U2 - The Crystal Ballroom Lyrics






Life begins with the first glance
The first kiss and the first dance
All of us are wondering why we're here
In the crystal ballroom underneath the chandelier

Wet the glass until the glasses sing
We punish our hearts 'til the heart bells ring
Cos' where we come from we're not always kind
The human soul is what love leaves behind

We're the ghosts of love and we haunt this place
We're the ghosts of love in every face
In the ballroom of the crystal light
Everyone is here with me tonight
Every...one.. But you

Our first chance is their last dance
Our life is shaped by another's hands
Buttoning and unbuttoning a cold cold dress
Stopping and unstopping every cold caress

Born for bliss born for this
Every human life begins with a kiss
A kiss by every kind of possibility
And everyone is here tonight with me

We're the ghosts of love and we haunt this place
We're the ghosts of love in every face
In the ballroom of the crystal light
Everyone is here with me tonight
Every...one.. But you





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U2 The Crystal Ballroom Comments
  1. R.... L....

    Should have been the first single of Songs of Innocence, not that crap of miracle joey ramone.

  2. A.... R....

    Edge you weapon.😏

  3. A.... P....

    Sing it here :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-hAJgWwY2o Follow me....I will Follow!!!!!

  4. G.... 8....

    "Every human life begins with a kiss" and ends with a Godless referendum, eh Bono?

  5. V.... S....

    Questa canzone ha il potere di far visualizzare nella propria mente, durante l'ascolto, le persone a noi care che danzano in una pista da ballo... 😍

  6. B.... H....

    Love the guitar solo...man this song is their best in years!

  7. k.... ....

    Nice pictures of the young U2. Thanks for sharing

  8. I.... E....

    That's why u2 is the biggest band in the World

  9. B.... N....

    2020???

  10. g.... g....

    che meraviglia!

  11. W.... F....

    ooh so beautiful song! Love it!

  12. B.... 6....

    Sounds like The Black Keys.

    B.... 6....

    It, well, it really does not.

  13. t.... ....

    that guitar though... !!

  14. H.... A....

    What terrible music

    H.... A....

    Each to their own; I quite like it.

  15. W.... H....

    One the BEST U2 songs EVER!! and it went under the radar. #SuchAwaistedGem

    W.... H....

    Agreed.

  16. P.... R....

    It doesn't sound at ALL like they usually sound, but that said, I like it.

  17. A.... V....

    The Crystal Ballroom and Love Comes Tumbling are two of the best songs that U2 has ever recorded, and both were left off the main album at the time. Weird.

    A.... V....

    Agreed! Also, Book Of Your Heart is better than 50% of SOE, and The Ground Beneath Her Feet is better than 70% of ATYCLB. Many of their b-sides and bonus tracks are better than whole bands' discographies!!

  18. J.... S....

    i actually haven't listened to SOI in a long while. the b sides from this album are top notch. bravo to danger mouse. not so much for the producer in One Direction.

  19. J.... D....

    Underrated gem

  20. A.... M....

    Em alguns momentos a música faz lembrar the Clash

  21. a.... s....

    tutta l'infanzia!

  22. W.... H....

    Born for BLISS
    Born for THIS
    Every human life begins with a KISS

  23. O.... M....

    I really love this track. I just dont understand how people says u2 dosnt has it any more.

    O.... M....

    Exactly.  They just keep getting better as far as I'm concerned.  This song is   ABSOLUTELY   BRILLIANT!!!!!

  24. M.... M....

    The guitar sounds like Clash.

  25. M.... P....

    The Crystal Ballroom (especially the 12" version) is HANDS-DOWN the BEST song from the Songs of Innocence era. It should have been on the album, along with Lucifer's Hands, Invisible, and This Is (even though it's a cover song, it's awesome!). What were they thinking?!!

    My version of SOI goes like this:
    1. The Miracle
    2. Lucifer's Hands
    3. Invisible (long version)
    4. Every Breaking Wave
    5. Song For Someone
    6. Volcano
    7. The Crystal Ballroom (long version)
    8. Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
    9. Iris
    10. This Is
    11. The Troubles
    ...and it has the original album cover :)
    The out-takes are:
    12. Ordinary Love
    13. Cedarwood Road (acoustic version)
    14. California
    15. Raised By Wolves
    16. This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now

    M.... P....

