In the expansive discography of U2, a band renowned for its distinct sound and profound impact on the music industry, the contributions of the guitarist David Howell Evans, better known as The Edge, extend beyond his innovative guitar techniques and backing vocals.
The Edge's role as a vocalist, although less prominent than that of the lead singer Bono, offers a unique and compelling dimension to U2's music.
The Edge's vocal contributions, characterized by their clarity and emotive resonance, provide a contrast to Bono's more dominant and robust singing style.
His voice, often described as introspective and ethereal, adds a layer of subtlety and depth to the songs he leads. The exploration begins with "Seconds" from the 1983 album "War," where The Edge's vocals punctuate the song's anti-nuclear message with a sense of urgency and starkness. This track stands as an early example of his ability to convey powerful themes through a more restrained vocal delivery.
Numb is a repeating, monotonous mantra spoken by The Edge with a drumbeat sampled from the Leni Riefenstahl film Olympia. "Numb" also features backing vocals by Bono and Larry Mullen, Jr i.e. while The Edge sings in a slow rap monotone while Bono sings around it in his 'opera' voice. Bono did the same on Zooropa, the Johnny Cash track. Here's the video of Numb as it's a classic!
Van Dieman's Land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania, Australia. The lyrics were written and sung by U2's one and only The Edge. The song is dedicated to a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly, who was deported to Australia because of his poetry and Fenian leanings. The track itself is from Rattle and Hum.
During the Pop Mart tour, The Edge took lead vocal duties live on stage for this song. Edge sang alone and without accompaniment from the rest of the U2 band, save for his own guitar and capo on the second fret.
From Songs of Experience, The Edge sings a full verse near the end of the song:
"I can see it all so clearly
I can see what you can’t see
I can see you lover her loudly
When she needs you quietly"
The Edge is also noted as singing the first half of the song "Seconds" from War, dual vocals with Bono in "Discotheque" from the Pop album, and the bridge in the song "Miracle Drug" (though there's some debate about that).
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...
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'.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
It is one of the more 'soft' songs on the album but features a big rousing chorus and is one of the best tracks from the album.
Produced by Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) and Flood (Flood, you may recall did production duties on the Grammy Award winning Zooropa and beyond such as Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness).
Song for Someone” is a poignant reflection on love, vulnerability, and the longing for connection, encapsulating the essence of deeply personal relationships. In the lyrics, Bono addresses the idea of dedicating a song to someone significant in one’s life, emphasizing the profound impact that love can have on an individual.
The song’s introspective nature reveals the speaker’s emotional struggles, conveying a sense of yearning for the one who understands and accepts them fully. The lines evoke imagery of companionship and support, portraying love as a sanctuary amidst the chaos of life.
Song For Someone lyrics by U2
You got a face not spoiled by beauty
I have some scars from where I’ve been
You’ve got eyes that can see right through me
You’re not afraid of anything you’ve seen
I was told that I would feel nothing the first time
I don’t know how these cuts heal
But in you I found a rhyme
If there is a light
You can’t always see
And there is a world
We can’t always be
If there is a dark
That we shouldn’t doubt
And there is a light
Don’t let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
You let me into a conversation
A conversation only we could make
You break and enter my imagination
Whatever’s in there
It’s yours to take
I was told I’d feel nothing the first time
You were slow to heal
But this could be the night
If there is a light
You can’t always see
And there is a world
We can’t always be
If there is a dark
Within and without
And there is a light
Don’t let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And I’m a long way
From your hill of Calvary
And I’m a long way
From where I was and where I need to be
If there is a light
You can’t always see
There is a world
We can’t always be
If there is a kiss
I stole from your mouth
And there is a light
Don’t let it go out
-
The song also explores the theme of redemption and hope, suggesting that even in moments of doubt and darkness, love has the power to uplift and heal.
Bono's lyrics reflect a sense of resilience, illustrating how genuine connections can serve as guiding lights through life’s trials. The recurring motif of being "found" implies that love offers a sense of belonging and purpose, ultimately leading to personal transformation.
