Gone

Bono explained the song's meaning in the book U2 by U2: "'Gone' is the portrait of the young man as a rock star, trying to cut himself free from responsibilities and just enjoy the ride, the suit of lights, fame. 'You change your name, well that's okay, it's necessary. And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway.' But I think what this album tells you is that some things you can't leave behind. That's really it. It's like the university professor who just can't dance. Deep down we weren't as shallow as we'd like."

On their 2001 Elevation tour, Bono would jokingly say at the end of the song, "that was a song about self-mutilation, torture, and mortality, all kinds of confused things that happen to people in rock bands."

In a VH1 special for the Greatest Hits 1990-2000 album, there is a clip of Bono saying "that song is a reason to go and play live."