Lyrics: U2 > Discography > Lyrics > Walk On
Dedicated to Burmese academic turned politician Aung San Suu Kyi, “Walk On” reflects on steadfastness and sacrifice, urging listeners toward a life of spiritual integrity. The song’s repeated refrain, “Walk on, walk on,” calls to perseverance and faith, echoing biblical exhortations such as Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The lyrics “And if your glass heart should crack / And for a second you turn back / Oh no, be strong” align with Jesus’ words in Luke 9:62: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” This theme of not turning back is reinforced by Genesis 19:26, where Lot’s wife’s fatal glance backward symbolizes longing for a sinful past.
The call to “leave it behind / You’ve got to leave it behind” resonates with the teachings of Jesus about the need to forsake earthly possessions for spiritual gain, as in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Enduring values cannot be “stolen” or “bought,” mirroring the Pauline emphasis on spiritual rather than material wealth, as Bono notes in “U2 by U2”: “It’s a song about nobility and personal sacrifice, about doing what’s right even when your heart says otherwise… Whatever it is that you want more than love, it has to go.”
Enduring through suffering and maintaining faith is conveyed in the lyrics’ reflection on personal pain and societal challenges, much like the encouragement in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Finally, the journey toward an unseen but deeply believed-in destination captures the faith described in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This line from the song about a place “none of us has been” that “has to be believed to be seen” underscores the biblical concept of faith as a journey towards an unseen destination, the spiritual journey each believer undertakes.
In this way, “Walk On” draws on biblical teachings for its message of resilience, sacrifice, and hope in the pursuit of spiritual and ethical ideals, urging listeners to go beyond worldly concerns in favor of eternal values. This blend of biblical allusion and contemporary context underscores the song’s potent message of faith and perseverance in the face of worldly trials and tribulations.