U2 have been mulling over the same question for decades, weaving lyrics about conflict and its fallout into nearly every album they've put out.
But by the time they released War, U2 had turned up the volume on their political commentary. This was the album that saw Bono evolving into a lyrical force, channeling raw emotion and anger into songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday, a searing portrayal of soldiers opening fire on unarmed protesters.
Then there's Seconds, a haunting snapshot of the fear and paranoia surrounding nuclear terrorism—another recurring theme in U2's catalog.
In the end, maybe the message is simple: a plea for peace amid the noise and chaos.
In the end, maybe the message is simple: a plea for peace amid the noise and chaos.
Winter
A song probably taken from the No Line on the Horizon album recording sessions, Winter was used in the soundtrack for the Wim Wenders film. Brothers (U2 have a long association with Wim - he directed their video for Stay and Until the End of the World was used for the film of the same name).
Winter is about is a song about the experience of the armed forces in Afghanistan, where Winder's film is set.
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| I've got soul but I'm not a soldier |
The Unforgettable Fire
Inspired by haunting images from paintings that depicted the aftermath of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, The Unforgettable Fire captures U2's introspective take on the devastating legacy of these events. While not a direct commentary on war itself, the album delves into the lingering impact of the atomic bombs, focusing on the human suffering and long-lasting scars left behind.Rather than glorifying battle or victory, U2’s lyrics offer a somber reflection on the innocence lost and the lives irreversibly changed by this brutal show of force. Through vivid imagery and haunting melodies, the album becomes a meditation on the quiet, enduring pain that shadows the survivors, emphasizing the profound human cost that transcends the politics of conflict.
In this way, The Unforgettable Fire stands as a testament to the aftermath of war—a poignant reminder of the suffering that persists long after the bombs have fallen and the smoke has cleared.
Arguably the most political song U2 has ever written, at least it's probably the most popular one! The lyrics are a savage indictment on American foreign policy. Arguably the most political song U2 has ever written, and certainly their most popular one, Bullet the Blue Sky is a blistering critique set to a thunderous, distorted groove.
Bullet the Blue Sky
Arguably the most political song U2 has ever written, at least it's probably the most popular one! The lyrics are a savage indictment on American foreign policy. Arguably the most political song U2 has ever written, and certainly their most popular one, Bullet the Blue Sky is a blistering critique set to a thunderous, distorted groove.
The lyrics are a savage indictment of American foreign policy, painted vividly through Bono’s searing, almost preacher-like delivery. It's a gut punch of a track, where images of helicopters, burning fields, and faceless men in suits converge to form a dark vision of unchecked power. The Edge’s guitar howls like an air raid siren, driving home the sense of chaos and fury, making it impossible for listeners to ignore the song’s urgent, uncomfortable message.
When Bono asks if there's a time for East 17 (a boy band that everyone has now forgotten) during the Bosnian war, you've gotta ask what he's talking about.
The song's lyrics actually praise the rebellious spirit of the Sarajevan people who refused to surrender their way of life during the conflict.
And what did they do? They staged a beauty contest.
This clearly inspired the chorus of the song, "Here she comes, heads turn around, here she comes, to take her crown".
If you could consider that the IRA's disgraceful and disgusting campaign against the people of Ireland was a civil war of sorts then Please is U2 exhorting Ireland's Political leaders to stop the civil war they have been waging.
Is a lyrical expression of the suffering experienced by the mothers and grandmothers of the thousands of children abducted during the conflict in Central America from the late 1970s through to the mid-1980s, particularly during Argentina's so-called "Dirty War" (1976-1983).
The Dirty war was a civil-style war that the American government covertly sanctioned in a bid to stop the 'communist threat' that was pervading at the time. Given this song was written in the mid-80s one can see how it's a cousin of sorts to Bullet the Blue Sky - indeed both songs appeared on the Joshua Tree album.
Miss Sarajevo from Original Soundtracks Vol 1.
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| Please don't let them kill us... |
The song's lyrics actually praise the rebellious spirit of the Sarajevan people who refused to surrender their way of life during the conflict.
And what did they do? They staged a beauty contest.
This clearly inspired the chorus of the song, "Here she comes, heads turn around, here she comes, to take her crown".
Please
If you could consider that the IRA's disgraceful and disgusting campaign against the people of Ireland was a civil war of sorts then Please is U2 exhorting Ireland's Political leaders to stop the civil war they have been waging.
Mothers of the Disappeared
Is a lyrical expression of the suffering experienced by the mothers and grandmothers of the thousands of children abducted during the conflict in Central America from the late 1970s through to the mid-1980s, particularly during Argentina's so-called "Dirty War" (1976-1983).
The Dirty war was a civil-style war that the American government covertly sanctioned in a bid to stop the 'communist threat' that was pervading at the time. Given this song was written in the mid-80s one can see how it's a cousin of sorts to Bullet the Blue Sky - indeed both songs appeared on the Joshua Tree album.
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