    Crystal Ballroom is one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE U2 SONGS of any era, but I did not know it was a cover song.
    Who are they covering?  Do you know?

    M.... P....

    Oh sorry, I was referring to the song "This Is" as a cover song U2 did in 2013, which I really like as well :)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXlsbEM9-CM

    M.... P....

    Those 5 outtakes are some of the best on the album

  26. F.... T....

    Pause this. Mute the sound. Open a new tab, then in the new tab, come
    back to YouTube to find The Crystal Ballroom. Play it & then come
    back here and unpause this video & watch with The Crystal Ballroom
    playing in the background. You're welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eklGV0wZ5IA

    F.... T....

    What's the point? Have they blocked my video's audio?

    F.... T....

    The idea is to watch the DISCOTHEQUE video, while listening to the CRYSTAL BALL ROOM song.
    It almost looks as though the video have been made for this song.  I do stuff like this all the time.

  27. D.... ....

    Is this a track from their shelved Dance album they were making before SOI? I like it!

    D.... ....

    DerKommissar it was included in the deluxe edition of SOI. Which writing/recording session(s) it comes from only the band will know, but of course Crystal Ballroom's sound surely fits the bil of coming from these sessions indeed

  28. G.... M....

    U2 VERY NICE , AWESOME AND AMAZING ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

  29. d.... ....

    I can't believe they managed to write a song worse than Stand Up Comedy, but they did. They fucking did. Whatever they were thinking writing this song, I'm so grateful they came to their senses and left it out of the album. And I thought Volcano was somewhat weak. My god.

    d.... ....

    Disagree with your comment. This song is excellent however you might be right when you suggest that it does not fit with the SOI album.

    d.... ....

    I respectfully disagree. this song is sooooo not U2, thats why it's f..... awesome.

  30. T.... I....

    Why can't they just make an album with 10 or 11 songs like this? This was my favourite u2. Their original punk sound. Give us a punk album again please!

  31. A.... R....

    I hear a but o The Clash.

  32. M.... W....

    The Rolling Stones wish they had this piece for their new album -- love the groove, bass line and guitar.

  33. 4.... ....

    It's so amazing how these four guys have stuck together for so long and through so much

    4.... ....

    @Adrián L. Catholic "raised a Catholic"? what relevance has that? I was raised Catholic also
    why do you mention that?

    Apart from "Endless" references to the Bible in U2's lyrics Bono talks freely about his Christian faith.

    He even spoke to Focus’ president Jim Daly about how much he liked King David and said he believes that “Jesus was, you know, the Son of God.”

    In another interview he articulated a view of the atonement of Jesus: “The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death.”

    4.... ....

    "The big secret is they are evangelical Christians".
    Bono converted in his 30´s, so he has already a career in music, your comment did not make sense.

    4.... ....

    @Adrián L. The fact they are Christians is largely unknown by most perhaps secret is too strong a word. But I gave this as a possible reason for their longevity. I first seen U2 in 1979 in the Ulster Hall Belfast with about 300 others and they couldn't even play properly. I have since seen them live all over the world.
    But for you to say that Bono was brought up a Catholic is quite absurd, and I must now view all your remarks in this context.
    Bono's Mother was a Protestant and although his father was Catholic he was brought up a protestant. His father would wait for his family outside the protestant church on a Sunday Night. I believe it was their faith which bonded them early on but I'm guessing its more convenient for PR reasons to pretend otherwise.

    4.... ....

    Almost all other bands from their time are now feel indifferent or worse, dysfunctional today. I love the band because they stuck together for so long.

    4.... ....

    spacehopperballs Adam isn't a Christian nor really religious. Though I'm not sure what his beliefs are now.

  34. 4.... ....

    And so...................the big question...why the hell isn't this gem on the f***** album!??! And I mean the real album, not as a bonus song.

    4.... ....

    Probably because it doesn't really mesh well with the rest of the album..

  35. R.... 0....

    Why is it saying video not available I was just listening to it ffs!!!

  36. N.... ....

    Holy crap read the description that is so sad

    N.... ....

    +Nate Hamilton yeah, that's why we all love the song.

    N.... ....

    +Nate Hamilton yeah...but the song is amazing.

  37. G.... J....

    Very good

  38. J.... L....

    It is a great song.
    Reminds me of Kraftwerk meets Roxy doing Miss You by the Stones.
    A very good thing.

