"Always" Song Lyrics by U2

The lyrics of "Always," an alternate take from U2’s All That You Can't Leave Behind era, reflect a deep exploration of love, identity, and spiritual connection. The recurring refrain of "always" serves as a grounding motif, emphasizing permanence amidst life's transient nature.

Lines like “Here today, gone tomorrow / Crack the bone, get to the marrow” juxtapose impermanence with the search for essence and meaning. The metaphor of the bee and the flower encapsulates fleeting sweetness and the inevitability of change, illustrating the delicate balance of pleasure and pain in relationships.

The song also delves into vulnerability and courage, urging the listener to "be the arrow and the target" and to “be uncool, be awkward.” These lines reject superficiality and celebrate authenticity, even at the cost of discomfort. “The soul needs beauty for a soulmate” shifts the focus to the spiritual dimension of connection, emphasizing the need for deeper, transformative relationships that nourish the inner self. The call to “dream out loud” embodies U2’s characteristic optimism and insistence on meaningful engagement with the world.

Spiritually, the song challenges pride and self-righteousness with lines like “God will not deal with the proud” and advocates humility as a path to grace. The closing lines, “Turning slowly into a prayer, always,” frame the piece as a meditation on eternal values such as love, hope, and unity. 

By weaving these themes together, “Always” encapsulates U2’s consistent message of striving for authenticity, embracing vulnerability, and finding redemption in connection, resonating deeply with the spiritual and relational motifs of the album’s other tracks.

"Always" Song Lyrics by U2 

Here today, gone tomorrow
Crack the bone, get to the marrow
To be a bee and the flower
Before the sweetness turns to sour

What we have we're gonna keep, always
What we've lost we don't need, always
What is it that won't let you sleep, always

Be the arrow and the target
Put your head over the parapet
Be uncool, yes be awkward
Don't look in the obvious place
The soul needs beauty for a soulmate

Get down off your holy cloud, always
God will not deal with the proud, always
Well if you dream then dream out loud, always
Eternally yours, always

I want you
I want you
I want you
Touch me now inside
I wanted to be a man
I wanted to call

You say you come to know yourself, always
Don't find yourself in someone else, always
And always wear a safety belt, always
Wait for me I'm running late, always
This is the moment that we share for always
Turn each song into a prayer, always
Now and forever
For always

-

The transformation of "Always" into "Beautiful Day" was driven by U2's desire to create a more direct, anthemic, and universally resonant song. While "Always" is reflective, focusing on themes of permanence and introspection, it lacked the concise emotional punch the band sought for All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

The album was envisioned as a return to the essentials—songs that connected immediately with audiences and spoke to resilience and hope. "Beautiful Day" emerged from this intent, retaining the uplifting essence of "Always" but reworking its tone and lyrical focus to emphasize triumph over adversity.

The lyric "dream out loud" in "Always" is a subtle yet poignant callback to Achtung Baby’s “Acrobat,” where it first appears as a defiant rallying cry to live authentically and resist complacency.

In “Acrobat,” the phrase underscores the tension between idealism and the messy realities of life, capturing a plea to maintain integrity amidst contradictions. Its reappearance in “Always” recontextualizes the sentiment, shifting from the angst and struggle of Achtung Baby to the reflective optimism of All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

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"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" song lyrics by U2 from Batman Forever

“Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” is a swirling, darkly seductive piece of U2’s lyricism, both a departure from and an echo of the themes that have marked the band's most resonant work. Bono’s lyrics here pulsate with a sense of conflicted identity, celebrity, and the dangerous allure of fame.

Written during U2’s Zoo TV era—a period defined by excess, irony, and exploration of media saturation—the song captures the tense, almost antagonistic relationship between artist and audience, fame and authenticity.

Bono presents a distorted self-reflection, grappling with the constructs of stardom and the inherent paradox of intimacy on a public stage. His voice, straining between confession and performance, brings to life the tension between vulnerability and bravado that stardom demands.

