A significant part of their storytelling involves cities—real places that anchor their lyrics in tangible spaces while serving as metaphors for broader themes.
From the bustling streets of New York to the political unrest in El Salvador, the cities referenced in U2's songs are more than mere settings; they are characters in their own right, contributing layers of meaning to the band's narratives. Some cities are called out directly, while others linger in the shadows, inspiring the music without ever being named.
In exploring U2’s lyrics, one can trace a map of the world through the cities they invoke, each one carrying its unique cultural and political weight. Whether explicitly mentioned or subtly inspiring the mood of a track, these urban landscapes help shape the tone and message of U2's catalog.
Here's a list of such songs.
Miss Sarajevo
The horrors of the Bosnian War in the early 1990s left a deep impression on U2, particularly Sarajevo, a city devastated by siege and violence. Although not mentioned explicitly, Sarajevo’s suffering deeply influenced the creation of Miss Sarajevo (1995), a collaboration with Brian Eno and Luciano Pavarotti as part of the Passengers project.
The song tells the story of a beauty pageant held in Sarajevo during the war, an act of defiance and humanity in the face of unimaginable brutality. The haunting lyrics speak to the resilience of people in war-torn cities and reflect U2’s ongoing engagement with global political conflicts. Bono’s direct involvement with humanitarian efforts during the Bosnian War further ties the song to the city.
New York
One of the most iconic cities to appear in U2's lyrics, New York plays a pivotal role in their song “New York” from the album All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000). Bono's lyrics capture the essence of the city’s energy, blending awe and complexity.
The song pays tribute to the city's dynamic nature—its constant reinvention and diversity—while also highlighting personal dislocation and loss. The lyrics came to take on a deeper resonance following the September 11 attacks, reflecting both the resilience and vulnerability of the metropolis.
The Hands That Built America was the theme song to the film "Gangs of New York".
One of the most iconic cities to appear in U2's lyrics, New York plays a pivotal role in their song “New York” from the album All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000). Bono's lyrics capture the essence of the city’s energy, blending awe and complexity.
The song pays tribute to the city's dynamic nature—its constant reinvention and diversity—while also highlighting personal dislocation and loss. The lyrics came to take on a deeper resonance following the September 11 attacks, reflecting both the resilience and vulnerability of the metropolis.
The Hands That Built America was the theme song to the film "Gangs of New York".
Zoo Station
"Zoo Station" from Achtung Baby (1991) is a nod to Berlin's Zoo Bahnhof train station, a place that symbolized the city's Cold War division. The album was heavily influenced by U2’s time in Berlin during the early 1990s, as they grappled with both the fall of the Berlin Wall and their own desire to reinvent their sound.
"Zoo Station" from Achtung Baby (1991) is a nod to Berlin's Zoo Bahnhof train station, a place that symbolized the city's Cold War division. The album was heavily influenced by U2’s time in Berlin during the early 1990s, as they grappled with both the fall of the Berlin Wall and their own desire to reinvent their sound.
Berlin, with its unique history of conflict, division, and reunification, serves as the perfect backdrop for the band's sonic and thematic experimentation. "Zoo Station" echoes the chaos and possibility of the time, as Berlin transformed from a symbol of division into one of renewal and hope.
Miami
U2's song "Miami" from Pop (1997) explores the superficiality and raw energy of the titular city. Known for its vibrant nightlife, flashy culture, and its association with both decadence and danger, Miami is portrayed as a place of extremes.
U2's song "Miami" from Pop (1997) explores the superficiality and raw energy of the titular city. Known for its vibrant nightlife, flashy culture, and its association with both decadence and danger, Miami is portrayed as a place of extremes.
Bono's lyrics blend sensuality and critique, highlighting the duality of the city’s appeal—its sunny glamour is juxtaposed with its darker, seedier side. The song's electronic beat and distorted sounds complement this image of Miami as a city that seduces while revealing underlying chaos.