  39. E.... M....

    Crystal Ballroom > The Miracle + Volcano

  40. R.... F....

    For me the best U2 song since a long long time, sounds very 80's, I really hope they will play this song on the next tour

    R.... F....

    In fact it sounds very 70's. Listen to "Love is the drug" by Roxy Music (1975).

  41. A.... K....

    Shades of Roxy's music - Love is the drug, but I don't mind at all! Who'd have thought we'd ever hear a U2 song that we could dance to!

    A.... K....

    I agree about it sounding like Roxy Music (in a good way), but have you ever heard Mysterious Ways??

  42. J.... D....

    They need to play this live...heck they should open with this song!!!

  43. e.... ....

    The chorus is undeniably catchy, but overall just retro cliched B side stuff. Good call leaving it off the A release of the album.

  44. M.... ....

    not the deluxe version   delux version is  7 min  Only on vinyle ! 

  45. S.... G....

    el cristal is glass in spanish. I'm not being clever. 4 I don't feel very clever. I feel pretty cracked myself an the light is shining through. Glass joke. "You won't laugh cause it isn't funny" Quote ketchup joke Pulp Fiction.

  46. t.... m....

    Love this song,U2 are back..!

  47. D.... N....

    great song!

  48. J.... P....

    Just love the chorus.

  49. C.... J....

    Now THIS is a hit! Catchy as hell. Should have been on the album IMO. 

  50. t.... c....

    perfect

  51. D.... �....

    The lyrics are very old school U2, I love it

    D.... �....

    So true.  Almost poetic,which I think Bono always has been....

  52. M.... P....

    Every song has its story.. I love this song.. makes me wanna dance.. inspired by an old place where might ghost of love still there from time to time.. beautiful.. Bono always make good songs.

  53. H.... p....

    Ma quanto è bella questa!!!! già me la vedo in versione dance!!!!
    you are the best!!!

  54. A.... .....

    One of their best songs EVER !!!

  55. M.... M....

    who the hell would give this a thumbs-down?

  56. W.... E....

    Should have been on the Album ....Really good track  and great solo from Edge 

  57. L.... D....

    Love your story. I love this song because it describes every dance hall from the beginning of time. Ghosts of love go on forever.............................. ty for sharing 

  58. w.... ....

    The chorus reminds me of that of LEMON's from Zooropa!

  59. L.... ....

    This is like U2's homage to Roxy Music's 'Love is the Drug'. As good as it is (last 3rd especially) I can see why it didn't make the final cut of the album.

    L.... ....

    I agree, much better than the single they chose about Joey Ramone. I think they always screw up on which singles to pick, last album they picked the worst song on the album in my opinion "Get On Your Boots". Ugh.

  60. G.... M....

    MUY BUENA CANCIÓN...GRAN DISCO!

  61. s.... ....

    As a lifelong fan I can tell you exactly why U2's b-sides are better than most band's best work. For starters, if you have a lot of material you can't put everything on the album. So you have to make hard decisions.  That part is understandable.  What I'm not crazy about (and this is criticism from a diehard fan) is that often, the b-sides reflect the direction the band wanted to go before backing out at the last minute and conforming the album to what they think will be more accepted.  Going way back to J. Swallow, Yoshino Blossom, Walk to the Water, North and South of the River, Sweetest Thing, Luminous Times, Love You Like Mad, Love Comes Tumbling, Electrical Storm, Lady with the Spinning Head etc etc etc and now Crystal Ballroom.  They have nothing left to prove.  Their back catalogue is bigger than anyones.  So take more chances!  Go with your gut!  Don't change at the last minute?  What's the point in being the last band standing that has done more than anyone if you can't take chances?  I love this new material but Crystal Ballroom is as good if not better than anything on it. And it's a B Side.  Ironically, it might very well be the song that got them that 'acceptance' they seem to crave so badly, but to old fans like me seems ridiculous and a turn off.
    .

  62. J.... O....

    This song is just the coolest song I've heard from U2 in years.  It's pure class.  It's got a huge 70's feel about it.  I can picture John Travolta dancing to it.

    J.... O....

    and I can picture Mick Jagger performing it!

    J.... O....

    Deinitely walterygor. Jagger the coolest man in rock.