Thematically, this song dives into U2’s fascination with identity and the self, mirroring similar explorations in tracks like The Fly and Until the End of the World. Here, however, Bono’s words carry a darker, more seductive edge.

The lyrical command to “Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me” feels less like a plea for intimacy and more like a provocation, a challenge to the audience. It reflects the addictive quality of fame—the need for love mingling with the eventual toxicity of adoration.

Bono, caught in the throes of his own constructed personas, critiques the very image he presents, using the audience as both participant and antagonist. This interplay reveals a vulnerability masked in cynicism, a nod to the emotional exhaustion inherent in life on display, reminiscent of his more vulnerable moments in Achtung Baby and Zooropa.

In BP Fallon's book 'U2 Faraway So Close' Bono suggests the lyrics are about "being in a rock 'n' roll band I suppose, being a star, whatever that is."

U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" song lyrics from Batman Forever

You don't know how you took it
You just know what you got
Oh Lordy you've been stealing
From the thieves and you got caught
In the headlights of a stretch car
You're a star

Dressing like your sister
Living like a tart
They don't know what you're doing
Babe, it must be art
You're a headache in a suitcase
You're a star

Oh no, don't be shy
You don't have to go blind
Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me

You don't know how you got here
You just know you want out
Believing in yourself
Almost as much as you doubt
You're a big smash
You wear it like a rash
Star

Oh no, don't be shy
It takes a crowd to cry
Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me

They want you to be Jesus
They'll go down on one knee
But they'll want their money back
If you're alive at thirty-three
And you're turning tricks
With your crucifix
You're a star

Oh child, of course you're not shy,
You don't have to deny love
Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me

-

In the broader arc of U2’s discography, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” stands as a complex meditation on self-destruction and identity, a song that uses the language of romance to portray the fractured soul of a performer. By framing fame as an almost sacrificial exchange, Bono channels themes of martyrdom and resurrection, long-standing motifs in U2’s work, albeit stripped here of their redemptive light.

It’s a song that pulls U2’s audience into the tension between love and obsession, a haunting confession of the ways fame distorts the soul. The track’s lyrics serve as both invitation and caution, leaving listeners to question whether the relationship between fan and idol is one of adoration or annihilation—a theme that U2 would revisit in the darker, introspective work that followed, reminding us that every connection, every kiss, carries its own shadow.

Ultimately, the song's lyrics resonate as a commentary on the interplay of fame and personal turmoil, illustrating how the quest for validation can lead to both thrilling heights and profound existential crises. Recorded during the Zooropa sessions, the track's subsequent inclusion in the Batman Forever soundtrack underscores its thematic ties to the film's exploration of identity and moral ambiguity, amplifying its commentary on the darker side of fame in contemporary culture.

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U2 lyrics that explore religion, Jesus, Yahweh and The Good Book

It seems almost obligatory to do a post on U2's spiritual side. They are perhaps the world's most popular Christian band after all!  I say Christian very loosely though as for some people that kind of connotation can turn them right off  but U2's is most definitely a band that is not shy of exploring their spiritual lyrical side.

Bono, U2's main lyric writer, is a noted musical magpie who steals lines from the Bible to help with his song crafting. Indeed, there's a whole page of bible references Bono has made across the U2 song catalogue.

You could almost put U2's song lyrics into two distinct camps - songs about spirituality and songs about politics (such as nuclear war). 

You could throw in a third camp about of U2's love songs if you wanted but since when has 'love' not ever been spiritual or a matter of politics?

Jesus is a popular man in U2 songs, along with mentions of Yahweh, the references to the Koran and a few other Saints - so I thought  I'd feature a few U2 song lyrics that show case Bono's spiritual side and give a little insight into what I think the lyrics mean and perhaps give a little context on the genesis of some of them...

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Many people suddenly found themselves to be U2 fans in the late 80s when The Joshua Tree album started topping charts around the world.

Helping lead the charge was I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For which is the gold standard if you are looking for a U2 song that focuses on a spiritual yearning. 

