The song is about someone who becomes disillusioned with the world, where it’s headed and urban life, so turns to drugs.
[Intro]
As the fuel goes down
Stops the car
Puts her feet outside in the rain
She's back on the machine
But it's sweet so far away
[Verse 1]
She feels the ground is giving way
But she thinks we're better off that way
"The more you take, the less you feel
The less you know, the more you believe
The more you have, the more it takes today"
[Chorus]
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
Well, she don't care what it's worth
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
[Verse 2]
She's not waiting on a saviour to come
She's at the bus stop
With the News Of The World
And the sun, sun, here it comes
She's not waiting for anyone
[Chorus]
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
Well, she don't care what it's worth
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
[Bridge]
(Clock tells her that time is slipping)
Slipping away
(Tear drop sunshine)
Slip slide
(Two sides to one feels missing)
Too many
(Something she might be missing)
Slipping away
(The world turns and we get dizzy)
The world turns and we get dizzy
(Spinning for you the way it's spinning for me)
Slipping away
[Verse 3]
She's living, living next week now
You know she's gonna pay you back somehow
She hasn't been to bed in a week
She'll be dead soon, then she'll sleep
[Chorus]
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
You gotta give it away (You gotta give it away)
She already knows it hurts
She's living like it's the last night on earth
The last night on earth
Last night on earth
Last night
Last Night on Earth was written by Bono & The Edge (Guitarist) & Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr..
Last Night on Earth was produced by Flood.
U2 released Last Night on Earth on Mon Mar 03 1997.