  63. S.... L....

    One of Edge's best.

  64. B.... A....

    Is it just me or does the guitar at the end sound like Carlos Santana?

    B.... A....

    There's certainly a dash of that in this song....sure!

  65. L.... P....

    Horrible... Too much pop :(

  66. k.... ....

    this song sucks like all the other new songs

    k.... ....

    fck urself

    k.... ....

    @Budak Papar Truth hurts?

    k.... ....

    I see you're still that pathetic human being seeking validation and attention from people on youtube. Man you life must be awfully sad

  67. B.... ....

    I want this to be the highlight of the next tour. Right when the music starts, the world's biggest disco ball drops from the center of the arena, as strobe lights transform the floor into the ultimate dance floor, and then you see everyone who has floor seats doing Saturday Night Fever moves in unison, as those who have upper seats form a massive conga line that goes around the whole arena.. & then so the party just don't stop, it's followed up immediately by Discotheque. Yeeeaaahhh...

    B.... ....

    BeneathTheNoise so eloquently written. Thank you.

  68. C.... C....

    This sounds so much like their early material. They NEED to release this as a single! It would get them back on the charts finally.

    C.... C....

    It sucks really bad

  69. S.... K....

    jusinBiebr

  70. E.... D....

    U2, like Oasis, enjoy a plethora of treasure with their B-sides almost to the point where the associated album may have been better with these B-sides included as A-sides.  This is a great song and this is coming from a lifelong U2 fan (from Boy) who gave up after ATYCLB.

    E.... D....

    How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was a waste, I'll agree, but No Line on the Horizon was decent.

  71. t.... ....

    Why is it that the B-sides to this album are just far infinitely better than the actual album tracks? Every Breaking Wave would have been better if Ryan Tedder hadn't fucked it up and I don't want to talk about any songs after Iris...they're all bad. And I love U2 but they have lost it. THIS SONG should be a single. 

  72. M.... B....

    Masterpiece!!!!

  73. d.... d....

    OMG  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    It sounds like Michael Jackson`s Billie Jean   . . .  !  !  !

  74. q.... g....

    awesome song

  75. k.... ....

    very joy divisionesque

  76. b.... k....

    This is an outtake from Songs of Innocence?

    b.... k....

    it's on the delux edition of the abum ;)

  77. T.... V....

    solo fantastic music magnificent

  78. T.... ....

    This is my second favorite song from the album. (Only behind Cedarwood Road) I am glad I actually gave the album a chance rather than just deleting it like every other asshole who kept complaining about it.

    T.... ....

    TheTechPoTaToCHIP Is increíble how 70,s - 80,s this track sounds but sounds fresh at the same time.

    T.... ....

    A real favourite for me on this album. "Born for bliss, born for this - every human life begins with a kiss" ❤️❤️❤️

    T.... ....

    GOOD for YOU ToChip!!! It was the smart thing to do!!!

  79. P.... K....

    What A Song!! The BEST U2 Song  In YEARS For Me :-)

  80. R.... M....

    This song should have been the first single and the album opener instead of The Miracle. 

  81. s.... .....

     A U2 song you CAN dance to!

  82. v.... b....

    it's seems like meet a old buddy friend from school ... it's a sweet sensation...

  83. G.... ....

    Simply stated, I believe this song is one of U2's best releases from the *Songs of Innocence* sessions; with one of the most unique, beautiful choruses, & definitely the atmospheric instrumental production is one of U2's most alluring elements of *Crystal Ballroom*, compared to any U2 track ever created. Beautiful song; I love it.
    *Crystal Ballroom* & *Lucifer's Hands* are two fantastic bonus tracks along with the solid 11-track album of *Songs of Innocence* - my favorite record since the *Achtung Baby/Zooropa/& Pop* era of U2's 90's innovation and cultivation of new music; intriguing albums and songs that were incomparable compared to the rest of the 'vanilla'-like artists that were around back then - *Bush*, *Oasis*, *Third-Eye Blind*, & too many bands that I forgot because that is what they were: forgettable.
    Congratulations to U2 for creating & releasing one of their best albums of all time, *Songs of Innocence*, at this late stage in their careers.
    It is a commendable achievement, and a success. I only hope it is properly rewarded & recognized. Even still, if the industry is blind - I at least have the benefit and joy of realizing and listening to music that shapes my mind into pleasurable depths and inspirational modes of thought; and that is priceless, & cannot be measured by awards or sales - only the subjective awe that U2's new album generates within my mind.

