"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Salomé” is an intriguing and experimental piece from the  Achtung Baby sessions, emblematic of U2’s dive into sensuality, excess, and the darker recesses of human desire. As a B-side to “ Even Better Than The Real Thing,” the track captures the hedonistic and ironic tone that pervades the Achtung Baby era, embracing themes of seduction, power dynamics, and transgression.

The title immediately evokes the biblical and literary figure of Salome, whose story has been mythologized as a symbol of dangerous female allure and destructive power. U2’s lyrics play with this archetype, blurring lines between desire and danger, surrender and control. 

The narrator is entranced by the titular Salome, whose dance becomes a metaphor for both liberation and manipulation. This interplay of attraction and submission aligns with the broader themes of Achtung Baby, where relationships are fraught with tension and ambiguity.

The repeated plea, “Shake it, Salome,” conveys both exhilaration and desperation. It speaks to a yearning for something primal, uninhibited, and transformative—a kind of ecstasy that teeters on self-destruction. In this, the song mirrors the album’s thematic exploration of human frailty and the costs of indulgence.

The story’s biblical origins provide a backdrop for U2’s exploration of desire and the darker sides of human nature, consistent with the more experimental and sensual tones of the Achtung Baby album.

"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Baby please
Baby please don't go
I got eyes to feed, they want skin and seed
Now don't make me crawl
Baby please
Baby don't bite your lip
Give you half what I've got if you untie the knot
It's a promise

Salomé x 4

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Baby please
Baby, what's that tune
Well, I heard it before when I crawled from the door
And my blood turned blue
Baby please
Baby please slow down
Baby, I feel sick
Don't make me stick to a promise

Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Baby please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't sing yet
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you dance for me
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Beneath the cherry tree
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you swing down low
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby please say yes
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't go away
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Don't spill any of your precious love
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Shake it, shake it, shake it Salome x 8

Salome

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

The imagery in “Salomé” draws heavily from its namesake’s legendary dance of the seven veils, symbolizing revelation, seduction, and the power of concealment. This duality—what is seen versus what is hidden—reflects Achtung Baby’s preoccupation with masks, deception, and the fragmentation of identity. Salome’s dance in this context becomes a metaphor for peeling away layers, whether in personal relationships or broader truths.

"Salomé" was included on Melon: Remixes for Propaganda, a fan club-only compilation released in 1995. Specifically, it appeared as the "Salomé (Zooromancer Remix)", a reimagined and extended take on the original B-side.

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'Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes' Song Lyrics by U2

U2’s rendition of “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes,” a classic originally popularized by Jimmie Rodgers, is a poignant journey through heartbreak and longing. 

Here, Bono channels the sorrow of unrequited love, breathing new life into lyrics that speak to timeless themes of loneliness and betrayal. The lines, “Though you have broken each promise / And yesterday's dreams are untrue,” cut with a palpable sense of loss and disillusionment, laying bare the vulnerability of a broken heart. By focusing on these raw emotions, the song places listeners in the shadow of love turned bitter, allowing Bono’s voice to resonate with the universal ache of lost dreams.

Performed by Bono and Larry for the Songs of Jimmie Rodgers tribute album, this cover leans into U2’s talent for distilling emotional truths. 

The contrast between sunny skies and shadows of loneliness in the lyrics underscores a painful irony—the brightness of memory tarnished by sorrow. This duality amplifies the song's melancholic tone, blending the simplicity of Rodgers’ original with U2’s distinct emotional intensity. 

As Bono sings of sunshine fading into sorrow, he captures the gut-wrenching isolation of heartbreak, rendering “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes” an evocative tribute to enduring sadness and the haunting echoes of love lost.

'Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes' Song Lyrics by U2

My heart is longing for you, love
I cared for you more then you knew
Though you have broken each promise
And yesterday's dreams are untrue

Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As I dream of the love we once knew

Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows and loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes

Why did you promise me sweetheart
Never to leave me alone
Yesterday's sunshine is faded
Your love wasn't true like my own

Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As I dream of the love we once knew

Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows of loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes

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