Treason song lyrics by U2

The song "Treason," included in the 20th-anniversary re-release of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, adds a layer of political and personal intensity to the album’s reflective themes. 

The original album, released in the post-9/11 world, carried undercurrents of uncertainty, tension, and personal responsibility. "Treason" lyrically dives into this sense of betrayal—whether at a societal, political, or personal level—reflecting U2's concern with the state of the world during the early 2000s.

 

U2’s “Treason” delves into themes of betrayal, dependence, and the consequences of withholding love. The song opens with a plea for connection, where the narrator serves as a refuge for someone in despair, illustrated by biblical imagery such as “I was naked when and you clothed me.” This evokes the Gospel’s message of serving others, reinforcing the moral imperative of compassion. 

However, the failure to reciprocate this love is framed as a profound betrayal: “If you have love and don’t give love, this is treason.” The idea of love as a moral responsibility, when neglected, transcends personal relationships and indicts broader human failures to act in kindness.

The song’s use of natural and environmental imagery heightens its emotional intensity and universal appeal. Lines like “You come to me where the waves are washing” and “lightning is flashing” evoke a setting of chaos and unpredictability, mirroring inner struggles. 

Later, the lyrics expand to critique exploitation, with phrases such as “You wanna drill it in Alaska ka ka,” suggesting greed’s destructive impact on the natural world. These elements bridge the personal and societal, emphasizing U2’s recurring focus on accountability—not just in relationships but in stewardship of the earth.

The song's themes thus resonate with the overarching tone of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Treason song lyrics by U2

You come to me when your voice is a whisper
Come to me on the corner of a breeze
You come to me because you cannot have her
You come to me only when you’re on your knees

I was naked when and you clothed me
A slave and you stole me
From the ones that couldn’t hold me
Who took our freedom away

I was empty and you filled me
Made a friend of my enemy
I was there but you could see things I couldn’t see

If you love life
And you give love
There’s nothing you’ll be needing
But if you have love and don’t give love
This is Treason

You come to me where the waves are washing
You come to me on the swell of the sea
You come to me when lightning is flashing
In the static electricity

I was the sun and the rain to you
The one who gave a new name to you
I was a vision that came to you
Now you can’t even see
You were jumping now your landin’
You were kneeling now you’re standing’
I’m not a child to abandon
So don’t abandon me

If you love life
And you give love
There’s nothing you’ll be needing
But if you have love and don’t give love
This is treason
Has your heart stopped the beating
This is treason.

Shadow-man’ll-cage-us-in-a-mansion-in-the-ocean-air,
I-don’t-wanna-make-you-wanna-rush-you, no, way,
now
Take it all I’m running also wanna see you there
You wanna fake it never dance, soul, mash-up
Who’d, you, want, it, love, hard-to-get,
I want me a better silhouette

Kool aid, we’re sippin in the coal mine
Mine some soul we’re living off coal
Slipping on my manischewitz,
Slamming down the soul of it
You wanna drill it in Alaska ka ka…you-wanna
cup, cake, says I, don’t, know…
You feelin’, walls are like balsawood
Game, Show, shake your finger
Day-Glo she’s a ringer
Feed my my my my my Soul
World in a fever she’s got the glow.

If you love life
And you give love
There’s nothing you’ll be needing
But if you have love and you don’t give love
This is treason
This is treason

-

Treason ultimately portrays love as an act of giving, a principle threatened by human flaws such as greed, neglect, and self-centeredness. The fragmented and surreal final verses underscore a sense of disorientation, reflecting societal distractions that prevent deeper moral engagement. By linking individual betrayal to broader failings, U2 challenges listeners to consider the far-reaching implications of their actions. As with much of their work, the song is both a personal lament and a call to spiritual and ethical awakening.

While songs like “Vertigo” and “City of Blinding Lights” examined disillusionment and chaos through metaphorical and abstract imagery, “Treason” tackles these subjects head-on. The lyrics confront the cost of failing to give love and the moral weight of such actions, reflecting not only on personal relationships but also on societal failings that erode trust.

The song’s broader critique of leadership, systems, and interpersonal bonds suggests U2’s continuing engagement with political and ethical issues. This is evident in the sharp lines addressing exploitation, such as the reference to drilling in Alaska, which echoes the band’s activism around environmental and human rights. 

These themes parallel earlier songs like “Bullet the Blue Sky” or “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” where systemic failures and deceptive leadership were exposed, though “Treason” does so with a more personal and intimate perspective. By connecting love’s responsibilities to larger societal critiques, “Treason” merges the personal and the political in a way that resonates with U2’s ethos. Its direct exploration of abandonment and withholding love highlights a shared failure of individuals and institutions, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own integrity and capacity for compassion. 

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