Exit Lyrics

[Verse 1]
You know he got the cure
You know he went astray
He used to stay awake
To drive the dreams he had away
He wanted to believe
In the hands of love

[Verse 2]
His head, it felt heavy
As he cut across the land
A dog started cryin'
Like a broken-hearted man
At the howling wind
At the howling wind

[Chorus]
He went deeper into black
Deeper into white
He could see the stars shine
Like nails in the night
He felt the healing
Healing, healing, healing hands of love
Like the stars shiny, shiny from above
A hand in the pocket
Finger on the steel
The pistol weighed heavy
And his heart he could feel was beating
Beating, beating, beating
Oh, my love, oh, my love
Oh, my love, oh, my love
[Post-Chorus]
My love
So hands that build
Can also pull down

The hands of love

[Instrumental]

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About

Genius Annotation

“Exit” was developed from a lengthy jam that was recorded in a single take and edited down to a shorter arrangement.

The lyrics, which portray the mind of a serial killer, were inspired by lead singer Bono’s reading of Norman Mailer’s 1980 novel ‘The Executioner’s Song,’ and other related works.

In his trial for the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer, Robert John Bardo used “Exit” as part of his defence, claiming the song had influenced his actions.

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