With regard to the place Bono was referring to in the song, he said, "I'm not sure, really, about that.

And he wondered if this were the tranquility referred to in the song.

The seven headed beast with 10 horns, which is referred to many times in the song, is the anti-Christ.

This part of the land of Israel is referred to in the song as "The East of the river".

There has been some speculation on who Dylan is referring to in the song.

Johnstone also said the original cherry trees referred to in the song had been removed due to disease but they would be replaced.

Although "Peke" usually refers to Pekingese, in the song it seems to refer to a variety of different types of dogs.

Events referred to in the song include (in order of appearance):

The flat country referred to in the song is West Flanders, the region in Belgium from which his family originated.

In the American rendition of the song, the young man referred to in the song chooses the army.