This intertwining of vulnerability and strength creates a powerful narrative that celebrates the beauty and complexity of relationships. By framing love as both a source of solace and a catalyst for growth, “Song for Someone” resonates as a universal anthem of connection and the longing for meaningful bonds in an often tumultuous world.
Here's an impressive video that goes with the song. Featuring future Star Wars actor, Woody Allen and his daughter Zoe it follows the tale of a man being released from prison.
The song is an introspective piece that showcases the band's talent for blending personal storytelling with universal themes. This song, like many others on the album, is rooted in the band's early experiences, yet it resonates with broader themes of love, hope, vulnerability, and the transformative power of music.
At its heart, "Song for Someone" is a love song, but its simplicity belies a deeper exploration of the complexities of relationships and emotional connection. The lyrics, "You got a face not spoiled by beauty, I have some scars from where I've been," suggest a relationship grounded in reality and acceptance, one that acknowledges imperfections and past hardships. This line reflects a maturity in understanding love, moving away from idealized notions to a more grounded, realistic appreciation of human connection.
The song also delves into the theme of hope and the redemptive power of love. The chorus, "If there is a light, you can’t always see, and there is a world, we can’t always be, If there is a dark, that we shouldn’t doubt, and there is a light, don’t let it go out," serves as a metaphorical beacon of hope. It suggests that even in moments of darkness or uncertainty, the presence of love (the light) offers guidance and reassurance. This message is particularly poignant considering the band's history, as they have often used their music to offer solace and inspiration in times of personal and collective trials.
Vulnerability is another key theme in "Song for Someone." The openness in the lyrics, where Bono sings about revealing his inner self to someone else, is a powerful statement about the strength found in vulnerability. It challenges the conventional notion that vulnerability is a weakness, instead portraying it as a crucial component of deep, meaningful relationships.
The transformative power of music itself is subtly woven into the song. As the title suggests, this is a "song for someone," implying a personal dedication or message conveyed through music. This theme resonates with the larger narrative of "Songs of Innocence," where music is depicted as a powerful medium for expression, connection, and processing experiences.
Check out the lyrics to The Miracle which is also from Songs of Innocence.
U2's engagement with themes of nuclear war and weapon disarmament, particularly evident during the tense era of the Cold War, underscores their commitment to addressing global concerns through their music. The band's approach to these themes is a reflection of the prevailing anxieties and debates surrounding nuclear proliferation and the potential for catastrophic conflict.
U2's lyrics often weave a narrative that captures the fear and existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, serving as a voice for peace and disarmament in a world brimming with geopolitical tensions.
The band's exploration of these themes is more than just a commentary on global politics; it's an emotional plea for sanity and survival in the nuclear age. Their songs communicate the urgency of disarmament and the need to redirect human efforts towards peace and cooperation. This messaging is particularly resonant given the band's rise to prominence during a time when the threat of nuclear war loomed large in public consciousness.
U2 also once famously protested against
the Sellafield nuclear plant by colluding with Greenpeace to stage an event on
a beach near the site that was contaminated with radiation as the result of the
power plant’s activities.
As far as I can figure the earliest U2 song lyrics that refers
to atomic bombs is from the non album single, Celebration where Bono
sarcastically shares that he believes in the following three things:
“I believe in the third world war
I believe in the atomic bomb
I believe in the powers that be but they won't overpower me”
That was as far back as 1982.
Seconds
from the popular War album is another early U2 songs to make direct references to atomic bombs
“And they're doing the atomic bomb
Do they know where the dance comes from
Yes, they're doing the atomic bomb
They want you to sing along"
Bono said to the NME music magazine in 1983 of the song:
"There is a line in 'Seconds' about a fanatic assembling a nuclear device in an apartment in Times Square, New York, but it could be anywhere. We are now entering the age of nuclear terrorism where a group of fanatics could have the capabilities of bringing a bomb into a city and holding millions of people to ransom."
