"Winter" song lyrics by U2 from the Brothers movie

Winter is a song  left over from the No Line on the Horizon recording sessions.

Winter appears in the war film Brothers at the request of director Jim Sheridan, and it plays over the closing credits.

Bono wrote Winter's lyrics in one night and they were revised just once after that. 

Tobey Maguire's character Captain Sam Cahill was the inspiration for the lyric, with the band noting that the focus on "intense hidden emotion" and the secrets he held inside "was a jumping off point, thematically."

Bono noted that film director Sheridan wanted a "complex song for a complex character" and so the band wrote two songs: "Winter" and "White as Snow". 

While "White as Snow" focuses more on the relationship between the Cahill brothers, "Winter's" lyrics contribute to a "more universal song about the experience of the armed forces in Afghanistan.

"Winter" song lyrics by U2 from the Brothers movie

The yellow sun
Well it took the hand
Of a country boy
To a city in a far off land

We made no mark
No shadow at all
On the ancient holy streets
Where I learned to crawl

The broken and the bruised
The young and the used
The sure and confused
All here

Words would land on me
Then abandon me
Mangle, untangle me
Leave me on the floor

Rhymes they sprang in me
Summer sang in me
But summer sings in me no more

Now I’m 25
I’m trying to stay alive
In a corner of the world
With no clear enemies to fight

It’s hot as hell
And we’re like butter on toast
But there’s no army in this world
Can fight a ghost

The broken and the bruised
The young and the used
The sure and confused
All here

Words would land on me
Then abandon me
Leave me stranded
In writing on the door

Rhymes began in me
Summer sang in me
But summer sings in me no more

Ooo…

Listening to the cries
The strangers
The silence in the foreign grave

Listening to the thunder
The sky stretched
Stretched over every one

Listening to the tanks
The shy soul
The monster wants to pay

Listening to a chorus
Shining
And searching

At 21
I was born a son
And on that day I knew
I could kill

To protect the ones
We put bullets in guns
Or anything it takes
To take a life until it’s still

Oh…

The production of "Winter" underwent several transformations. Initially recorded during the No Line on the Horizon sessions, the song began as a sprawling, experimental piece, heavily influenced by the atmospheric production style of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. 

Eno's ambient textures and Lanois’ deep sonic layering are evident in the song’s expansive soundscapes, which give the track a cinematic quality. However, U2 ultimately decided that "Winter" did not fit the final tracklist of No Line on the Horizon, which leaned more toward a cohesive rock and experimental mix. Instead, a more stripped-down, somber version of the song was developed for the Brothers soundtrack, bringing the lyrics into sharper focus while maintaining the cold, reflective mood. 

This reworked version features The Edge’s haunting guitar work, complemented by minimalist instrumentation that underscores the emotional weight of the song. "Winter" is a powerful example of U2’s ability to craft songs that speak to deeply personal experiences while addressing broader social and existential themes, all set against the backdrop of their signature atmospheric production style.

Check out more U2 song lyrics

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"Be There" Lyrics U2

"Be There" Lyrics by U2

This song is from The Unforgettable Fire era and was never formally released, even following the 25th anniversary release of the album - the songs that were released were Yoshino Blossom and Disappearing Act. 

Apparently you can find the song on bootleg recordings.


Of interest is the lyric "All I want is you", which Bono may have poached for the song of the same name off the Rattle and Hum album.


Be There Lyrics:

You don't have to break your heart in two, my love
You don't have to play a part, it's you I love
You don't have to hide from yourself
You don't have to be someone else again
You don't have to rescue me
You don't have to watch me drown
You don't have to give to me
All I want is you

Be there, my love
Be there tonight
Be there, my love
Be there tonight

You don't have to dress yourself up or stay the same
You don't have to smile if I say smile
You don't have to be the best
You don't have to give me rest
All I want is all you have
Nothing else, nothing
Be there, my love

Just be there, my love
If you want the whole of me that's all you'll get
I'll sing this song
I'd give my health, give it all
You don't have to

Ah, she comes on by
She says, I need you, my love
She says, all I want is you

You don't have to play your little game if I fall apart
You don't have to work those strings or do those things
You're enough in my heart
You don't have to hide from yourself
You don't have to be someone else
All I want is all you have
All I want is you

Be there, my love
Be there tonight
Be there, my love
Be there tonight

-

"Be There" by U2 delves into themes of authenticity, vulnerability, and unconditional love. The lyrics emphasize a desire for genuine connection, where the speaker reassures their partner that love does not require masks, perfection, or sacrifice. 

