Bible references in U2 Song Lyrics

Saturday, September 5, 2009
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.

u2 coexist logo bible references
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.

"Another Day" Song Lyrics by U2

"Another Day" is U2's debut single, released in 1979 as a limited offering in Ireland, marking the band's initial foray into the music scene. 

The lyrics encapsulate the monotony and restlessness of daily life, evoking a sense of frustration and yearning for something more meaningful. The opening lines, "Wake up, the dawn of another dull day," set a tone of disenchantment, while the call to "take up your dreams" suggests an underlying hope for change amidst the mundane. 

The recurring imagery of night transitioning into day symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, where routine persists but the promise of renewal remains, encapsulated in the refrain "Another day."

"Another Day" Song Lyrics by U2



"Another Day" Lyrics U2

Another Day was U2's first ever single release and was limited to Ireland. It was not put on a U2 album until Boy was reissued in 2008.

The song also reflects the socio-political landscape of late 1970s Ireland, a time marked by economic strife and the lingering effects of the Troubles. 

U2's early work was heavily influenced by the environment in which they grew up, and "Another Day" subtly hints at the broader existential and social issues faced by the youth of the time. Lines like "Boy, salute in a street uniform" can be interpreted as a commentary on the militarization and division in Irish society, particularly in the context of the conflicts that defined the era. Despite its limited release, 

"Another Day" laid the groundwork for U2's distinctive sound and lyrical style, setting the stage for their subsequent exploration of deeper themes in their music, ultimately culminating in their critically acclaimed debut album, Boy, which was reissued in 2008, granting the song a broader audience and historical context within U2's evolving narrative.

"Another Day" Song Lyrics by U2

Wake up, the dawn of another dull day
Take up your dreams and on your way
Daylight, mother stands in the hall
Last night, head against the wall

When night turns to day and the children come out to play
Another day
Stop, shout
They come my way

Boy, salute in a street uniform
Toy, soldier ripped and torn

When night turns to day and the children come out to play
Another day
Stop, shout
They come my way

"Night and Day" song lyrics by U2

"Night and Day" song lyrics by U2


"Night and Day" Lyrics U2 (Steel String mix)

This lyrics of song was written by Cole Porter, U2 covered 'merely' covered it! ;) U2 probably recorded it because of Bono's bromance with Frank Sinatra. Sinatra himself recorded Night and Day five times. The reason however U2 recorded it was so it could go on the Red Hot and Blue, an AIDS charity album that featured songs by Cole Porter.

Night and Day Lyrics:

The tom-tom when the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick tick tock of the eye of the clock
You're standing up against the wall
Like the drip drip drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower's through
So a voice within me keeps repeating you you

Night and day you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It's no matter, baby, where you are
I think of you night and day

Day and night, why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you, night and day

Night and day under the hide of me
There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And its torment won't be through
Till you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day

Night and day

Night and day under the hide of me
Oh such a hungry yearning burning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won't be through
Till you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day

Night and day, night and day
Night and day
Night, night, night and day
Night, night, night and day
Night and day, night
Night and day, night and day
I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
How I miss you baby
Sing it
Night and day

The "Sweetest Thing" Song Lyrics by U2

Originally a b-side for U2's Where the Streets Have No Name single which featured on the mega selling The Joshua Tree album.
 
The song was allegedly written by singer Bono as an apology to his wife Ali Hewson for forgetting her birthday during the recording of The Joshua Tree sessions.

The "Sweetest Thing" Song Lyrics by U2

At Alison's request, profits from the Sweetest Thing song went to her favoured charity, Chernobyl Children's Project International which presumably Bono agreed to with good grace...

In U2's typical mischievous style, the cover of the single in features a gas mask, perhaps in relation to the charity and a reference to U2's concerns about nuclear issues which have featured in many of their songs such as Fast Cars.