The Unforgettable Fire was released in 1984 in a time when
the world was worrying itself sick about the arms race between the US and the
Russians. Bono was inspired by a collection of paintings collectively known as The Unforgettable Fire which
was a reference to atomic bombs being dropped in the Japanese cities of
Hiroshima and Ngagasaki.
Says the Edge of the art display (in the book U2: Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every Song) "the image of that purging quality, coupled with the insight it gave into the horror of nuclear holocaust, stuck in Bono's mind".
The Wanderer, featuring country and western legend Johnny Cash from the Zooropa album was definitely suggestive of being set in a post apocalyptic world set under an 'atomic sky'. Lyrically it featured a character that appeared to be struggling to find some kind of spiritual identity.
Another U2 album title also referred to
atomic bombs in a most direct fashion – How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was a popular album that had a
bonus track Fast Cars which gave the answer to the album’s question – one dismantles
an atomic bomb with love.
Through these songs, U2 not only raises awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the need for disarmament but also encourages their listeners to contemplate the moral and ethical implications of war. Their approach to these themes is not didactic; rather, it invites reflection and dialogue, contributing to a broader discourse on peace and global security.
U2's songs about nuclear war and disarmament underscore the band's role as not just musicians but also as global citizens deeply invested in the pursuit of a more peaceful world.
U2 released a charity Christmas single, for World Aids Day in 2008
The song's lyrics are written by Greg Lake, who was a principal player of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and he didn’t know U2 had covered his Christmas song until he heard it when it was released!
Lake has said "In some ways, “I Believe in Father Christmas” is a very quirky song.
It was never written with the intention of it becoming a hit single but was written, rather, as an album track making quite a serious comment about how Christmas had changed from being a celebration of peace on earth and goodwill to all men, into one huge and disgusting shopping orgy."
“I Believe in Father Christmas” lyrics as song by U2
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin's birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
And they told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas you get you deserve.
The one thing that truly stands out for me when thinking about the brilliance of U2 is not their songs, the drums, or riffs.
Nor is it the hype and hyperbole of one of the world's most popular bands.
It's simply Bono's lyrics.
Bono has written the vast majority of U2's lyrics and in many of them, you can find some true gems of penmanship, little sparkles of lyrical bliss that took a good song and put it into the territory of musical greatness.
I suggest that while some non U2 fans take any chance to diss Bono, they would be really grumpy buggers if they denied that Bono was a great lyricist.
Like a good poet, Bono's lyrics feature a whole range of subjects - love and loss, drugs, faith, faith in drugs, gods, Elvis and other monsters and of course, politics and its prisoners. He can sometimes get a little dark, touching his inner Darth Vader.
Perhaps second only to With Or Without you in terms of popularity, it is arguably U2's finest song and I believe the lyrics are what make this so - I think this is because it's one of those songs where the lyrics can mean anything and everything to anyone.
At work last week a manager did a pop quiz and asked what this song was about. The answers varied from 'it's about a gay couple' or 'two torn lovers'.
I think Bono's actually on record in the U2 by U2 book as One being a song about a couple that's breaking up.
"They say they want the kingdom but they don't want God in it".
I think that's Bono perfectly capturing the wishes of so many of us.
We want the nice things, but aren't prepared to put in the effort.
Or something.
For me, The Wanderer always seemed like some post apocalyptic dream - and it's perhaps a sign of a great song where it allows you to shape your own thoughts and fantasies around it (well when Bono mentions the 'atomic sky', that's nice nudge).
Indeed, the whole of Zooropa's lyrics seem to take me to a strange other world, where in some places it's OK to feel numb or taste the lemon but spit out antifreeze.
The title is suggestive of what's to come in this song, a play on Darwin's epic work about evolution - the song's lyrics are possibly a father looking at his daughter's own evolution from - child to woman.
The second half is more likely Bono singing to his wife (and the message in the first half could also before her) - either way both, themes are heartwarming.
'Blind leading the blond' is perhaps my favourite U2 lyric ever. It's just a cleverly simple play on words.
Bono does that trick a fair bit in the Pop album - an almost too cute example is from The Playboy Mansion which opens with the lyric "If Coke is a mystery, and Micheal Jackson, history...".
