'Oh, Berlin' lyrics by U2 from the Achtung Baby recording sessions

"Oh Berlin" is a song from U2's Achtung Baby recording sessions in 1990-1991, which took place primarily at Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany. The band was in the midst of a significant transition during this time, both musically and personally. 

After the success of The Joshua Tree and side step of Rattle and Hum, U2 felt the need to reinvent themselves, and the Berlin sessions were pivotal in that shift toward a more experimental sound, embracing alternative rock, industrial influences, and electronic music.

"Oh Berlin" was one of several songs that the band worked on during these sessions but ultimately left unfinished or unreleased on Achtung Baby. Berlin, the city itself, had deep symbolic meaning for U2 during the making of this album. 

The Berlin Wall had just fallen in 1989, marking the end of the Cold War, and the city became a symbol of reunification, freedom, and transformation—mirroring the themes that would later emerge in the album. U2 wanted to capture the atmosphere of this historic moment, but "Oh Berlin" didn't make the final cut, as other tracks like "One" and "The Fly" better represented the emotional and sonic direction they were aiming for.

It's no surprise that U2 wrote a song about Berlin as that's where a lot of recording for the album took place - indeed Zoo Station is so named after a train stop in the city!

Other releases from that time include Down all The Days and Blow Your House Down.

'Oh, Berlin' lyrics by U2

Hasse, hasse, hasse, hasse

White snow turning to slush
A festival of brown in the city of my crush
If you walk around, you can step inside
Köthner Straße achtunddreißig

Oh Berlin
Who could think they would find you by just looking
Oh Berlin
How many of us hide in you
Oh Berlin
To think I could know you by your name

To stare and not be stared
To look and not be seen
To feel new feelings
Rather than understand where you've just been
Fame, huh

Oh Berlin
Who could they would find you by just looking
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name

Chasing the ghosts of our heroes
Lou Reed, David Bowie, Iggy, Wim Wenders, Rilke
To change location rather than change yourself
To ask for directions rather than ask for help
To remain always a true friend

Oh Berlin
Who could think they would find you by just looking
Oh Berlin
When you flap your angel wings
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by your name

Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angelic orders
And even if one to suddenly take me to its heart
I would vanish into its stronger existence
For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror
That we are still able to bear and we revere it so
Because it calmly disdains to destroy us
Every angel is terror

Every angel is terror
Oh Berlin
Every angel is terror
Every angel is terror
Who would think they could find you by just looking
Every angel is terror
Every angel is terror
Oh Berlin
How many of us hide in you
Oh Berlin
To think that I could know you by a single name

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'A Room At The Heartbreak Hotel' song lyrics by U2

"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" by U2 paints a vivid picture of emotional isolation and the complexities of heartbreak. 

The song dives into themes of longing, loss, and the sense of being trapped in a place where emotional wounds are both felt and lived. The "Heartbreak Hotel" metaphorically represents a mental space, a liminal zone between desire and despair, where the protagonist finds themselves in a cycle of yearning that never quite leads to closure. 

The room becomes a symbol of personal exile, a place where past relationships and unresolved feelings linger, creating a suffocating environment of emotional stasis. The lyrics blend melancholy with a dark sensuality, reflecting the paradox of being drawn to something that is ultimately painful, a space where love and hurt are inextricably intertwined

Given the bluesy roots that U2 were trying to lay down on Rattle and Hum, Heartbreak Hotel is probably a reference to the popular Elvis song as well.  

'A Room At The Heartbreak Hotel' song lyrics by U2

From where I stand
I can see through you
From where you're sitting, pretty one
I know it got to you

See the stars in your eyes
You want the truth but you need the lies
Like Judy Garland, like Valentino
You give your life for rock and roll, uh huh

Stand
We're on the landslide of love
You got everything you want,
And what you need you give away

For a primitive love and a ride on the mystery train
A primitive love
A room at the heart, heartbreak hotel
A room at the heartbreak, heartbreak hotel
A room at the heartbreak, heartbreak hotel

You say it's love, it's not the money
You let them suck your life out like honey
Turning tricks, you're on the street
Selling your kisses so bittersweet

I love it, yeah
Buy me again
I want to know pretty baby
I want to know
The price is too hard to pay

A primitive love and a ride on the mystery train
A primitive love
A room at the heart, heartbreak hotel

A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel
A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel
A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel
A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel

Hallelujah, said halle-hello to ya
Said hallelujah

A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle, hallelujah
A room at the heartbreak, the heartbreak
The heartbreak hotel, hotel

-

"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" was originally released as a B-side to U2's 1989 single "Angel of Harlem," part of the Rattle and Hum era. The song didn’t feature on the main album but was included as an additional track, reflecting U2’s tradition of offering deeper cuts and experimental pieces on B-sides e.g. The Lady With the Spinning Head. 