Stealing the line from the Bible's 1 Corinthians 13:1: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." Bono directly references Corinthians 13 in Elvis Ate America from the Original Soundtracks Vol 1.

Bono sung  "I have spoken with the tongue of angels" thus heralding to the world where he was coming from yet he then signalled his mischievous side with the following lyric that he had also 'held the hand of the Devil'.

Wake Up Dead Man from the Pop album

In tough times people often turn to their spiritual advisor for support - Wake Up Dead Man is Bono trying to get a direct line with Jesus to come and fix "the fucked up world'.

Originally written during the Zooropa recording sessions, the final version ended up on Pop as an effective album closer.

Fun aside, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me also came from the Zooropa recording sessions and asks a question of Jesus.

Gloria 

The lyrics of "Gloria" from U2's October album are a powerful expression of spiritual yearning and the tension between human limitations and divine transcendence. Bono uses the Latin phrase "Gloria in te Domine" (Glory in you, Lord), immediately situating the song within a religious context, invoking a direct appeal to God. 

The chorus, with its repetition of "Gloria," echoes a form of worship, a plea for connection with the divine. The verses reflect a personal struggle—Bono sings of feeling both empowered by faith and constrained by doubt, as he expresses the desire to "sing out loud," but feels his "voice can't take the strain." This contrast between the desire for liberation and the awareness of human frailty runs through the song, capturing the essence of spiritual conflict. 

"Gloria" is about searching for God amidst life's chaos, seeking to break free from earthly confines to embrace something higher. The recurring imagery of rising and being lifted points to a longing for spiritual elevation, while the song's soaring melody mirrors this aspiration. 

Ultimately, "Gloria" is both a cry for help and an act of devotion, reflecting Bono's ongoing quest for faith and purpose, which is a central theme of the October album.

Yahweh

A beautiful track from U2's How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, Yahweh's lyrics are a reflection of Bono's faith (as the son of a Catholic father and an Anglican mother) and points to the differences in the power that he believes between God and mankind. 

The word 'yahweh' has traditionally been by transliterated from the word Jehovah. Jehovah is often described as "the proper name of God in the Old Testament".

Larry, Bono, Edge and Adam, hold the bike while I get on?

Sunday Bloody Sunday

A protest song about the political troubles that have face the people of Ireland, its inspiration was a couple of events where soldiers shot civilians in Northern Ireland. 

The Derry massacre, or Bloody Sunday, was deeply intertwined with the religious divide between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, where Catholics, largely identifying as Nationalists, sought reunification with the Republic of Ireland, while the Protestant Unionists favored continued British rule. 

The religious divide was a driving force behind the sectarian violence, with British military intervention being perceived by many Catholics as siding with the Protestant-dominated government.

Until the End of the World

This has proved to be an incredibly popular song from U2's Achtung Baby and has been played on just about every tour U2 have done since that album was released in 1991.

In U2 fan circles, the song is semi-legendary for being interpreted as a fictional conversation between Jesus and Judas following the betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane.. The lyrics subtly convey a deep sense of remorse on Judas's part, suggesting that he came to regret his actions after betraying Jesus. This spiritual theme delves into the weight of guilt, forgiveness, and the consequences of moral failure, culminating in Judas’s tragic decision to take his own life. The song invites listeners to reflect on themes of redemption, betrayal, and the complex human emotions tied to spiritual crises.

Tomorrow

A classic earnest lyric from Bono, the song reflects a period in his life when he was grappling deeply with his faith, mortality, and spiritual identity. 

The October album, in particular, marks a pivotal moment in Bono’s songwriting, often referred to as the "God Watch" phase. This phase was characterized by an intense personal search for meaning, fueled by the loss of his mother and the existential questions that followed. 

His mother's death, which occurred when Bono was a teenager, left a lasting impact on him, and this grief permeates much of the album's lyrical content, as he contemplates life, death, and what lies beyond.

