List of songs covered by U2

What songs have U2 covered?

You think that one of the biggest band in history wouldn't need to do covers - well the Beatles did and so did the Rolling Stones - so why wouldn't U2 record the odd cover song?

They are a great way to add a bit of colour to a B-side or are an expression of an artist's appreciation for what has inspired and influenced them.

So here's a list of songs U2 have covered:

Name                               Release                                                      Original writer

"Night and Day"	Red Hot + Blue	Written by Cole Porter
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"	A Very Special Christmas	Written by Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector
"I Believe in Father Christmas"	(RED)Wire Volume 1 Issue 2	Written by Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield
"Beat on the Brat"	We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones	Written by Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings and Douglas Colvin
"I Remember You"	"Elevation" single	Written by Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and Tommy Ramone
"Fortunate Son"	"Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" single	Written by John Fogerty
"Instant Karma!"	Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur	Written by John Lennon
"Happiness Is a Warm Gun"	"Last Night on Earth" single	Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
"Don't Take Your Guns to Town"	"Elevation" single	Written by Johnny Cash
"Satellite of Love"	"One" single	Written by Lou Reed
"Everlasting Love"	"All I Want Is You" single	Written by Mac Gayden and Buzz Cason
"Paint It Black"	"Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" single	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
"Dancing Barefoot"	"When Love Comes to Town" single	Written by Patti Smith and Ivan Kral
"Springhill Mining Disaster"	The Late Late Show Tribute to The Dubliners	Written by Peggy Seeger
"Neon Lights"	"Vertigo" single	Written by Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Karl Bartos
"Pop Muzik"	"Last Night on Earth" single	Written by Robin Scott
"Jesus Christ"	Folkways: A Vision Shared	Written by Woody Guthrie

"Unchained Melody"

"With or without You" single

Written Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret

The Saints are coming with Green Day. 

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U2's friendship with Mr Johnny Cash

U2's relationship with Mr Johnny Cash

U2 have a fondness for Johnny Cash that has been reflected in their music and the love between the them has been reciprocated in their recordings and comments to the media.

While U2 like to comment on american culture and politics, they haven't lived through America's eyes like Johnny Cash did.  He's taken all the drugs, acid, drank all the beer and been everywhere, man. So When Johnny Cash teamed up with U2 to sing on Zooropa's The Wanderer, Cash had a field day with Bono's lyrics.

While he's ostensibly singing about a man searching for God in some kind of strage post-Apocalyptic world, Cash is singing about that part of American culture that want everything they can have - being the 'kingdom but how they don't want God in it'.

Despite every American President continually asking God to Bless America, church attendance is falling in America and falling fast and Cash knew it. He's perhaps suggesting that American's want the nice things, but aren't prepared to put in the effort.

You could argue that when Cash did a cover of U2's One, he's talking about America's confusion about Jesus but it's really just a break up song......

When Johnny Cash died Bono said, "He showed me his house, his ranch, his zoo (seriously, he had a zoo in Nashville), his faith, his musicianship. He was more than wise. In a garden full of weeds the oak tree." Wise words indeed.

U2 did get another thing right about The Solitary Man, they were right that Elvis would have been a sissy without Johnny Cash!

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"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Salomé” is an intriguing and experimental piece from the  Achtung Baby sessions, emblematic of U2’s dive into sensuality, excess, and the darker recesses of human desire. As a B-side to “ Even Better Than The Real Thing,” the track captures the hedonistic and ironic tone that pervades the Achtung Baby era, embracing themes of seduction, power dynamics, and transgression.

The title immediately evokes the biblical and literary figure of Salome, whose story has been mythologized as a symbol of dangerous female allure and destructive power. U2’s lyrics play with this archetype, blurring lines between desire and danger, surrender and control. 

The narrator is entranced by the titular Salome, whose dance becomes a metaphor for both liberation and manipulation. This interplay of attraction and submission aligns with the broader themes of Achtung Baby, where relationships are fraught with tension and ambiguity.

The repeated plea, “Shake it, Salome,” conveys both exhilaration and desperation. It speaks to a yearning for something primal, uninhibited, and transformative—a kind of ecstasy that teeters on self-destruction. In this, the song mirrors the album’s thematic exploration of human frailty and the costs of indulgence.

The story’s biblical origins provide a backdrop for U2’s exploration of desire and the darker sides of human nature, consistent with the more experimental and sensual tones of the Achtung Baby album.

"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Baby please
Baby please don't go
I got eyes to feed, they want skin and seed
Now don't make me crawl
Baby please
Baby don't bite your lip
Give you half what I've got if you untie the knot
It's a promise

Salomé x 4

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Baby please
Baby, what's that tune
Well, I heard it before when I crawled from the door
And my blood turned blue
Baby please
Baby please slow down
Baby, I feel sick
Don't make me stick to a promise

Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Baby please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't sing yet
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you dance for me
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Beneath the cherry tree
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you swing down low
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby please say yes
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't go away
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Don't spill any of your precious love
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Shake it, shake it, shake it Salome x 8

Salome

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

The imagery in “Salomé” draws heavily from its namesake’s legendary dance of the seven veils, symbolizing revelation, seduction, and the power of concealment. This duality—what is seen versus what is hidden—reflects Achtung Baby’s preoccupation with masks, deception, and the fragmentation of identity. Salome’s dance in this context becomes a metaphor for peeling away layers, whether in personal relationships or broader truths.

"Salomé" was included on Melon: Remixes for Propaganda, a fan club-only compilation released in 1995. Specifically, it appeared as the "Salomé (Zooromancer Remix)", a reimagined and extended take on the original B-side.

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'Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes' Song Lyrics by U2

U2’s rendition of “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes,” a classic originally popularized by Jimmie Rodgers, is a poignant journey through heartbreak and longing. 

Here, Bono channels the sorrow of unrequited love, breathing new life into lyrics that speak to timeless themes of loneliness and betrayal. The lines, “Though you have broken each promise / And yesterday's dreams are untrue,” cut with a palpable sense of loss and disillusionment, laying bare the vulnerability of a broken heart. By focusing on these raw emotions, the song places listeners in the shadow of love turned bitter, allowing Bono’s voice to resonate with the universal ache of lost dreams.

Performed by Bono and Larry for the Songs of Jimmie Rodgers tribute album, this cover leans into U2’s talent for distilling emotional truths. 

The contrast between sunny skies and shadows of loneliness in the lyrics underscores a painful irony—the brightness of memory tarnished by sorrow. This duality amplifies the song's melancholic tone, blending the simplicity of Rodgers’ original with U2’s distinct emotional intensity. 

As Bono sings of sunshine fading into sorrow, he captures the gut-wrenching isolation of heartbreak, rendering “Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes” an evocative tribute to enduring sadness and the haunting echoes of love lost.

'Dreaming With Tears In My Eyes' Song Lyrics by U2

My heart is longing for you, love
I cared for you more then you knew
Though you have broken each promise
And yesterday's dreams are untrue

Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As I dream of the love we once knew

Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows and loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes

Why did you promise me sweetheart
Never to leave me alone
Yesterday's sunshine is faded
Your love wasn't true like my own

Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As I dream of the love we once knew

Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows of loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes

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'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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