The song, featured on U2's Rattle and Hum album, showcases the distinctive lyrical prowess of The Edge, who not only penned the words but also delivered the poignant vocals.
Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania, was a British penal colony during the 19th century, infamous for its harsh conditions and the forced transportation of Irish political prisoners. The song’s lyrics are a tribute to John Boyle O'Reilly, an Irish nationalist and Fenian poet who was transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1867 for his involvement with the Fenian Brotherhood, a group fighting for Irish independence. O’Reilly’s eventual escape and subsequent advocacy for Irish and Aboriginal rights make him a powerful symbol of resilience against colonial oppression.
The opening lines, “Hold me now, oh hold me now / Till this hour has gone around,” capture the yearning and despair of exile, as well as the sense of defiance that permeates the song. The narrative voice reflects not only O’Reilly’s plight but the broader experience of those marginalized and displaced by imperial systems.
Van Diemen’s Land” explores exile as both a physical and emotional state. The recurring plea for solidarity—“Hold me now”—underscores the loneliness of displacement and the need for connection amidst suffering. This resonates on a universal level, extending beyond the specific historical context to touch on the plight of refugees, prisoners, and the dispossessed throughout history.
The lyrics also invoke the timeless struggle against injustice, with the line “Still the gunman rules and the widow’s weep” pointing to the ongoing cycles of violence and oppression. By situating this within the framework of Irish history, U2 highlights the enduring relevance of such struggles, making a subtle yet potent political statement.
U2's "Van Diemen's Land" lyrics from the Rattle and Hum album
Hold me now, hold me nowTill this hour has gone around
And I'm gone on the rising tide
For to face Van Diemen's Land
It's a bitter pill I swallow here
To be rent from one so dear
We fought for justice and not for gain
But the magistrate sent me away
Now kings will rule and the poor will toil
And tear their hands as the tear the soil
But a day will come in the dawning age
When an honest man sees an honest wage
Hold me now, hold me now
Till this hour has gone around
And I'm gone on the rising tide
For to face Van Diemen's Land
Still the gunman rules and the widows pay
A scarlet coat now a black beret
They thought that that blood and sacrifice
Could out of death bring forth a life
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“Van Diemen’s Land” reflects the duality of Rattle and Hum as both a homage to American roots music and a continuation of U2’s Irish identity. While much of the album explores American cultural and musical traditions, this track reaffirms the band’s connection to Ireland, grounding the project in their own historical and political context.
Rattle and Hum is a classic U2 album and featured the hits When Love Comes To Town the blues ode that is Angel Of Harlem and the lovestruck doom of All I Want Is You.
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