Bono's lyrics reflect internal dialogue about his relationship with God, his struggles with doubt, and the idea of meeting Jesus. It's as if the songs are meditations or prayers, filled with both yearning and uncertainty, as Bono navigates the tension between his faith and the harsh realities of life. 

Stranger in a Strange Land

The lyrics of U2's "Stranger in a Strange Land" evoke the biblical story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke 24, where the resurrected Jesus appears as a stranger to two of his disciples. Throughout their journey together, the disciples fail to recognize him until he breaks bread with them, revealing his true identity. 

This theme of spiritual blindness and revelation resonates in the song's lyrics, with Bono seemingly drawing parallels between the experience of feeling disconnected from or alienated within the world and the deeper spiritual realization that can suddenly arise in unexpected moments. 

The metaphor of being a "stranger" captures the human condition of searching for meaning, struggling with faith, and the longing for a connection that transcends the ordinary—similar to how the disciples, initially lost and disillusioned, found hope and recognition in Jesus once their eyes were opened. 

If God Will Send His Angels

It's hard to discern the actual message of this song. The lyrics possibly suggest the character is living in a world where they need some help and they need some angels to come and sort things out.

The line "where is the hope, and where is the faith, and the love?" hints at a lost soul that needs some guidance in light of a world they are concerned about such one where the cartoon network leads into the news and the blind lead the blondes.

The song featured on the City of Angels soundtrack and was a fairly popular single from the Pop album.

Salome

Salome is inspired by the story of the death of John the Baptist which was from the gospel of Mark.

Supposedly a seductive dancer (in the modern-day vernacular, she'd be known as a stripper) Salome's super gyrations convinced the King to grant her a wish to which she asked for the head of John.

Pretty random story and sounds like something that got lost in translation when the Bible got rewritten. It's either that or Oscar Wilde had an overactive imagination. 

These eight songs were only a taste of the many songs that Bono has imbued with lyrics that refer to the Bible or have looked into an 'ecumenical' matter of sorts - Gloria, for example, could probably have a whole essay written about it.

The Wander

In "The Wanderer" from Zooropa, Johnny Cash's vocals paint a vivid picture of a man drifting through a dystopian landscape, searching for meaning in a morally bankrupt world. His journey takes him through the "capitals of tin," a metaphor for modern cities where superficiality reigns, and freedom is stifled, symbolized by the line "where men can't walk or freely talk, and sons turn their fathers in." This chilling observation reflects a society where trust is broken, and even familial bonds are sacrificed for survival or conformity.

As he stops outside a church, Cash highlights the paradox of people desiring the comforts of a spiritual kingdom but rejecting the divine presence itself—"they say they want the kingdom, but they don't want God in it." 

This speaks to a hollow, materialistic spirituality devoid of true faith or connection. The wanderer continues his ride down "that old eight lane," a symbol of the vast, impersonal highways of modern life, passing countless signs, searching for his identity, but finding nothing. His journey is both physical and spiritual, one of existential longing, as he went out "with nothing but the thought you'd be there too, looking for you," a poignant reflection of the hope that perhaps in this desolate world, he might find someone who shares his quest for meaning, love, or redemption. 

The song, rich with metaphor, explores themes of isolation, disillusionment, and the relentless pursuit of something greater in a fractured world.

What other songs do you think show U2's spiritual side? What do they mean for you?

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U2's "Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad" song lyrics as sung by Nancy Sinatra

"Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad" song lyrics by U2 and Nancy Sinatra

Written as a gift for Frank Sinatra, Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad was released as a B-Side to If God Will Send His Angels, a single from U2's Pop album.

It is a jazzy lounge song written in the style of the music Sinatra is known for. Recorded for Sinatra's 80th birthday. It was played for him in a televised birthday tribute in 1995. It has a string arrangement by Craig Armstrong.

Frank never actually recorded the song Sinatra's daughter Nancy recorded a version of Two Shots which had Adam and Larry on the rhythm section.

