A bit darker sound to that one. That said, feel free to play more from Zooropa. Dirty Days, Zooropa, Daddy's Gonna Pay for your Crashed Car and The Wanderer are all high on my list, but I like it all except for Numb and Babyface.
Posted 22 years ago by kevinc    [ Reply ]