Lines such as "You don’t have to hide from yourself / You don’t have to be someone else again" underscore a call for authenticity, implying that true love should be free from the pressures to conform or change. 

The refrain "Be there, my love" suggests that presence and sincerity hold more value than any superficial effort to impress or maintain appearances. This direct and comforting tone brings to light the song’s message about the importance of simply “being” together, rather than doing or giving excessively.

The lyric "All I want is you" becomes a defining motif, expressing a love that seeks wholeness rather than transactional fulfillment. This sentiment resounds throughout the song, portraying love as a sanctuary where one’s flaws, struggles, and raw self are welcome. The speaker’s repeated reassurance—"You don’t have to play a part, it’s you I love"—further reinforces the idea that genuine connection stems from accepting one another unconditionally. 

By stripping away the need for pretense, "Be There" captures the spirit of intimate love that U2 explores throughout their music, emphasizing presence and vulnerability as the ultimate gifts two people can offer each other.

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"Boomerang II" Lyrics U2

"Boomerang II" Lyrics U2

Boomerang is from the recording sessions of The Unforgettable Fire and was used as the B-side to the big single, Pride. There was also an instrumental called Boomerang I.

Boomerang II lyrics:

Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Under her skin I hear her love him
Under her love at peace within
Under her hands that which I'm needing
Under her eyes I glimpse her love

Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Under her time I think I'm within
Under her lie I hear her love
Under her love I hear nothing
Under her eyes I disappear

Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Under the sky I'm pointing there
Under the power, baby

You say run away
Throw me away
Throw me away

In the drift we've come
In the drift we go
In the drift we've come
In the drift we go

Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Under her skin I feel loving
Under her sign there is no fear
Under her hands, that which I'm holding
Under her eyes I disappear

Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow

In the drift we've come
Soul wind blow
In the drift we go
Soul wind blow
In the drift we've come
Soul wind blow
In the drift we go
Soul wind blow
In the drift we've come
Under her
In the drift we go
Under her
In the drift we've come
Under her
In the drift we go
Under her
Soul wind blow
Soul wind blow
Under her hands
Soul wind
Some day throw me away
Fade it away
Throw it away

In the drift we've come
In the drift we go
In the drift we've come
In the drift we go
In the drift we've come
Soul wind blow
In the drift we go
Soul wind blow
In the drift we've come
Soul wind blow
In the drift we go
Soul wind blow
In the drift we've come
In the drift we go

Check out the song:

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'Beat on the Brat' - U2 / Ramones Song Lyrics

U2's decision to cover "Beat on the Brat" by The Ramones is a testament to the deep admiration the Irish rock band holds for the American punk pioneers. It can be found on the We're a Happy Family album which was a collection of Ramones covers featuring efforts by Metallica, Green Day, Rancid and The Offspring.

The Ramones played a pivotal role in shaping the early musical direction of U2, especially in the late 1970s when punk rock was a driving force behind the band's formation. 

In their formative years, U2 was heavily influenced by the raw energy and stripped-down sound of punk bands like The Ramones, whose rebellious attitude and minimalist, high-octane performances resonated with U2's desire to break away from traditional rock norms. 

Covering "Beat on the Brat" was U2’s way of honoring The Ramones’ enduring influence on their career, particularly in capturing the sense of urgency, simplicity, and defiance that characterized punk music and laid the groundwork for U2's early sound.

The lyrics are hardly an inspiring story yet "Beat on the Brat" was described by Dee Dee Ramone as a true story. "Joey saw some mother going after a kid with a bat in his lobby and wrote a song about it." So it could be viewed as a comment on difficult mother son relationships or it might just be a cool song.