Bono and Frank did duet on 'I've got you under my skin' which can be found on the popular Duets album or as the b-side to the Stay (Faraway, So Close!) single from Zooropa.

Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad Lyrics:

Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
You think I'm no good, well I know I've been bad
Took you to a place, now you can't get back
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad

Walk together down a dead end street
We were mixing the bitter with the sweet
Don't try to figure out what we might have had
Just two shots of happy, one shot of sad

I'm just a singer, some say a sinner
Rollin' the dice, not always a winner
You say I've been lucky, well hell, I made my own
Not part of the crowd but not feeling alone

Under pressure but not bent out of shape
Surrounded, we always found an escape
Drove me to drink but hey, thats not all bad
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad

Guess I've been greedy all of my life
Greedy with my children, my lovers, my wife
Greedy for the good things as well as the bad
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad

Maybe it's just talk, saloon singing
The chairs are all stacked, the swingers stopped swinging
You say I hurt you, you put the finger on yourself
Then after you did it you came crying for my help

Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
I'm not complaining, baby, I'm glad
You call it compromise, well, what's that
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad

U2's New York song was also written with The Chairman of the Board in mind.

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"Smile" Lyrics U2

"Smile" Lyrics U2

Smile is from the Medium, Rare & Remastered compilation album of rarities and remastered tracks by the biggest band in the land, U2. The album was available to members of U2.com.

Smile Lyrics:

Gravity, it's not pulling me
I won't be a picture with no sound
Decaying, I'm praying
You are my air
But I need the ground to kneel upon
And love can't be us all
I don't want to see you smile

I'm breaking it, taking it
I'm breaking slowly in my mind
I'm seeing it, free in it
I know love is in this soul of mine
It's not in your eyes
I don't want
I don't want to see you smile

It started light-hearted
I won't be easier like you said
I'm going, flowing
I'm leaving on the day
Of the day I will live again
You will live again
I don't want to see you smile

God knows, He knows me
Knows me, lonely
You see, hear me, love
Say it again
You're not blind
The smoke machine
Is yours, not mine
I don't want to see you smile

I will live again
You will live again
I just don't want to see you smile

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"Slow Dancing" Song Lyrics by U2

U2’s song “Slow Dancing,” which serves as a B-side to their 1993 single ""Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" from the Zooropa album, explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the complexities of human relationships through the evocative metaphor of dancing. 

The imagery of "slow dancing" signifies an intimate connection between partners, emphasizing the tenderness and emotional presence that characterize deep relationships. 

It conveys a sense of vulnerability, where individuals reveal their true selves and accept each other's flaws, while also reflecting on nostalgia and the fleeting nature of love, as the lyrics evoke wistfulness and memories that shape current feelings. This acknowledgment of life's impermanence adds emotional weight, underscoring how precious moments of connection, though temporary, can provide hope and solace. Musically, the song's slow tempo and melodic arrangement enhance its intimate atmosphere, with Bono’s emotive vocal delivery further accentuating the longing and connection conveyed in the lyrics. 

"Slow dancing" was also released as a B-side to U2's 1997 single If God Will Send His Angels. This version featured country singer Willie Nelson.

'Slow Dancing' song lyrics - B-side to Stay (Faraway so Close):

My love is cruel as the night
She steals the sun and shuts out the light
All of my colors, they turn to blue
Win or lose

She does it slow dancing
Slow dancing
She does it slow dancing
All night long

Scarlet eyes and a see-through heart
She saw me coming right from the start
She picked me up but had me down on my knees
Just a-begging her
Begging her please

Take me slow dancing
Slow dancing
She took me slow dancing
All night long

And I don't know why a man
Search for himself in his lover's eyes
No, I don't know why a man
Sees the truth but needs the lies

My love is restless as the wind
She moves like a shadow across my skin
She left with my conscience
I don't want it back
It just gets in the way

If you wanna go slow dancing
Slow dancing
She took me slow dancing
All night long
Slow dancing
Slow dancing
Slow

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Bible references in U2 Song Lyrics

U2's incorporation of biblical references and lessons into their lyrics is a profound aspect of their songwriting, offering a layer of spiritual depth that transcends conventional rock music themes. This use of biblical allusions not only reflects the personal beliefs of the band members, particularly Bono, but also serves to elevate their music to a plane where spiritual inquiry and rock 'n' roll coexist. 

