This song can be controversial, and is largely open to interpretation. When I heard it recently, it impacted me because I heard it as a sort of question and answer: a cry to Jesus, and his reply. It seemed I was bemoaning the depravity of this world and he was telling me to wake up. We are spiritually dead until we’ve been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus told the Jairus’ daughter to wake up, he is still calling the same to his chosen. It seemed also to me that the bridge, the “Listen…” lines were a charge to me. Stop asking where Jesus is in the struggle and realize that as a member of his body, he is in me and where he is is where I go. When I ask, “where were you?” the reply comes back “where you were”.
Wake Up Dead Man – U2
Jesus, Jesus help me
I’m alone in this world
And a #&%$!@ up world it is too
Tell me, tell me the story
The one about eternity
And the way it’s all gonna be
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Jesus, I’m waiting here boss
I know you’re looking out for us
But maybe your hands aren’t free
Your father, He made the world in seven
He’s in charge of heaven
Will you put in a word in for me
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Listen to your words they’ll tell you what to do
Listen over the rhythm that’s confusing you
Listen to the reed in the saxophone
Listen over the hum of the radio
Listen over sounds of blades in rotation
Listen through the traffic and circulation
Listen as hope and peace try to rhyme
Listen over marching bands playing out their time
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Jesus, were you just around the corner
Did You think to try and warn her
Or are you working on something new
If there’s an order in all of this disorder
Is it like a tape recorder
Can we rewind it just once more
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man