"Sweetest Thing" Lyrics by U2

My love, she throws me like a rubber ball
Oh, the sweetest thing
But she won't catch me or break my fall
Oh, the sweetest thing
Baby's got blue skies up ahead
But in this, I'm a raincloud
You know she wants a dry kind of love
Oh, the sweetest thing

I'm losin' you
I'm losin' you
Ain't love the sweetest thing

I wanted to run but she made me crawl
Oh, the sweetest thing
Eternal fire, she turned me to straw
Oh, the sweetest thing
I know I got black eyes
But they burn so brightly for her
I guess it's a blind kind of love
Oh, the sweetest thing

I'm losin' you
I'm losin' you
Ain't love the sweetest thing
Ain't love the sweetest thing

I'm sorry for it, really
It's something new

Blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl
Oh, the sweetest thing
You can sew it up but you still see the tear
Oh, the sweetest thing
Baby's got blue skies up ahead
But in this, I'm a raincloud
Ours is a stormy kind of love
Oh, the sweetest thing

The sweetest thing
Oh, the sweetest thing

"Electrical Storm" song lyrics by U2 from The Best of 1990–2000

"Electrical Storm" is the only single from U2's second compilation album, The Best of 1990–2000, and one of the two new songs recorded for that album (the other one being the Oscar nominated "The Hands That Built America").

The song’s central metaphor—an electrical storm—reflects the charged atmosphere of a relationship in turmoil, where underlying tensions threaten to erupt but also offer the possibility of renewal. 

Bono sings, “You’re in my mind all of the time, I know that’s not enough,” suggesting a deep but restless connection, as though love alone can’t resolve the distance or dissonance between the couple. The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship at a crossroads, with the storm representing both the conflict and the potential cleansing that might come afterward. 

"Electrical Storm" song lyrics by U2 from The Best of 1990–2000
Adam Clayton and Samantha Morton as The Mermaid from the video

There’s a sense of hope embedded in the chaos, with lines like “Let’s see colors that have never been seen” pointing toward a desire for transformation, a longing for something new to emerge from the emotional wreckage. 

Electrical Storm Song Lyrics by U2

The sea, it swells like a sore head
And the night, it is aching
Two lovers lie with no sheets on their bed
And the day, it is breaking
On rainy days we go swimming out
On rainy days swimming in the sound
On rainy days we go swimming out

You're in my mind all of the time
I know that's not enough
If the sky can crack
There must be some way back
For love and only love

Car alarm won't let you back to sleep
You're kept awake dreaming someone else's dream
Coffee's cold but it'll get you through
Compromise, that's nothing new to you
Let's see colours that have never been seen
Let's go to places no one else has been

You're in my mind all of the time
I know that's not enough
Well, if the sky can crack there must be some way back
To love and only love
Electrical storm
Electrical storm
Electrical storm
Baby, don't cry

It's hot as hell, honey, in this room
Sure hope the weather will break soon
The air is heavy, heavy as a truck
Need the rain to wash away our bad luck

Well, if the sky can crack there must be some way back
For love and only love
Electrical storm
Electrical storm
Electrical storm

Baby, don't cry
Baby, don't cry
Baby, don't cry
Baby, don't cry

-

At its core, "Electrical Storm" explores the cyclical nature of love and conflict, how periods of emotional turbulence can either fracture a bond or deepen it. Bono’s vocals—tender yet strained—convey the fragility of the situation, as he grapples with feelings of both frustration and hope. There’s an undercurrent of melancholy throughout, but also the acknowledgment that, just as with a literal storm, resolution is possible. 

The recurring theme of water in the lyrics—“If the sky can crack, there must be some way back”—acts as both a destructive and cleansing force, symbolic of the emotional flooding that comes with intense conflict, yet also the potential for renewal. The imagery suggests that sometimes relationships must pass through the storm to reach clarity or healing, though the outcome remains uncertain. 

"The Hands That Built America" song lyrics by U2

gangs of new york U2 soundtrack lyrics


U2's "The Hands That Built America" song lyrics from Gangs of New York


The Hands that Built America was featured on the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York . It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 75th Academy Awards but lost to Eminem's "Lose Yourself." from the 8 Mile movie. It did win the less coveted Golden Globe for original song.