It was a nice play on the failing career of Jackson and a play on the name of his Greatest Hits album.
Bono defiantly wears this song's lyrics on his sleeve.
A song about soldiers shooting civilians in Northern Ireland - the lyrics capture the moment crisply by invoking a cross fire between religion and the military (and by extension the State) and the sad consequences when both collide.
Featuring a fine use of a marching drum beat by Larry Mullen, the song's chorus is a defining moment for Bono - it was one of U2's first truly popular 'classic' songs and it many ways this song defined U2 as a band that could carry some political weight.
"In my dream I was drowning my sorrows
But my sorrows, they learned to swim
Surrounding me, going down on me
Spilling over the brim
Waves of regret and waves of joy
I reached out for the one I tried to destroy
You, you said you'd wait
'Til the end of the world"
Simply one of Bono's finest song writing moments.
Water is commonly used as a metaphor life yet here's Bono drowning in his sorrows.
The song can be seen as a obvious story about how Judas betrayed Jesus and thus seen as one of those "U2 going on about God and spiritually" type songs but as with all good lyrics they can mean anything.
I tend to see this one more of a dramatic break up between two lovers where the relationship perhaps has been bit one sided.
"They say they want the kingdom but they don't want God in it". I think that's Bono perfectly capturing the wishes of so many of us.
We want the nice things, but aren't prepared to put in the effort.
For me, The Wanderer always seemed like some post apocalyptic dream - and it's perhaps a sign of a great song where it allows you to shape your own thoughts and fantasies around it (well when Bono mentions the 'atomic sky', that's nice nudge).
Indeed, the whole of Zooropa's lyrics seem to take me to a strange other world, where in some places it's OK to feel numb or taste the lemon but spit out antifreeze.
Not a hugely popular song on release as a single but I think time has shown that Please was a fine song from U2's Pop album.
Lyrically it was a political plea, invoking the captains of Irish politics to sort their messes out (The Troubles).
The listener would perhaps know the song had political connotations if they had seen the cover which featured Gerry Adams and other elected leaders - however this stanza effectively leaves no stone unturned as Bono thows a rock in the air to hit home the issues:
Your Catholic blues, your convent shoes
Your stick-on tattoos, now they're making the news
Your holy war, your northern star
Your sermon on the mount from the boot of your car
Strong stuff from an album many people were quick to write off.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Get on Your Boots was simply a throw away song by U2 ( indeed one wonders why they released it as the first single from No Line on the Horizon when Magnificent probably would have given them a hit single) however the lyrics of this song run deep.
Almost a stream of consciousness, tripping through its seemingly nonsensical words but when Bono writes "I don’t want to talk about the wars between the nations" is he saying everything or just burying his head in the sand?
This is Bono's finest love letter he has ever written.
The closing from Rattle and Hum is simply a man tell a woman how he loves her - it's perhaps not the happiest song with undertones suggesting things may have gone awry - indeed the tremendous coda at the end suggests a passionate love affair being ripped apart by uncaring forces.
A good lyric deserves a fine musical backing and All I Want is You has it in spades.
Summary
So that was my attempt to highlight some of the fine lyrical qualities and charms that Bono and U2 have to offer.
Of course, with any interpretation of songs, the whole exercise is a subjective journey, indeed a musical journey that could have stopped at a completely different set of songs.
Bono is a bit of a lyrical magpie.
He steals lines from the bible and riffs on the work of others (such as when he tried to write a sequel of sorts to John Lennon's 'God') to make his point. But he does that and gets his unique messages across to the listener very well.
If someone hasn't already printed a book featuring all of U2's lyrics, they surely will as they serve as some fine literature in their own right. Throw in some politcal rallying and a little love making and there's a best seller book of poetry on your hands....
'The Troubles’ is a common name for the Northern Ireland conflict which spanned generations as Ireland nearly destroyed itself. Political divisions along political and religious lines wrestled with each other’s version of how Ireland should be governed.