The band's engagement with these themes is not just a nod to Christianity; it's an exploration of universal questions about faith, morality, and the human condition.

At the heart of U2's use of biblical themes is a desire to intertwine the spiritual with the secular, creating a dialogue between faith and real-world issues. Songs like "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" from their seminal album "The Joshua Tree" exemplify this blend. The song, with its gospel-tinged melody, speaks of a spiritual journey that is both personal and universal, reflecting a quest for meaning and fulfillment beyond material success. The lyrics, "I have spoken with the tongue of angels/I have held the hand of a devil," illustrate the struggle between good and evil, a central theme in many biblical narratives.

Just do it.

Through their use of biblical quotes and lessons, U2 invites listeners to explore spiritual dimensions within the context of their music. This approach not only augments their lyrics with deeper meaning but also allows the band to engage with their audience on a more profound level. Whether one is a believer or not, the spiritual undercurrent in U2's music offers a rich tapestry of thought and emotion, prompting reflection on larger existential questions and the role of faith in the modern world.

Here's a list of biblical references U2 have made in their lyrics. It was compiled by Angela Pancella from the fantastic U2 resource, @U2. I've taken the list and made some changes to the links, but the content is still mostly based upon Angela's work.

I do note that some of the supposed bible references are tenuous. If Bono is talking bout a blind man it doesn't necessarily follow he was refering to a blind man in the bible...they are perhaps more likley coincidences, but as I said, it's about lyrical interpretation!

Biblical References in U2 songs, list by album.

Read more »

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"The Saints Are Coming" lyrics by U2 and Greenday

The Saints are Coming was originally by The Skids. Originally when the song was written by Richard Jobson the lyrics were about a friend of his who had recently joined the British Army, and been killed on tour of duty in Northern Ireland.

When released as a well recieved collaboration between Green Day and U2, the song was a charity single to benefit people affected by the damage caused by the now infamous Hurricane Katrina.

The Saints features the lyrics / verse of the House of the Rising Sun by the Animals at the start, a none too subtle reference to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina.

"The Saints Are Coming" song lyrics by U2

 There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I'm one

I cried to my daddy on the telephone
How long now
Until the clouds unroll and you come home
The line went
But the shadows still remain since your descent
Your descent

I cried to my daddy on the telephone
How long now
Until the clouds unroll and you come home
The line went
But the shadows still remain since your descent
Your descent

Boom-cha hey

The saints are coming, the saints are coming
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply
The saints are coming, the saints are coming
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply

A drowning sorrow floods the deepest grief
How long now
Until a weather change condemns belief
How long now
When the night watchman lets in the thief
What's wrong now

Boom-cha hey

The saints are coming, the saints are coming
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply
The saints are coming, the saints are coming

I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply


Check out the lyrics to Ordinary Love by U2.

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"Cedars Of Lebanon" Song Lyrics by U2

"The Cedars of Lebanon," the closing track on No Line on the Horizon, stands as one of U2’s most introspective and world-weary lyrical works.

Sung from the perspective of a jaded war correspondent, the song is a meditation on the emotional and moral exhaustion that comes from witnessing conflict, separation, and humanity’s inability to reconcile its divisions.

Bono’s narrator, having spent years compressing the complexities of life into the sterility of news reports, is left disillusioned, caught in a landscape where violence and beauty coexist in unnerving proximity.

Lines like "This shitty world sometimes produces a rose" encapsulate the painful contradiction:

fleeting moments of grace arise amid the brutality of war, only to dissipate without leaving a lasting imprint. The song resonates as a reflection on desensitization—the rose’s scent, once savored, is now lost, just as the journalist’s emotional compass is blunted by the daily grind of reporting human suffering.