"The Hands That Built America" is a song about New York (hence its use on the film).

The first verse of the song makes reference to the Irish Potato Famine, and the resulting emigration of hundreds of thousands of Irish people to the United States.

The second and third verse lyrics relate to the quintessential American Dream, and the ideals that hard work can bring a person prosperity. The final verse is about the terrorist attacks of September 11th.

"The Hands That Built America" lyrics from U2


Oh, my love, it's a long way we've come
From the freckled hills to the steel and glass canyons
From the stony fields to hanging steel from sky
From digging in our pockets for a reason not to say goodbye

These are the hands that built America
Wishing and dreaming for something better
America
Wishing and dreaming

Last saw your face in a watercolor sky
As sea birds argue, a long goodbye
I took your kiss on the spray of the new land star
You gotta live with your dreams, don't make them so hard

And these are the hands that built America
It's a journey, it's a journey
America
Wishing, wishing

Of all the promises, is this one we could keep
Of all of the dreams, is this one still out of reach
Halle, holy

It's early fall, there's a cloud on the New York skyline
Innocence dragged across a yellow line

These are the hands that built America
These are the hands that built America
America
America

U2 was also Oscar nominated for Ordinary Love but also didn't win.

"The Hands That Built America," written for the Gangs of New York soundtrack, is a poignant reflection on the immigrant experience and the labor that shaped the foundation of the United States. The song lyrically captures the struggles, hopes, and contributions of generations of immigrants who arrived on American shores with dreams of building better lives. Bono’s lyrics evoke a deep sense of historical reverence, chronicling the hardships faced by these early settlers and laborers, whose sweat and sacrifice helped transform a fledgling nation into a global powerhouse. 

The opening lines, “Oh my love, it’s a long way we’ve come / From the freckled hills, to the steel and glass canyons,” poetically contrast the Irish countryside with New York's towering skyscrapers, symbolizing the profound journey from rural origins to urban industrialization.

The song also explores the tension between the ideals of the American Dream and the harsh realities faced by those who sought it. While the lyrics celebrate the vision, perseverance, and hard work of immigrants, there’s a melancholy undercurrent that acknowledges the violence, exploitation, and division that accompanied the building of America. 

Lines like “It's early fall, there's a cloud on the New York skyline / Innocence, dragged across a yellow line” subtly reference the ongoing struggles and conflicts within American society, pointing toward the labor strife and even evoking a post-9/11 world, in which the dream of America feels complicated by tragedy. In this way, "The Hands That Built America" becomes more than just a historical tribute—it serves as a reflection on the ongoing tension between aspiration and reality, construction and destruction, which continues to shape the nation.

"Tower Of Song" Lyrics Leonard Cohen sung by U2

Tower of Song was written by Leonard Cohen and was recorded by U2 for soundtrack to the movie I'm Your Man. 

“Tower of Song,” as performed by U2, resonates deeply with themes of mortality, artistic legacy, and the burdens of being a creator. The lyrics reflect Cohen’s contemplation of aging, with the "Tower of Song" serving as a metaphorical place where songwriters reside, contributing to the world while carrying the weight of their creative endeavors. 

When Bono sings these words, there's a reverence for the passage of time and the inevitability of fading youth, something U2 themselves have confronted throughout their career. Lines like “I was born like this, I had no choice / I was born with the gift of a golden voice” point to the sense of both destiny and burden that comes with the gift of artistry, and U2’s rendition emphasizes this tension between fate and freedom, framed in their own experience as a band that has lasted decades.

Cohen’s original song is a meditation on how the process of making music ties into both personal identity and universal human experience. When U2 performs it, they underscore the communal nature of these sentiments, adding a touch of their own reflections on longevity, fame, and the creative journey they’ve been on. The song is an ode to both endurance and melancholy, speaking to the inevitable decline we all face, while acknowledging the power of art to outlast the artist.


It appeared as a b-side on the Window in the Skies single.