In general terms, Catholic Nationalists and Unionist Protestants found themselves engaged in a brutal war where car bombings and ‘knee-cappings’ became the norm.
Paramilitary units such as those of the IRA killed with impunity and the British Army became a standard presence in the streets.
Many innocent civilians died as a result of some 1300 bombings, not to forget attacks on British soldiers.
Larry, Adam, Bono, and The Edge all grew up in this era. They were children subjected and exposed to it all. The Songs of Experience album covers some of this time.
The Edge has said that their songs are are ‘against violence
as a tool for politics of any kind’.
Let's start with arguably the most famous U2 song about Ireland.
U2, Ireland and the IRA - songs that explore 'The Troubles'
The song thus commemorates the slaughter of innocent civilians during the Irish troubles. While not a 'rebel song' it is a call for a rejection of violence.
This song became very popular and helped draw attention to the issues. As the band's popularity grew, they used it to campaign against the Irish Republican Army's (IRA) efforts to raise money to fuel continued armed conflict.
This lead to the IRA sending a threat to U2 that if they continued their campaign, they would be kidnapped. U2 continued anyway and continued to bring attention to the Troubles.
What's very interesting about the IRA getting upset about a single pop song was the fact that the original lyrics contained the line '"Don't talk to me about the rights of the IRA, UDA'. Written by The Edge, the band as a whole felt such lyrics might be too inflammatory and where changed.
This bit of self-editing actually made the song better.
As the song became more popular, some listeners interpreted the song's meaning as being a call to draw the Irish people deeper into the sectarian battle. This was clearly an incorrect analysis of the song's lyrics and intent.
Once that issue was recognized by the band, Bono would often introduce the song with it as not being a 'rebel song'. If you listen to the live version recorded on the Live at Red Rocks album Bono says, "There's been a lot of talk about this next song, this song is not a rebel song, this song is Sunday Bloody Sunday!"
Some people thought the song was actually glorifying the Troubles and calling them deeper into the country's sectarian battle. On many occasions since its release on 1983's War, Bono has made it clear that this is not a "rebel song" or a song of the "revolution," but a song that defiantly waves the white flag for peace.
The inspiration for this song may also have in part been due to John Lennon releasing his own song in 1972 also called Sunday Bloody Sunday about the Derry slaughter. Lennon's lyrics were full of vitriol (mostly aimed at the British government) and hugely antagonistic.
'Please' from the Pop album
Please was in our opinion, one of
the best songs from the Pop album.
This
song’s lyrics are blatantly about the troubles in Ireland. As the song slowly
builds, Bono paints the picture, coloring the world in terms of religion and
war colliding to the point where bombs are left in cars and as they are set up, that is the ‘sermon from the
mount'.
Please single cover
The single cover for this song
features the pictures of four Northern Irish politicians — Gerry Adams, David
Trimble, Ian Paisley, and John Hume in a pointed effort to draw attention to the
issues.
This photo was a direct message
to the political leaders of the Irish people to ‘get up of their knees’ and
hasten the peace process which was grinding along slowly – to which Bono
pointedly states ‘October, talk getting nowhere November, December Remember, are
we just starting again’.
Bono also cleverly entwines the songs
meaning to be ‘about a girl’ – so much so that if you aren’t paying clear
attention to his words, you could be duped into thinking the song is simply a
love song about an explosive relationship.
In many ways, Please is the sound of a U2 growing up from their Sunday Bloody Sunday era and offering a more grizzled, even more wizened approach to the issue.
Van Dieman's Land from Rattle and Hum
It's not a direct reference to The Troubles but Van Dieman's Land is an odd song dedicated to a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly, who was deported to Australia because of his bad poetry or more likely, his political leanings as espoused in the poetry.
Fenian is a coverall word used to describe the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood and more generally these days as anything Irish.
The song's lyrics were written and sung by U2's The Edge.
'Peace on Earth' from All That You Can't Leave Behind
Described by The Edge as "the most bitter song U2 has ever written", Peace on Earth is yet another response by U2 to the Omagah bombing in Northern Ireland on 15 August 1989. The bomb set by a splinter IRD group known as the Real Irish Republican Army killed 29 people and injured a couple of hundred other persons.