    G.... ....

    Invisible is hidden at 6:21 of Track 5 "The Troubles" Disc 2. 

    G.... ....

    Crystal Ballroom is amazing. Don't worry, no mater how many haters there are who say U2 is 'irrelevant' or whatever, they are still making great music and they are still one of the best live acts around. Last tour they sold 7 million tickets.

    G.... ....

    @Scott Hester Last U2 tour....I went twice. :) 

    G.... ....

    Gahan2Vox TOTALLY AGREE

    G.... ....

    Just like best track FAST CARS was left off HTDAAB :)

  84. G.... W....

    Can you download this song, I've got the Album. This song is up there. 

  85. r.... h....

    This would've made a much better single than The Miracle. 

    r.... h....

    +robhartjr1993
    Totally agree....

    r.... h....

    The miracle is still awesome...

    r.... h....

    Dalton Clay Miracle is good but this song has such a groovy swagger to it. It's infectious. I think it might've done a better job at warming up people to the album if they were upset to see it in their iTunes.

    r.... h....

    This song also would hav been a great opener.

    r.... h....

    @Rez not good to put that forced ohhhhs at the beggining of the song. People havent heard or liked the song and edge is forcing through your ass the ohhhhhs.
    Maybe the ooohs for a live version but not this.
    good idea the miracle bad single mix, bad production, bad first single idea
    THis Crystal ballroom is just EPIC. Should have been first single.

  86. K.... O....

    Really nice. Thank you for sharing.

  87. B.... M....

    Ok, this is looping here. FINALLY a guitar solo in a recent album ! Not the best but eh

    B.... M....

    dont recall edge ever being a soloist. I think it was bono that said in essence none of us (u2 members) are particularly good at anything by ourselves but when we do it together it is magical..... or something like that. :)

    B.... M....

    @Bastien Merindol I somehow agree with your point. Edge's recent solos are a bit dull compared to other solists, or even compared with some of his past works (Love Is Blindness live is still his best solo, it breaks my heart everytime. Also Bullet on the Zoo TV Tour, and some of the extended WOWY solos from Lovetown and Zoo TV are magical). I was just pointing out some examples of solos -whether they're great or not- that you might be forgotting for whatever reason ;) 

    PS. Agree about Magnificent, that's a hook that mimics the song's basic melody repeated a few times and played with a slide... But Moment Of Surrender's slide solo is a beautiful, original piece. 

    B.... M....

    @Bastien Merindol I have the same gripe. Almost as big of a gripe as all of their recent albums being mixed like pop, rather than a rock band. Give me more guitar and REAL drums, please.

    B.... M....

    You're right, me.

    B.... M....

    Does Breathe have a good guitar solo in your opinion?

  88. d.... ....

    Wow, reminds me of a mix of classic U2, with some Zooropa style thrown into the Chorus! Very Cool.

  89. R.... w....

    ..Muito bom! sensacional!!
    .....anos 80,   puro!!
    .......uma pena não estar na versão básica do Álbum!!

  90. s.... ....

    The best song of the disc

  91. C.... L....

    Whenever I hear this song, I picture them playing this while young, in the early 80s. It is just fantastic.

    C.... L....

    The song tries to reflect that, so I guess you're doing it right ;) I tried to do the same with a special 1976-1982 photo selection too!!

    C.... L....

    I'm late to this comment but this is actually about Bono talking about the club about where his parents met. What he means by "Everyone's here with me tonight. Everyone but you." is that that he imagines him and the band performing in that club so that his mother can see what became of her son.

    Well I just read the description after typing this lmao.

  92. D.... H....

    Incredible song!

  93. H.... H....

    i love this song and i also love the video!

    H.... H....

    Thank you! I tried to reflect the band's early years feeling (which are reflected on the song) with the video. Enjoy :) 

  94. M.... D....

    notevole!

  95. m.... g....

    beautiful stories from Bono...again... i'm sure that she's been there for him everywhere after her passing...
    p.s. love this song !!!

  96. v.... ....

    A lot of these pictures I've never seen, and I'm a fan of the band

    v.... ....

    I have a pretty big collection :) Thanks.