"Tower Of Song" Lyrics Leonard Cohen sung by U2

Well my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
Im just paying my rent every day
In the tower of song

I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
All hundred floors above me
In the tower of song

I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice
And twenty-seven angels from the great beyond
Well, they tied me to this table right here
In the tower of song

So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I'm very sorry, baby, doesnt look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
Ah, they dont let a woman kill you
Not in the tower of song

Well you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure
The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor
And there's a mighty judgement coming, but I may be wrong
You see, you hear these funny voices
In the tower of song

I see you standing on the other side
I don't know how the river got so wide
I loved you baby, way back when
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed
I feel so close to everything that we lost
We'll never, we'll never have to lose it again

So I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back
There moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you'll be hearing from me, baby, long after I'm gone
I'll be speaking to you sweetly
From a window in the tower of song

Yeah my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I'm just paying my rent every day
In the tower of song

"Window In The Skies" Song Lyrics by U2

In “Window in the Skies,” U2 explores the transformative power of love as a force that transcends boundaries, heals brokenness, and challenges despair. The lyrics open with images of liberation—“The shackles are undone, the bullets quit the gun”—presenting love as a force that dismantles violence and oppression. Bono’s words evoke resurrection and renewal with lines like “The grave is now a grove” and “The stone, it has been moved,” subtly referencing Christian themes of redemption and transcendence,

These images suggest that love has the ability to undo the confines of past suffering and offer a path forward. Throughout the song, Bono reflects on love’s paradoxical nature, noting that it “makes strange enemies” and has a power to bring “hate… to its knees,” suggesting that love can break through bitterness and animosity. He also expresses the vulnerability love demands, capturing it with the “soul and its striptease,” where true intimacy requires the shedding of facades and the raw exposure of self.

"Window In The Skies" Song Lyrics by U2

As the refrain, “Oh, can’t you see what love has done,” repeats, Bono reflects on love’s effect not just on the world but on himself, alluding to personal redemption. In moments of remorse—“I know I hurt you and I made you cry”—he acknowledges past mistakes but recognizes that love has left “a window in the skies,” a metaphorical glimpse of hope and forgiveness that remains open. 

Love, as Bono sees it, has the power to redeem “every broken heart” and bring solace “for every heart that cries.” In the end, the song elevates love to a near-spiritual plane, celebrating it as a force that transcends human limitations and opens a path to unity and peace.


"Window In The Skies" Song Lyrics by U2

The shackles are undone

The bullets quit the gun
The heat that's in the sun
Will keep us when it's done
The rule has been disproved
The stone, it has been moved
The grave is now a grove
All debts are removed

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Love makes strange enemies
Makes love where love may please
The soul and its striptease
Hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head
We can reach it from our bed
If you let me in your heart
And out of my head

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Please don't ever let me out of here
I've got no shame
Oh no, oh no

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Oh, can't you see what love has done
I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Did everything but murder you and I
Oh, can't you see what love has done
But love left a window in the skies
Oh, can't you see what love has done
And to love I rhapsodize

Oh, can't you see what love has done
To every broken heart
Oh, can't you see what love has done
For every heart that cries
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Love left a window in the skies
Oh, can't you see what love has done
And to love I rhapsodize

Oh, can't you see

-

"Window In The Skies" Lyrics U2

In the promotional video directed by Gary Koepke, a montage that includes nearly 100 clips taken from footage from the previous 50 years of other famous musicians performing in concert is used. The clips were selected and edited together so that either the lip movements or the finger movements of the musicians, who actually were performing other songs, match up with either the lyrics or the music of the U2 song. Artists in the video include Jack White (who appeared in It Might Get Loud with the Edge and covered Love is Blindness), Frank Sinatra, Beck and Chuck D.

"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.

bono and billie saints are coming

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.

"Elvis Ate America" song lyrics + meaning - U2

"Elvis Ate America" song lyrics + meaning  - U2
Elvis has long been a fascination of Bono's, making reference to him in the similar titled song Elvis Presley and America from the album The Unforgettable Fire.