The bomb was to express disagreement with the IRD’s formal ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement which was a plan to forge a path to peace.
Bono refers to the names of some of the people killed in the bombing - Sean, Julia, Gareth, Anne, and Breda. He’s once more expressing his disdain for war and asking Jesus to tell those waging it that their real mission is peace on Earth but more than that, the song serves as a tribute to those that died. That they are bigger than the war that was being waged.
'The Troubles' from Songs of Innocence
"The Troubles", was described by Bono as "an uncomfortable song about domestic violence".
Bono is being somewhat cute with this statement as while domestic violence is often used to describe the violence that can occur in the family home, Bono is also doubly referring to The Troubles as being the domestic violence of Ireland and the clue to this is the deliberate title of the song.
If the song is seen context with the album it came from, it's very relevant to the actual Troubles. Songs of Innocence was about Bono and his bandmates growing up and living during the actual Troubles.
It is a song that addresses the political and cultural divide between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The lyrics explore themes of identity and division, reflecting on the tensions arising from the historical conflict known as the Troubles. Using the river as a metaphor for separation, the song emphasizes the emotional and geographical barriers between the two regions.
Of the songs lyrics Bono said " “If U2 sang that song at this point, it might be reason enough for the troubles to start up again. I’ve had enough bruises and scars not to want to take things on the head in the same way anymore. I think you’ve got to be smarter now.”
Bono has written a song as a 2020 Saint Patrick's Day gift for Italians who are quarantined amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic.
Bono wrote the song free of his U2 contemporaries - and played it on the piano from 'Bublin' Dublin'.
It's the first piece of any U2 related music since the release of Songs of Experience.
Let Your Love Be Known
Yes there was silence yes there was no people here yes I walked through the streets of Dublin and no one was near Yes I don't know you No I didn't think I didn't care You live so very far away from just across the square
And I can't reach but I can rain You can't touch but you can sing Across rooftops Sing down the phone Sing and promise me you won't stop Sing your love, be known, let your love be known.
Yes there is isolation You and me we're still here Yes when we open our eyes we will stare down the fear And maybe I've said the wrong thing Yes I made you smile I guess the longest distance is always the last mile.
And I can't reach but I can rain You can't touch but you can sing Across rooftops Sing to me down the phone Sing and promise me you won't stop Sing and you're never alone.
Sing as an act of resistance Sing though your heart is overthrown When you sing there is no distance So let your love be known, oh let your love be known Though your heart is overthrown. Let your love be known.
It was a collection of poems that reflected on how the state of childhood 'innocence' was influenced by the world cutting in on childhood as 'experience'.
These being influences such as corruption, oppression by religious movements, state domination and the machinations of the dominant classes.
So why is this relevant to U2?
Bono has centered several songs of the album's lyrics around growing up in Ireland.
He said in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine:
"We wanted to make a very personal album... Let's try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family. The whole album is first journeys—first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually"
Raised by Wolves covers a car bombing in Ireland that Bono personally felt close to - real world experiences creeping in as he and his band mates become men.
The effect of William Blake on Bono's song writing subjects has not been a recent observation. For a 1997 review of the 'Pop' album, poet Brendan Keneally noted when discussing that album's lyrics:
"We live in an age when sexuality and spirituality are usually treated as completely separate realities despite the fact that down through the ages some of the greatest poets and song-writers identified the presence of the one in the other. Think of Blake's 'Songs of Innocence and Experience', D. H. Lawrence's poems, stories and novels, and some of W. B. Yeats's greatest poems."
The Joshua Tree album was originally intended to open with a track called "Beautiful Ghost".
Bono was to recite "Introduction to Songs of Experience" but the recording was dropped in favour of the album opening with Where the Streets have no name, a wise choice.
None-the-less it's clear Blake's writings have been on Bono's mind for some time.
In amongst the madness of the release of Songs of Innocence Bono revealed the existence of a second album U2 intended to release, Songs of Experience.