Thematically, "Cedars of Lebanon" is akin to both "Moment of Surrender" and "White as Snow."

In "Moment of Surrender," the speaker's personal crisis mirrors the war correspondent’s weariness, though it takes place in a spiritual realm—trading headlines for a soul’s reckoning. Both songs wrestle with the fallout of detachment: the former contemplates a surrender to life's chaos, while the latter wonders what is left after a life of exposure to violence and strife.

Meanwhile, "White as Snow" tells the story of a dying soldier in Afghanistan, offering a mournful reflection on death and isolation.

Together, these songs form a thematic triad that delves into the personal toll of conflict, each from different vantage points.

In "Cedars of Lebanon," the journalist is numbed by his need to simplify human suffering for mass consumption, while in the other tracks, the protagonists grapple with the internal, existential repercussions of living in a world that seems perpetually at war. The war correspondent's isolation echoes these themes, a figure stranded between worlds, writing from the front lines yet increasingly estranged from his own humanity.

Bono is probably touching on the Cedar Revolution. It may also be referencing the book of Isaiah from the Bible.

"Cedars Of Lebanon" Song Lyrics by U2

Yesterday I spent asleep
Woke up in my clothes in a dirty heap
Spent the night trying to make a deadline
Squeezing complicated lives into a simple headline

I have your face here in an old Polaroid
Tidying the children's clothes and toys
You're smiling back at me
I took the photo from the fridge
Can't remember what then we did

I haven't been with a woman, it feels like for years
Thought of you the whole time, your salty tears
This shitty world sometimes produces a rose
The scent of it lingers and then it just goes

Return the call to home

The worst of us are a long drawn out confession
The best of us are geniuses of compression
You say you're not going to leave the truth alone
I'm here 'cause I don't want to go home

Child drinking dirty water from the river bank
Soldier brings oranges he got out from a tank
I'm waiting on the waiter, he's taking a while to come
Watching the sun go down on Lebanon

Return the call to home

Now I've got a head like a lit cigarette
Unholy clouds reflecting in a minaret
You're so high above me, higher than everyone
Where are you in the cedars of Lebanon

Choose your enemies carefully 'cause they will define you
Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you
They're not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Gonna last with you longer than your friends

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U2's career has long been marked by reflections on war, with several iconic tracks tackling the theme from different perspectives. "Sunday Bloody Sunday," perhaps the band’s most famous protest song, confronts the violence of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland. 

Its biting lyrics, “How long must we sing this song?” resonate as a demand for peace in the face of cyclical bloodshed, while the martial drumbeats evoke the ever-present threat of conflict. In "Bullet the Blue Sky," from The Joshua Tree, Bono shifts focus to U.S. intervention in Central America, painting a grim picture of imperialistic violence. The lines "Jacob wrestled the angel, and the angel was overcome" frame war as a theological battle between justice and exploitation, reflecting the band’s critique of unchecked power.

From a more intimate lens, "Mothers of the Disappeared" reflects on the suffering caused by the forced disappearances in Argentina and Chile during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s. The song mourns the loss and anguish of the families left behind, offering a haunting, subdued reflection on the personal toll of political violence. Another powerful meditation on war is found in "Love and Peace or Else," from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, where the lyrics wrestle with the contradictions of advocating for peace in a world addicted to violence. 

Bono’s repeated plea, "Lay down your guns," echoes U2’s enduring message: that true liberation cannot be achieved through conflict, but rather through reconciliation and understanding. Each of these songs underscores the band’s deep engagement with war—not merely as a political phenomenon, but as a human tragedy that ripples through individual lives and entire generations.

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"Get On Your Boots" Song Lyrics by U2

Get On Your Boots was the lead single off No Line on the Horizon, perhaps an odd first single release, it grew on many listeners with a few listeners. It's kind of like a crazy cousin on Beautiful Day from the Achtung Baby side of the family. 