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'Deep in the Heart' Song Lyrics by U2

Deep in the Heart," a B-side to I still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For from U2's The Joshua Tree era, delves into themes of longing, loss, and intimacy. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of separation and yearning, with lines like "Angel, everything is gonna be alright," suggesting both reassurance and an acknowledgment of emotional distance. The use of "angel" evokes a spiritual or idealized connection, underscoring the depth of the narrator's feelings.

The song’s imagery shifts between personal and symbolic, blending the earthly and the ethereal. References to darkness, sleepless nights, and shadows suggest a sense of isolation and inner turmoil. The recurring focus on "deep in the heart" reflects an emotional core, where love and despair coexist. This phrasing emphasizes how profoundly the narrator’s experiences are felt, resonating in the innermost parts of their being.

Though not as well-known as U2's more prominent works, the lyrics of "Deep in the Heart" stand out for their raw emotional honesty. They explore the vulnerability of relationships and the struggle to bridge emotional gaps, making it a quietly poignant reflection on human connection and the complexities of love. 

The track fits within U2's broader lyrical canon, where themes of longing and searching are central.

Deep in the Heart Lyrics by U2

Angel, everything is gonna be alright
Angel, everything is gonna work out tonight
Thirty years old, sweet as a rose
Every petal of her wafer thin
Love will make you blind, creep up from behind
Get you jumping out of your skin
Angel, it's sink or swim

Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place

Door is closed behind me now
The window is sealed to shut out the light
Green as the leaves and the cure of the nettle sting
Do your homework, it'll work out right

Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place

The scent of cedar, I can still see her
You can't return to the place you never left
Angel, we'll make it work out tonight
Angel, I wanna be home tonight
Door is closed behind me now
The window is sealed, to shut out the light
Green as the leaves the cure of the nettle sting
Do your work and you'll work out right

Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place

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'Are You Gonna Wait Forever' song lyrics by U2

Are You Gonna Wait Forever was the b-side from U2's Vertigo single off the How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb album.

This song was dropped from the album as All Because of You ended up sharing the same musical sensibilities - in a similar way to how Lady With The Spinning Head from the Achtung Baby recording sessions is very similar to The Fly.

U2's "Are You Gonna Wait Forever?" is a compelling exploration of personal transformation, urging listeners to seize the moment and confront both internal and external obstacles. The lyrics reflect a journey toward clarity, with the protagonist realizing that the barriers in their life are dissolving, signaling a path forward ("All the obstacles in my way... are disappearing every day"). 

This shift is accompanied by a call to action, captured in the repeated question, "Are you gonna wait forever?" which emphasizes the need to act before opportunities slip away. 

The song speaks to the importance of confronting past silences and missed chances ("Getting out from under my bed... gonna say the things I should have said"), while also warning against the distractions of superficiality and societal pressures that can lead to compromising one's dreams ("Don't trade your dreams for some small change"). As the refrain intensifies, the urgency builds, suggesting that the moment for change is not distant but present ("Or is it now, now, now?"). 

Ultimately, the song challenges the listener to pursue truth and authenticity, refusing to wait indefinitely for a better life or deeper meaning.

'Are You Gonna Wait Forever' song lyrics by U2

All the obstacles in my way, now
Are disappearing every day, now
I'm getting closer
We're getting closer to home
It won't be long until the summer comes

Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?

Getting out from under my bed, now
I'm going to say the things I should have said, now
Getting closer
Getting closer to what's true
Gonna find myself in you

Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?

There's no one there behind their eyes
They're in the business, beautiful lies
We'll keep the promise
'Cause we don't know how to break it
The furniture you can rearrange
Don't trade your dreams for some small change
Guard the flame, or better leave it naked

Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?
Are you gonna wait forever?
How?
Are you gonna wait forever?
How, how long, how long?
Or is it now, now, now?
Or is it now?