Beat on the Brat Lyrics by the Ramones

1-2-3-4

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
With a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
With a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh

What can you do
What can you do
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you lose

What can you lose
What can you lose
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you do

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
With a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
With a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh oh

What can you do
What can you do
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you do

What can you lose
What can you lose
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you do
Do

-

The Ramones' impact on U2 goes beyond musical style; it also played a significant role in the band's ethos and philosophy. This influence culminated in the release of "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" on U2's 2014 album Songs of Innocence. 

The track serves as a tribute to The Ramones' lead singer, Joey Ramone, and celebrates the transformative moment when Bono first heard The Ramones as a teenager, describing it as a near-spiritual experience that gave him a sense of belonging. 

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List of U2 songs worth a second Listen

What are the best U2 songs to have a second listen to?

U2 is a band well known for its big singles. Songs like Where the Streets Have No Name, Beautiful Day and Desire all popular the world over.

Some U2 songs sometimes get over looked by the casual fan.

Here's a list of U2 songs that I think are worthy of a second listen.

Please, from the album Pop.

Pop is probably Bono’s best effort lyrically across an album. With wordplays on Michael Jackson being history over Jackson’s own HIStory pun, the blind leading the blonde and the line from Please, “Your Catholic blues, Your convent shoes” pretty much summing up Bono’s eternal search for his place and pace in the world - this song was depressing yet uplifting at the same time. Overall, it was a question being asked of Ireland's political leaders.

Dirty Day, Zooropa

“These days, days, days run away like horses over the hill” being sung over and over at the end always remind me that I never have enough time to do what ever it is I wanted do. This song did make me go see a documentary on the guy it was dedicated to, the author Charles Bukowski and read some of his books.

Van Dieman’s Land, from Rattle and Hum

This song has the Edge singing about the life of the John Boyle O'Reilly, who was deported to Australia for writing bad poetry. The song's sentiments reflect the hard life that immigrants faced when they arrived in Van Dieman's Land. It's probably the best vocal the Edge ever did.

Unchained Melody

Clearly not an original U2 song but when you hear Bono sing it, it has the emotion that all their big hits have. Released as a B-side to With Or Without You, it has been a favourite amongst the U2 hardcore for years.

MLK, The Unforgettable Fire album

While the fire is a reference to atomic bombs being dropped in Japan (an early portent of How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb maybe?) the album seemed dedicated to two Kings – Elvis and Martin Luther King. MLK is sung like a lullaby. While Bono’s politic rants and beseeches and besmirches of The Man might put the more jaded and cynical amongst us to sleep, you can’t complain that this song does the same in a nice under the covers on a rainy day kind of way.

Beat on the Brat, cover of The Ramones, from the We’re a Happy Family Ramones Tribute Album.

Beat on the brat with a baseball bat. Yeah punk. U2 started out playing Ramone’s covers trying to pass them off as their own. Which is pretty much the music industry down pat these days. What can you do?

Original of the Species

Coming from their popular How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb album, Original of the Species is almost like a classic father to daughter message, 'Don't Grow Up Too Fast, Baby'.

What are your favourite U2 songs you think are worthy of a second listen?

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Unchained Melody song lyrics as sung by U2

U2 have written a million songs about love, this cover of the Righteous Brothers mega hit is no less one of those songs. It's so blatantly about how a man loves a women that it's just a perfect song for U2 to cover (here's some other covers they've done).

Unchained Melody has been a popular song with the U2 in crowd for years. U2 have played it live many times, and it was released as a b-side to All I Want Is You.

 

Unchained Melody was written by two people, the music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. Originally released in 1955 for a movie called Unchained. 

It was sung by one Mr Todd Duncan. It became a massive hit in 1965 for the Righteous Brothers, and they are probably the artist most associated with the song. Hell. I think Elvis did a cover along the way too...

Unchained Melody song lyrics as sung by U2

Oh, oh my love
Oh my darling
I've hunger for your touch
A long and lonely time

And time goes by
So slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine ?

