'No Line on the Horizon' album song lyrics by U2

No Line on the Horizon was the follow-up to  How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, a considerable challenge given the millions of copies sold and the numerous Grammy Awards won by that album. Building on the 'comeback' success of All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2 had once again solidified their status as the world's most popular rock band.

 

The world was ready for more. 

So they put on their sexiest boots and gave us No Line on the Horizon. 

The album wells from a cauldron of personal and cultural turbulence, encapsulating both the band’s restless spirit and the zeitgeist of a world grappling with existential uncertainty. 

The album was recorded during a period of upheaval, following the global financial crisis and amid Bono’s intense involvement in humanitarian efforts to reduce third world country debt. This context imbued the music with a sense of urgency and introspection, echoing the uncertainties of the times while probing deeper into the themes of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning.

The band’s signature blend of spirituality and skepticism comes to the fore, as they muse on the idea of limitless horizons—both in the physical sense and in the realms of personal growth and self-discovery. This quest for understanding permeates the entire album, as tracks like "Magnificent" and "Moment of Surrender" grapple with the dualities of hope and despair, faith and disillusionment, ultimately seeking a balance between the two.

Central to No Line on the Horizon is the thematic exploration of connectivity and isolation in an increasingly fragmented world. The song "Get On Your Boots" serves as a manifesto of sorts, urging listeners to embrace action and activism in the face of apathy. With its infectious riff and pulsating rhythm, the track contrasts with the more meditative tones of "White As Snow," which reflects on themes of loss and redemption. 

'No Line on the Horizon' album song lyrics by U2

• No Line on the Horizon
• Magnificent
• Moment of Surrender
• White As Snow
• Unknown Caller
• I'll go Crazy if I don't go Crazy Tonight
• Get On Your Boots
• Stand Up Comedy
• Fez - Being Born
• Breathe
• The Cedars of Lebanon

The moments and meanings that inspired No Line on the Horizon's lyrics

The song “No Line on the Horizon” emerged from Larry Mullen Jr.'s experimentation with various drum beats, which long time U2 producer Brian Eno sampled and manipulated, allowing the rest of the band to layer their sound over these rhythms. The lyrical concept conveys a place "where the sea meets the sky," embodying themes of infinity and optimism that Bono emphasized from the beginning. In contrast, “Magnificent” begins with a synthesizer line from Eno and aims for a euphoric feel, drawing on a melody crafted during jam sessions. Daniel Lanois described its lyrical setting as reminiscent of 1950s New York, channeling a character akin to jazz legend Charlie Parker.

“Moment of Surrender,” recorded in one take, is noted for its gospel influences and aligns with the band’s vision of creating "future hymns." The song features a drug addict experiencing a crisis of faith, paralleling the character in “Unknown Caller,” who battles suicidal thoughts amid cryptic text messages while seeking drugs. The simplicity and immediacy of “Moment of Surrender” underscore its emotional weight, reflecting the band's creative exploration during the Fez sessions.

During the same recording period, “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” initially titled "Diorama," evolved through collaborative reworking, incorporating themes inspired by Barack Obama’s campaign. “Get On Your Boots” stems from a driving guitar riff by The Edge and addresses the tension of family vacations amid the realities of war, evoking a rapid tempo that contrasts with the more reflective tracks. In “Stand Up Comedy,” the song's multiple iterations illustrate the band's dynamic creative process, while the chorus's self-referential lyrics offer a mix of humor and critique.

“White as Snow,” based on the hymn "Veni, veni, Emmanuel," poignantly narrates a dying soldier's last thoughts in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, “Breathe,” intentionally set on June 16 to honor James Joyce's Ulysses, underwent extensive reworking before finding its final form. The band’s lyrical choices in both songs reveal deep introspection, with “Cedars of Lebanon” reflecting a journalist’s perspective on war, its melody evoking the atmospheric sounds reminiscent of U2's earlier work, and its final verse serving as a condemnation of the Iraq War.

We wonder what kind of filter replacement part for a dryer Bono would use if he needed to fix his drier?

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