In the track “Elvis Ate America,” U2 invites listeners into a surreal landscape that blurs the lines between the personal and the collective, crafting a narrative that resonates with themes of identity, loss, and cultural introspection.

The title itself serves as a provocative metaphor, invoking the larger-than-life persona of Elvis Presley—a figure synonymous with American culture and rock ‘n’ roll, yet also emblematic of the ephemeral nature of fame and success. As Bono’s ethereal vocals weave through the sonic tapestry, they echo the sentiments of an America grappling with its identity, caught in the throes of commercialization and nostalgia.

This paradoxical relationship with cultural icons becomes a lens through which listeners examine their own identities, influenced by a culture that simultaneously elevates and devours its heroes.

At its core, “Elvis Ate America” challenges the listener to reflect on the consequences of a society consumed by celebrity culture. U2’s lyrics juxtapose the allure of fame with the haunting emptiness it often leaves in its wake.

The song navigates through imagery that evokes both admiration and disillusionment, mirroring the band's own journey through fame and the constant struggle for authenticity amidst the noise. Bono has often spoken about the destructive nature of fame and the yearning for deeper connections in a world that prizes surface over substance.

This song features Howie B. on backing vocals to the 'Elvis' call for sorts for Bono to respond to.

"Elvis Ate America" Lyrics - U2 as Passengers

Elvis, white trash
Elvis the Memphis flash
Elvis didn't smoke hash
Woulda been a sissy without Johnny Cash
Elvis didn't dodge the draft
Elvis had his own aircraft
Elvis having a laugh
On Lisa Marie in a colour photograph
Elvis under the hood
Elvis with Cadillac blood
Elvis, darling bud
Flowered and returned to the Mississippi mud
Elvis ain't gonna rot
Elvis in a Memphis plot
Elvis, he didn't hear the shot Dr. King died just across the lot from
Elvis, vanilla ice cream
Elvis, girls of fourteen
Elvis, the Memphis spleen
Shooting TVs, reading Corinthians thirteen
Elvis with God on his knees
Elvis owned three TVs
Here come the killer bees
Head full of honey potato chips and cheese
Elvis, the bumper stickers
Elvis, the white knickers
Elvis, the white [word removed]
Ate a king burger and just kept getting bigger
Elvis sang to win
Elvis, the battle hymn
Elvis, the battle to be slim
Elvis ate America before America ate him
Elvis
Elvis stamps
Elvis necromance
Elvis fans
Elvis sycophants
Elvis the public enemy
Elvis don't mean shit to Chuck D.
Elvis changed the center of gravity
Made it slippy
Elvis, Hitler
Elvis, Nixon
Elvis, Christ
Elvis, Mishima
Elvis, Markus
Elvis, Jackson
Elvis the pelvis
Elvis the psalmist
Elvis the genius
Elvis, generous
Elvis, forgive us
Elvis, pray for us
Elvis Aaron
Elvis Presley
Elvis

-

This lyric has removed Bono's reference to Elvis as a 'white -----r'.

In “Elvis Ate America,” Bono’s use of the term “white -----r” is both provocative and deeply layered, serving as a stark commentary on race, identity, and the dislocation of culture in contemporary America. By employing such a charged phrase, Bono confronts the complexities of societal divisions, particularly the intersections of privilege and disenfranchisement.

This term, which evokes the historical suffering of African Americans while simultaneously suggesting the alienation felt by those who exist on the fringes of both white and minority identities, highlights the paradox of modern existence. Bono’s intention seems to be to jolt listeners into an awareness of the systemic inequalities that persist, regardless of race.

In a cultural landscape where identity is often commodified and simplified, this stark juxtaposition serves as a call to recognize the profound emotional and social struggles that underpin the American experience. Bono’s audacity in choosing such language reflects a broader critique of societal norms, challenging listeners to reconsider their perceptions of race, identity, and belonging in a world that often seeks to categorize individuals in reductive terms.

Check out this page about the influence of Elvis on U2.
Powered by Blogger.
Back to Top