I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers sigh
Wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home
Wait for me

Oh, oh my love
Oh my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long and lonely time

And time goes by
So slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine ?

I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
It to me
God speed your love to me

I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love

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"Angels Too Tied To The Ground" Song Lyrics by U2

Angels Too Tied to the Ground" delves into the complex interplay between love, loss, and the constraints of human experience. The lyrics evoke imagery of angels, which traditionally symbolize purity and transcendence, yet are depicted as “tied to the ground,” suggesting a poignant contrast between divine aspirations and earthly limitations. 

This duality captures the essence of the human condition, where even the most elevated ideals can be hampered by real-life entanglements, be it in relationships or personal struggles. 

Bono's reflective tone highlights a sense of yearning and the emotional weight of attachments, inviting listeners to consider how our desires for freedom and connection are often at odds​.

Furthermore, the song’s mid-tempo, piano-driven arrangement complements its lyrical themes, creating an atmosphere that mirrors the tension between hope and despair. The juxtaposition of a seemingly upbeat musical backdrop with the weighty subject matter underscores U2’s signature ability to blend emotional depth with accessible sound. 

"Angels Too Tied To The Ground" Song Lyrics by U2

What is it that keeps me back from you
What is it when I just can't get through
What is it when we've nothing left to do
But savor the mess that we tried

What is it when the clock just won't rewind
What is it when our love seems to stop time
I'm telling you
Waving a white flag
Baby got a white flag flying for you baby
Got a white flag, a white flag

Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground

And now it's only alive in my head
In my mind
All in my head, in my mind

Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground

Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground
Angels too tied to the ground

-

"Angels Too Tied to the Ground" was included in the 2008 reissue of U2's iconic album War, as part of a remastered edition that celebrated the album's legacy while introducing previously unreleased material to fans. 

This reissue offered listeners a deeper insight into the band’s creative process during the early 1980s, shedding light on the themes and lyrical content that shaped their musical identity. 

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"Alone In The Light" Lyrics U2

"Alone In The Light" Lyrics U2

This is an early composition from U2 that was never formally released on an album or single but was played live on a few occasions.

Kind of like Party Girl, the lyrics highlight Bono's early efforts at creating imagery when he states what the person rather is than his later lyrics where he seems to focus on how people behave or are..... It is of course, arguable either way!

Alone In The Light Lyrics:

City street lights and I walked away
Don't leave me standing in the cold
Cigarette lights, feel my finger alight
I need to be alone

She can take you tonight
She can make you, that's alright
She can break you tonight
Don't missunderstand

Cigarette girls throw his head in a whirl
To be a superman
All of her girls, there must be a glimpse
I'm drinking all I can

We can take it tonight
We can make it, that's right
We can break it tonight
Don't missunderstand

The light
Alone in the light
Alone in the light
Alone in the light
In the city at night

She can take it tonight
She can make you, that's right
She can break you tonight
Don't missunderstand
Please take my hand

Alone in the light
Alone in the light
Alone in the light
In the city at night

We roam the streets in the morning light
We held our head in our hands

Alone in the light
Alone in the light
Alone in the light
In the city at night

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"Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk/Korova 1" Song Lyrics by U2

“Alex Descends into Hell for a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1” was originally composed as part of a planned musical adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, exploring the dark and violent world of Alex DeLarge. 

The song's ominous Latin chant—Dies irae, dies illa, a reference to the medieval hymn "Dies Irae"—invokes themes of divine judgment and descent, echoing the brutality and moral chaos at the heart of Anthony Burgess’s dystopian vision. 

The piece was ultimately released as the b-side to the 1991 single, The Fly, from the Achtung Baby and connects thematically to both A Clockwork Orange and Achtung Baby’s exploration of fractured identities, temptation, and moral ambivalence.

Like “The Fly”—which Bono described as a “phone call from hell” and features a protagonist reveling in and wrestling with moral corruption—“Alex Descends” delves into the descent of the soul, underscored by its dark, industrial soundscape. 