The lyrics are supposedly written from the perspective of a man writing to his first love as he relates how he is taking his family to a fairground in Nice, France at the beginning of the Iraq War. Bono also references the wider spectre of war and perhaps knowingly says he doesn't want to talk about war but saying that he actually is.

The lyrics pulse with a sense of immediacy, urging listeners to confront their realities and take a stand. The opening lines beckon an awakening, where the phrase “get on your boots” acts as both a literal and metaphorical summons—an invitation to rise from apathy and engage with the world, no matter how challenging it may be. The mention of a “bad faith” and references to the mundane, such as “the last of the outlaw” and the “darkness” that follows, alludes to a world grappling with moral and spiritual crises. 

As the song progresses, the lyrics pivot towards themes of community, love, and the importance of recognizing one’s inherent beauty. 

Lines like “You don’t know how beautiful you are” reinforce a sense of collective affirmation, urging listeners to appreciate their worth amid chaos and uncertainty. The interplay of whimsical imagery, such as “candy floss, ice cream,” contrasts with deeper reflections on societal struggles, highlighted by the acknowledgment of “wars between nations” and “growing up.” In this context, Bono articulates a yearning for connection, a desire to move beyond the superficial and engage with the profound. 

The repeated call to “let me in the sound” serves as both a plea for understanding and a metaphorical gateway to a shared experience, reinforcing the notion that through laughter and love, joy becomes an eternal pursuit. 

"Get On Your Boots" Song Lyrics by U2

The future needs a big kiss
Winds blow with a twist
Never seen a moon like this
Can you see it too

Night is falling everywhere
Rockets at the fun fair
Satan loves a bomb scare
But he won't scare you

Hey, sexy boots
Get on your boots, yeah

You free me from the dark dream
Candy floss, ice cream
All our kids are screaming
But the ghosts aren't real

Here's where we gotta be
Love and community
Laughter is eternity
If joy is real

You don't know how beautiful
You don't know how beautiful you are
You don't know and you don't get it, do you
No, you don't know how beautiful
You don't know
You don't know how beautiful you are

That's someone's stuff they're blowing up
We're into growing up
Women of the future
Hold the big revelations

I got a submarine
You got gasoline
I don't want to talk about
Wars between nations

Not right now
Hey sexy boots, yeah
No, no, no
Get on your boots, yeah
Not right now
Bossy boots

You don't know how beautiful
You don't know how beautiful you are
You don't know and you don't get it, do you
No, you don't know how beautiful
You don't know
You don't know how beautiful you are

Sexy boots
I don't want to talk about
The wars between the nations
Sexy boots, yeah

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, now
God, I'm going down
I don't wanna drown now
Meet me in the sound

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Meet me in the sound

Get on your boots
Get on your boots
Get on your boots
Yeah hey hey
Get on your boots
Yeah hey hey
Get on your boots
Yeah hey hey
Get on your boots
Yeah hey hey

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When U2 released “Get On Your Boots” as the lead single from No Line on the Horizon, many critics and fans alike viewed it as an unconventional choice. The song’s frenetic energy and eclectic mix of whimsical imagery contrasted sharply with the more introspective and atmospheric tones that characterized much of U2's earlier work. T

Upon its release, the track received a mixed reception; while some praised its infectious beat and rallying call to action, others found it jarring and less cohesive than previous singles like “Beautiful Day” or “Vertigo.” Despite the divided opinions, the song managed to achieve commercial success, reaching the top ten in several countries and ultimately becoming a staple in U2's live performances. The dichotomy between its upbeat tempo and provocative lyrics encapsulated the band’s willingness to push boundaries, setting the stage for the varied responses that No Line on the Horizon would evoke.

Other songs from No Line on the Horizon that refer to the theatre of war include White as Snow and Cedars of Lebanon.

The refrain 'let me in the sound' is also referenced in 'Fez Being Born'.

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