Atomic City
The Saints are Coming
While U2’s version of “The Saints Are Coming,” recorded with Green Day in 2006, was a cover of The Skids’ original song, the release is deeply tied to the city of New Orleans. The bands performed it as part of a campaign to support the recovery of New Orleans following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
While U2’s version of “The Saints Are Coming,” recorded with Green Day in 2006, was a cover of The Skids’ original song, the release is deeply tied to the city of New Orleans. The bands performed it as part of a campaign to support the recovery of New Orleans following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
The song, and its accompanying video, became a sharp critique of the U.S. government’s slow and inadequate response to the disaster. New Orleans here is emblematic of not just the hurricane's destruction, but also the failure of institutions to protect the vulnerable.
City of Blinding Lights
"City of Blinding Lights" from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004) is a love letter to New York City, heavily influenced by Bono’s experiences in the city post-9/11.
City of Blinding Lights
"City of Blinding Lights" from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004) is a love letter to New York City, heavily influenced by Bono’s experiences in the city post-9/11.
The song captures the dazzling allure of New York—the brightness of its lights and the vibrancy of its streets—while also hinting at the deep emotional scars left by the terrorist attacks of 2001. Bono has said that the song was inspired by his memories of visiting New York after 9/11, when the city was grappling with both its grief and its resilience.
The song reflects the juxtaposition of the city's iconic energy with the emotional weight it carried in the aftermath of tragedy. New York is portrayed as a beacon of both hope and sorrow, its blinding lights representing the resilience of its people and the city's ability to shine even in the darkest of times.
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
"Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" from Zooropa (1993) evokes a deep sense of longing and emotional distance, with subtle references to various cities like Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast, and Berlin woven into the song’s context.
These cities represent the geographical and emotional separations that underscore the track's themes of isolation and unfulfilled desire. Berlin, particularly, holds significance as the song was part of the soundtrack for Wim Wenders’ film Faraway, So Close!, which was set in post-reunification Berlin.
While none of these cities are explicitly named in the lyrics, their presence shapes the song’s atmosphere—each city symbolizing a distinct facet of the world U2 inhabited during the tumultuous early 1990s, a time when personal and political transformations were at the forefront of the band’s work.
Pride (In the name of Love)
Pride (In the name of Love)
U2’s song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” from The Unforgettable Fire (1984) is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Though the city is never directly mentioned, the memory of King’s murder at the Lorraine Motel hangs heavily over the track. Bono wrote the song as a reflection on King’s fight for civil rights and his message of non-violent resistance.
Memphis becomes a spectral presence, with the tragedy of King’s assassination serving as a reminder of the cost of the struggle for justice and equality. The powerful emotions behind King’s legacy are deeply tied to the history of the city, even though it remains unnamed in the song.
Oh Berlin
"Oh Berlin," a track featured on the Achtung Baby (20th Anniversary "Super Deluxe" and "Uber Deluxe" editions), serves as a raw, early sketch of the song that would later become “Achtung Baby” classics like "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)."
It reflects the deep influence Berlin had on U2 during the recording sessions for the album at Hansa Studios, a place steeped in history and located near the Berlin Wall.
At the time, Berlin was undergoing profound transformation after the fall of the Wall, and U2 found themselves caught in the energy of a city rebuilding itself from the ashes of division. The rough demo captures the sense of reinvention and uncertainty that shaped the album's creation, mirroring Berlin's own journey of unification and recovery.
In "Oh Berlin," the city isn’t just a backdrop but a symbol of the internal and external conflicts the band was grappling with—both personally and creatively.
One Tree Hill
“One Tree Hill,” from The Joshua Tree (1987), is a deeply personal tribute to Greg Carroll, a New Zealand-born member of U2’s road crew and a close friend of Bono, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident in Dublin in 1986. The song is named after the iconic volcanic peak in Auckland, New Zealand, where Carroll had taken Bono during one of U2's visits to the country.
The hill holds cultural and spiritual significance to the Māori people, and the track’s mournful yet celebratory tone reflects U2’s attempt to grapple with the sudden loss of their friend.
This is not a full list, plenty of U2 songs are inspired by places, the city of Dublin features in many child hood tales in Songs of Experience and Innocence for example.
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