Both songs take the listener through psychological spaces where moral boundaries are blurred, urging reflection on humanity’s darker impulses. 

Achtung Baby as a whole was shaped by themes of transformation, desire, and guilt, set against a postmodern backdrop of fractured truths and masked personas. “Alex Descends” captures a similar spirit, using Latin liturgy and cinematic orchestration to reflect the perverse allure of violence and the existential void Alex inhabits. 

"Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk/Korova 1" Lyrics U2

Dies irae, dies illa
Dies irae, dies illa
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Decet in inferno
Dies illa, dies illa

The English translation of the Latin lyrics:

A day of wrath, that day
A day of wrath, that day
The trumpet's wondrous call sounding abroad
He descended into hell
A day of wrath, that day

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Every Breaking Wave song lyrics by U2

"Every Breaking Wave" is an unflinching meditation on the ebb and flow of human relationships, framed by the elemental metaphor of the sea. 

The song's tidal imagery—waves breaking against the shore, the pull and resistance of the ocean—captures the inevitable push-pull of love, with its undertows of doubt and desire. Bono's lyrics lay bare the vulnerability that surfaces when lovers attempt to navigate these currents, knowing full well that the tide often carries them in directions they can't control. 

The line, "Are we ready to be swept off our feet and stop chasing every breaking wave?" cuts to the heart of this dilemma: the surrender to love's unpredictable nature, or the futility of chasing fleeting moments of perfection. 

But "Every Breaking Wave" also serves as an allegory for the larger, more universal struggle between risk and safety. It taps into U2's recurring theme of spiritual longing and existential searching, with the waves becoming not just symbols of romantic entanglements but of life's broader uncertainties. 

The Edge's shimmering guitar lines create a sonic landscape that mirrors the emotional tension within the lyrics—a delicate balance between beauty and fragility. The ocean, vast and indifferent, becomes a metaphor for fate, for the unknown forces that shape our lives and loves. 

Every Breaking Wave is a left over from the recording sessions of the U2 album, No Line on the Horizon. U2 debuted it live during the 360 Tour and it made it onto the Songs of Innocence album release.

Bono said of the song:

"If you hear ‘Every Breaking Wave’ played on a piano, you just fall over. And if it doesn’t move you, you’re either deaf or dead, or you should be."

The lyrics below are from those live performances of the song and also the studio version.

Every Breaking Wave song lyrics by U2

Final Album Version Lyrics

Every breaking wave on the shore
Tells the next one there'll be one more
And every gambler knows that to lose
Is what you're really there for

Summer I was fearless
Now I speak into an answer phone
Like every silent leave on the breeze
Winter wouldn't leave it alone
Alone

If you go
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so
Are we so helpless against the tide
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we’re in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave

Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
And every shipwrecked soul knows what it is
To live without intimacy

I thought I heard the captain’s voice
It's hard to listen while you preach
Like every broken wave on the shore
This was as far as I can reach

If you go
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so
Are we so helpless against the tide
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we’re in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave

The waves know where are the rocks
And drowning is no sin
You know where my heart is
The same place that yours has been
And we know the fear to win
And so we end before we begin
Before we begin

If you go
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so
Are we so helpless against the tide
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we’re in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave


Original song lyrics that were performed live

Every breaking wave
On the shore
Til the next one there’ll be one more

Every gambler knows
That to lose
Is what you’re really there for

Somewhere else, fearlessness
Now I’m speaking to an answer phone
Every falling leaf
On the breeze
Winter wouldn’t leave her alone

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
To be somebody
To need someone

Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
Every shipwrecked soul
Knows what it is
To live without intimacy
I thought I heard the master’s voice
It’s hard to listen while you preach

Like every broken wave
On the shore
This is as far as I can reach

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
Got to be somebody
To need someone

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

You know
That my heart
Is the same place yours has been

We know
Here with
The end before it begins

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

You know
That my heart
Is the same place yours has been

We know
Here with
The end before it begins

Check out the lyrics to, Sleep Like A Baby Tonight a song about a god awful priest, This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now and The Troubles.

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