Every Breaking Wave

U2's 'Every Breaking Wave' is a poignant song that delves into the themes of love, loss, and the struggle against life's relentless challenges. The lyrics metaphorically use the imagery of the ocean and its waves to represent the ups and downs of life and relationships. The song suggests a sense of inevitability, much like the waves that continuously break on the shore, symbolizing the repetitive nature of human experiences and the cycles of hope and disappointment.

The song's narrator reflects on the nature of risk and the acceptance of loss, as seen in the lines 'And every gambler knows that to lose / Is what you're really there for.' This acceptance of defeat is further emphasized with the phrase 'we’re in love with defeat,' indicating a resignation to the struggles faced. However, there's also a question posed about whether it's time to stop fighting against the inevitable ('Are we ready to be swept off our feet / And stop chasing / Every breaking wave'). This could be interpreted as a call to surrender to the forces larger than oneself, or perhaps to stop engaging in futile efforts.

The song also touches on the theme of separation and the potential end of a relationship ('If you go your way and I go mine'). The repeated questioning of 'Are we so helpless against the tide?' suggests a feeling of powerlessness in the face of life's greater forces, much like sailors at the mercy of the sea. The song ends on a note of resignation but also of understanding, acknowledging the shared experience of fear and the difficulty of beginning something when the fear of its end is so strong ('We know that we fear to win / And so we end before we begin').