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Down All The Days lyrics by U2

Down All The Days lyrics by U2

Released as part of the celebrations of the twenty year anniversary of one of U2's best albums, Achtung Baby. If you liked this song, you should check out U2's Blow Your House Down which was released at the same time.

Down all the Days Lyrics by U2.

My eyes are black
They've seen the glory
My ears are shut
They've heard the storm
My legs are weak
From so much stumbling

Down all the days
Down all the days

My lips are dry
They've tasted water
My spirit high
I hardly touch the ground
My heart is heavy
It hears the distant firing

Down all the days
Down all the days
Down all the days
Down all the days
Down all the days
Days, days
Down all the days
Days, days

I love to talk
Days, days
Can you leave me some it to hug
Days, days
Can you hold me now
Days, days
I love her hug
Days, days
Days, days
Days

The skyline's in the cloud
Throw down some winds now
Right now I'm only here to see me
Come down whenever you want to see me
Right on a phone, the holy rose
Someone in the street's on fire
And I am weary, worthy
Wounded, all wrong
I love thee, to hold thee
I love thee

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Everybody Loves A Winner lyrics U2

Everybody Loves A Winner lyrics U2

A left over from the Achtung Baby recording sessions, the song was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of what were arguably U2's richest recording sessions (any session that One or Love is Blindness falls out of must be rich!)


Lyrics:


Once I had fame
I was full of pride
Well, there were a lot of friends
Always by my side

But my luck ran dry
Now my friends begin to hide

Everybody loves a winner
Everybody loves a winner
When you lose, you lose alone

Everywhere I turned
There was a hello and a smile
I never thought they'd be gone
After a while

Oh, that big road ran down
And the smiles turned to frowns

Everybody loves a winner
Everybody loves a winner
But when you lose, you lose alone

Hands to heaven that I would be true
To get back that love
There's nothing I wouldn't do
But I learned and I lost
And now I paid the cost

Everybody loves a winner
Everybody loves a winner
Everybody loves a winner
But when you lose, you lose alone

U2 also released Blow Your House Down and Down all the Days 

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Where did it all go wrong lyrics by U2

Where did it all go wrong lyrics by U2

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Near the Island lyrics U2 Deluxe achtung baby

Near the Island is an instrumental track from the Achtung Baby sessions. It has no lyrics !

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"Heaven And Hell " song lyrics U2 from Achtung Baby session leftovers

From the Achtung Baby recording sessions, Heaven and Hell was a non album track released along with Blow Your House Down to and Oh, Berlin to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the album. 

The lyrics explore the collapse of a once-idealized love, now disintegrating under the weight of its own contradictions. Bono’s voice, seemingly oscillating between raw vulnerability and bitter resignation, tells a story of romantic disillusionment. The imagery evokes a sacred-profane tension, where love’s purity (“Like an angel on some stained-glass”) clashes against the raw, carnal realities of the relationship (“Dirty boy, dirty girl having a dirty laugh”). 

The duality of "heaven and hell" becomes a metaphor not just for the shifting emotional landscape between two lovers, but for the very nature of intimate relationships, where moments of divine connection often crumble into something more grotesque and disappointing. In these lyrics, Bono wrestles with the tension between the sacred ideal and the messy human experience—flirting with religious imagery while plumbing the depths of personal failure.

Conceptually, this theme of love’s dichotomy resonates with two other key tracks from Achtung Baby: "Love Is Blindness" and "So Cruel." 

In "Love Is Blindness," Bono grapples with love as a destructive force, wrapped in yearning and desperation, with the refrain suggesting a kind of willful ignorance to its darker undertones. Similarly, "So Cruel" portrays a love caught between pleasure and pain, where emotional cruelty becomes part of the seductive dance.

Together, these songs, including "Heaven and Hell," form a triptych that interrogates the nature of love as both salvation and damnation. They explore how lovers, in their quest for transcendence, can end up bound and bleeding, searching for meaning in the spaces between devotion and destruction. The layers of religious and carnal imagery woven throughout these lyrics reinforce U2's broader fascination with dualities—heaven and hell, angelic ideals and fallen realities, constantly intertwining in the space of human relationships.