Released some 3 years after SOI, it acts as a direct companion album to Innocence - presumably in the same way the Grammy award wining Zooropa was a very close cousin to U2's career highlight, Achtung Baby.
Perhaps this second album will tell the kind of tales that Blake thought changed children - it would not be new territory for Bono. Indeed, the official word from U2 described the album's lyrical meaning as:
'While Songs of Innocence charted the band’s earliest influences and experiences in the late 1970s and early 80s, the new album is a collection of songs in the form of intimate letters to places and people close to the singer’s heart; family, friends, fans, himself
You’re The Best Thing About Me is from the Songs of Experience album. Officially, it was the first single to be released. A song called Blackout was released as a live video earlier.
The blue cover art features the Edge's daughter, Sian Evans.
A remix on the song has been released. It's called "You're the Best Thing About Me (U2 Vs. Kygo)", Kygo being the remixer. This is a return to past U2 roots - as in the 1990's U2 were really into remixes - the Paul Oakenfold (Melon) version of Even Better than the Real thing charted higher than the original! U2 have also released two other versions of the song, an acoustic version and a 'sci-fi soul mix' which is intended to be the preferred format for radio stations.
The lyrics meaning are almost cryptic. Bono said this about the song to Rolling Stone Magazine:
"We must resist surrendering to melancholy for only the most special moments. That's a long way to say check our new single out, "You're the Best Thing About Me," it's kind of like punk Supremes."
Poets eh?
'You’re The Best Thing About Me ' song lyrics by U2
When you look so good
The pain in your face doesn’t show
When you look so good
And baby, you don’t even know
When the world is ours
But the world is not your kind of thing
Full of shooting stars
Brighter as they’re vanishing
Oh, you’ve seen enough
To know it’s children who teach
You’re still free enough
To wake up on a bed or a beach
You’re the best thing about me
The best thing that ever happened
A boy
You’re the best thing about me
I’m the kind of trouble that you enjoy
You’re the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You’re the best thing about me
The best thing about me
I been crying out
How bad can a good time be
Shooting off my mouth
That’s another great thing about me
I have everything
But I feel like nothing at all
There’s no risky thing
For a man who’s determined to fall
You’re the best thing about me
The best thing that ever happened
A boy
You’re the best thing about me
I’m the kind of trouble that you enjoy
You’re the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You’re the best thing about me
Why am I walking away
Walking away
Why am I walking away
Edge sings this next verse:
I can see it all so clearly
I can see what you can’t see
I can see you lover her loudly
When she needs you quietly
And back to Bono:
You’re the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You’re the best thing about me
Why am I
Why am I walking away?
Walking away
Why am I walking away?
Here's the official U2 video of the song which features the band having a good time in New York.
The song is a celebration of love and the joy that another person can bring into one's life. The chorus, with its direct and heartfelt declaration, "You're the best thing about me," serves as a powerful expression of love and admiration. This type of open and unabashed appreciation is a recurring theme in U2's lyrics, reflecting a deep sense of gratitude and acknowledgement of the positive impact of loved ones.
However, "You're The Best Thing About Me" also delves into the theme of self-awareness and the recognition of one's own flaws within the context of a relationship. Lyrics like, "I'm the kind of trouble that you enjoy," and, "I have everything but I feel like nothing at all," suggest a nuanced understanding of personal imperfections and the complexities they can bring to relationships. This introspection adds depth to the song, moving beyond a simple love song to a more reflective examination of the self in relation to others.
The song also touches on the theme of change and the passage of time, particularly in the context of long-standing relationships. The line, "When you look so good, the pain in your face doesn't show," suggests a deeper understanding and acceptance of the inevitable changes and challenges that come with time. This acceptance of change, both in oneself and in one's partner, is a crucial element in enduring relationships.
U2's "You're The Best Thing About Me" explores the complexities of love, admiration, and vulnerability within relationships. The song juxtaposes outward beauty with hidden pain, illustrating how appearances can mask deeper struggles.
Some other titles of songs mentioned by Bono for the Songs of Experience album include: