Showing posts with label god part II lyrics U2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label god part II lyrics U2. Show all posts

The Real Meaning of 5 U2 Song Lyrics

Monday, January 16, 2017
meaning of U2's song lyrics


The real meaning of 5 U2 Song Lyrics


A classic rock song, can say anything and mean everything.

Look at Oasis's Wonderwall lyrics for example. It's basically a love song but without really actually meaning or saying anything.

To my mind, a really good song is one which has hidden depths - and those depths can usually be found in the lyrics and often in U2 songs.

Here's 5 U2 song lyrics that have some real meaning, and some real bite to them.

God Part II


People often wonder why this song is called Pt II as they've never heard of a U2 song called God before. It's actually intended as a sequel to John Lennon's song called God.

Lennon's song refers to things he didn't believe in such as Hitler - Bono's version also refers to things that he also doesn't believe in but also goes on to refer to how pissed he was at the author Albert Goldman who wrote an unflattering biography of Lennon (and also a bio of Elvis, and given U2's love of Elvis, I'm not surprised Bono made the reference).

Sunday Bloody Sunday 


This one is a pretty obvious song, but newer U2 fans may not realise the historical context and meaning of this song.

It's an exploration of the conflict that can exist between the State, it's people and when religion gets thrown into the mix.

Inspired by two terrible occasions where soldiers shot civilians in Northen Ireland - the lyrics capture these moments crisply by invoking the cross fire that occurred between Ireland's conflicting religions and the military action that was taken - and by extension the State's role in the massacres.

Walk On


This is one of those songs that stray into the say anything, mean anything territory but U2 have put some real context around it to to ensure that it's lyrics are not misunderstood.

Dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, this song is a freedom song, dedicated to the exponent of democracy and freedom in Mynamar.

Poignantly during the 360 degree tour, U2 played this song at every concert and had supporters of Amnesty International come out on to the stage to show their support for Aung San Suu Kyi and U2's support for the people of Mynammar and their efforts to become a truly democratic society.


Spanish Eyes



Despite stealing lyrics from "She's a rainbow" by the Rolling Stones, Spanish Eyes is a love song to Bono's wife Ali - and she is actually Irish thus confusing the heck out of many U2 fans.

However, it's often thought that Irish people do have eyes that have a hint of Spanish about them so perhaps that's want Bono's lyrics were trying to convey.

This b-side from The Joshua Tree era kind of complements The Sweetest Thing in the sense that it was also a b-side and also a love letter to Ali.

Zooropa


Zooropa is a really crazy song that opens the album of the same name.

Some fans have been confused by the lyrics of the song - they seem so mumble jumbled and make no sense.

The real meaning of the song can be determined when you realise the lyrics are a hodge podge of slogans from famous brands.

Zooropa's lyrics have a running theme of irony, tying in the "media overload" themes of the Zoo TV Tour into the context of a post-Berlin Wall Europe.

The song's lyrics touch on how modern technology can unite people as well as separates  them from each other.

Want more? Check out U2 lyrics that explore Jesus, Yahweh and The Good Book.

"God Part II" Lyrics by U2 from Rattle and Hum

Friday, August 14, 2009
"God Part II" is a fascinating outlier in U2's catalog, a lyrical wrestling match with the ghost of John Lennon and the lingering spirit of his controversial "God" from the 1970 Plastic Ono Band album

Where Lennon issued a blunt, defiant rejection of idols and icons – "I don't believe in Beatles" – Bono takes a more nuanced, almost conversational approach. He parries with Lennon's ghost, echoing the stark "don't believe in" refrain while subtly shifting the targets. 

It's less a refutation of Lennon's stance and more an exploration of belief itself in a world saturated with empty promises and fleeting fame.

Bono, never one to shy away from grand pronouncements (everything you know is wrong), uses "God Part II" to dissect the nature of faith and disillusionment. He picks up the thread from Lennon's primal scream, weaving in references to Elvis, Jesus, and even the band itself ("I don't believe in U2"). This isn't just a cheeky postmodern game; it's a reflection on the burden of expectation and the search for meaning beyond the trappings of celebrity. Bono seems to be grappling with the limitations of rock & roll as a vehicle for salvation, acknowledging its seductive power while questioning its ability to truly change the world.

Infamously, amongst U2 fans, the song also contains an attack verse lyric on American biographer Albert Goldman:

I don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's gonna get him
If I don't get him first

Bono's lyrical jab at Albert Goldman in "God Part II" is a direct response to the biographer's scathing, controversial portrayals of both Elvis Presley and John Lennon. Bono, a passionate defender of rock and roll's legacy, takes issue with Goldman's reductive and often salacious accounts, which he sees as tarnishing the reputations of these cultural icons. The "instant karma" line, a clear nod to Lennon's own song, adds an extra layer of pointedness to the critique, suggesting that Goldman will ultimately face retribution for his exploitative writings.

This attack on Goldman isn't just a personal vendetta; it speaks to Bono's broader concern about the way media narratives shape our understanding of artists and their work. 

He's wary of the tendency to reduce complex figures to simplistic caricatures, particularly in the pursuit of sensationalism and profit. This theme resonates throughout U2's music, particularly in songs like Elvis Presley and America on The Unforgettable Fire album where Bono laments the exploitation of Elvis's image and the distortion of his legacy in Goldman's Elvis biography.

By twice calling out Goldman, Bono challenges the authority of biographers and critics, asserting the artist's right to define their own narrative and protect their legacy from those who would seek to exploit it.

Additionally, the lyrics allude to Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", in the lyric 'Heard a singer on the radio late last night/He says he's gonna kick the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight'.

God Part II Lyrics by U2

Don't believe the devil
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up
I don't believe in excess
Success is to give
I don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live
I believe in love

Don't believe in forced entry
I don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don't believe in deathrow
Skidrow or the gangs
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I believe in love

Don't believe in cocaine
I got a speedball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Did you hear what I said
Don't believe them
When they tell me there ain't no cure
The rich stay healthy
The sick stay poor
I believe in love

I don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's gonna get him
If I don't get him first
I don't believe that rock'n'roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
Spirals and turns
I believe in love

I don't believe in the '60s
In the golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up
I heard a singer on the radio
Late last night
Says he's gonna kick the darkness
Till it bleeds daylight
I believe in love

I feel like I'm falling
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside a name
A presence I can feel
I believe in love

A new musical direction, precipitated by God Part II?

The song itself is a dark and moody beast and can be seen as a portent to the songs that were developed for U2's Achtung Baby, subtly hinting at the sonic evolution to come. 

The Edge's guitar takes on a harder edge, Clayton's bass throbs with an as yet unvisted urgency, and Mullen Jr.'s drums propel the song forward with a newfound intensity, all elements that would become hallmarks of their later sound. 

Even Bono's vocal delivery, raw and confrontational, foreshadows the more ironic (iconic?) persona he would embrace on Achtung Baby. Essentially a sonic laboratory where U2 began deconstructing their stadium rock sound.

Thematic connections to other U2 song lyrics

While "God Part II" might not be an obvious U2 classic, its themes resonate across their catalog, linking it to songs like "The Fly" with its shared exploration of disillusionment and the search for meaning in a world of fleeting promises. The song's questioning of blind faith and the rejection of false idols connects it to "Acrobat," where Bono grapples with spiritual doubt and the hypocrisy he sees in organized religion.

Finally, both "Wake Up Dead Man" from Zooropa and "God Part II" grapple with disillusionment and a crisis of faith. "Wake Up Dead Man" expresses a desperate plea to Jesus for intervention and guidance amidst a world seemingly devoid of hope, reflecting a sense of spiritual abandonment.

"God Part II" deconstructs the notion of a traditional, benevolent God, questioning his role in a world rife with suffering and injustice. Both songs challenge conventional religious beliefs, expressing doubt and frustration with the perceived absence or indifference of a higher power. They share a thematic thread of spiritual searching and existential questioning, exploring the complexities of faith and the human struggle to reconcile belief with the harsh realities of the world.

Powered by Blogger.
Back to Top