"Heaven And Hell " song lyrics U2 from Achtung Baby session leftovers

You used to think I was something special
You haven't thought that in a while
You liked the company of my inner devil
'Cause my inner devil could make you smile

Like an angel on some stained-glass
Not some relic from the recent past
With your pale breasts and your fresh wound
And your eyes to heaven with your hands bound

I thought you'd find me when you went looking
In truth, you'd have to be there to look around
How come the honeysuckle isn't sucking
And I got a bee sting walking on the ground

Did our brass bead become a mud bath
A dirty boy, dirty girl having a dirty laugh
I saw you coming, I had you covered
Till you discovered

That we're heaven, heaven, heaven and hell
Heaven, heaven, heaven, heaven and hell

Picnick table and a china cup
We had an airbed that was all stuffed
Now it's room 64 at the chateau
Ask the front desk where does your love go

Is it to heaven, heaven, heaven or to hell
Is it to heaven, heaven, heaven or hell
Baby, we're heaven, heaven, heaven, heaven and hell

-

Achtung Baby is steeped in biblical references and hellish imagery, reflecting U2’s exploration of moral dualities and the darker side of human experience. Throughout the album, Bono’s lyrics are laced with religious allusions, invoking heaven, hell, angels, and devils as metaphors for love, betrayal, and inner conflict. 

In "Until the End of the World," for instance, the betrayal of Christ by Judas is recast as a narrative of personal treachery, while "The Fly" channels the voice of a fallen angel, offering a cynical perspective on truth and morality. This fascination with biblical themes culminated during the Zoo TV Tour, where Bono embodied the persona of MacPhisto, a devilish character clad in gold horns and white makeup. 

Through MacPhisto, Bono gave voice to the seductive and corrupting aspects of fame, power, and desire, amplifying the album’s recurring motifs of temptation, sin, and redemption. By merging the sacred and the profane, Achtung Baby becomes not just a meditation on personal relationships, but a broader commentary on the human condition, echoing the struggle between salvation and damnation.

-

Check out Down all the Day's lyrics as well!

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'Blow Your House Down' song lyrics by U2

Blow Down Your House was released by Irish Rockers U2 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their classic album, Achtung Baby. The song was from the recording sessions of that album but to that point never shared with the world. 

Burn Your House down features all the familiar sonic elements of Achtung Baby - Edge riffs, arpeggios, slide guitar, backing vocals and lyrics that feature a woman as a central character that's being out of control - kind of like The Lady with the Spinning Head

'Blow Your House Down' song lyrics by U2

You've been along this road so many times
Nothing should be a surprise to you
Seen every premeditated crime
From every possible point of view

Why, if it's so wrong, does it feel so right?
Why, oh I've got your gun?
Do I want you tonight?

She, she's gonna blow your house down
She's gonna turn your head around
She's gonna blow your house down

What of chaos is the thing you crave
Is it the taste of self-inflicted pain
And what of losing is your drug of choice
Is it what keeps you coming back again

Why, if it's so wrong, does it feel so right

She, she's gonna blow your house down
She's gonna turn your head around
She's gonna blow your house down

She blow your house down
She's gonna turn your head around
She's gonna blow your house down

Run fast, fast as you can
Run fast, fast as you can
Fast, fast as you can
Run as fast, fast as you can
Fast as you can
Run as fast, fast as you can

The wave, it have its
She was saving it
What makes you think you can
Oh, they're craving
Deals for breaking
Your old devil's hands

She, she's gonna blow your house down
She's gonna turn your head around
She's gonna blow your house down

She gonna blow your house down
She's gonna turn your head around
She's gonna blow your house down

-

The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and emotional rawness, suggesting a confrontation with the fragility of both personal identity and the connections we forge with others. Bono’s poignant imagery of "blowing your house down" serves as a metaphor for dismantling the facades we build to protect ourselves, exposing the chaos and vulnerability that lie beneath. 

This metaphor reflects a desire for authenticity and a recognition that true intimacy often requires the deconstruction of superficial barriers. The song captures a tumultuous emotional landscape, resonating with listeners who have experienced the tumult of love and the fear of losing oneself in the process. 

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