U2 song lyrics that refer to Jesus, Yahweh and the Bible
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...
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Wake Up Dead Man
In difficult and tumultuous times, many people turn to their spiritual advisors, seeking comfort, guidance, and hope. Wake Up Dead Man encapsulates this desperate call for help, with Bono reaching out in anguish, hoping for a direct connection with Jesus to come and "fix the fucked up world." The song reflects the raw, unfiltered frustration that often accompanies a sense of powerlessness in the face of suffering, injustice, and confusion.
Originally written during the Zooropa recording sessions, the final version ended up on Pop as an effective album closer. Fun aside, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me also came from the Zooropa recording sessions and asks a question of Jesus.
Yahweh
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.
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Larry, Bono, Edge and Adam, hold the bike while I get on? |
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Until the End of the World
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.
The song is semi-legendary in U2 circles for its portrayal of a fictional conversation between Jesus and Judas after the betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane. Bono's evocative lyrics create a vivid scene, where the two figures reflect on the tragic events that unfolded—the deep regret and the emotional weight of betrayal. The song hints at Judas' remorse, a theme that resonates with the complexity of his character. There’s a palpable sense of sorrow and guilt as Judas confronts the gravity of his actions, which is suggested to have led him to take his own life. The tension in the song is amplified by the urgency of its music, with The Edge’s distinctive guitar riffs building the intensity, mirroring the emotional conflict between the two figures.
While the biblical narrative is central to the song’s themes, U2’s treatment of it is anything but conventional. The lyrics suggest a moral ambiguity, blurring the lines between villain and victim, sinner and savior. It’s a meditation on betrayal, forgiveness, and the human struggle with guilt and redemption.
Tommorrow
A classic earnest lyric from Bono. The October album was definitely Bono on 'God Watch' - exploring his thoughts around his mother's death and the spectre of meeting Jesus.
A classic earnest lyric from Bono, October is album where U2's frontman is perhaps at his most introspective and spiritually searching. This album marked a period of deep personal reflection for Bono, especially regarding themes of faith, loss, and the afterlife. October feels like a diary of Bono’s thoughts as he navigates the complex emotions surrounding his mother Iris's death—an event that left an indelible mark on his life.
The lyrics on this album are drenched in the raw vulnerability of someone grappling with grief, yet also wrestling with questions of faith and the possibility of divine connection. Bono's exploration of the afterlife and the idea of encountering Jesus himself seems to echo his struggle with the uncertainty and mystery of existence, amplified by the pain of personal loss.
In songs like Gloria and the title track October, Bono is deeply immersed in a spiritual quest, seeking solace in the notion of a higher power while confronting the reality of mortality. The specter of his mother’s passing looms large, shaping his worldview and fueling his contemplation of both the Christian faith and the existential questions that accompany such profound grief.
Stranger in a Strange Land
"Stranger in a Strange Land" seems to be deeply rooted in the biblical allusion to the Emmaus story found in Luke 24, where the resurrected Jesus, appearing as a stranger, walks alongside two disciples without them recognizing him.
The disciples, disheartened and confused by the recent events of Jesus' crucifixion, do not immediately see the truth standing before them. They engage in conversation with this stranger, who offers insights and reflections about the recent events, yet their eyes are closed to his true identity. It’s only when the stranger, who is eventually revealed to be Jesus, breaks bread with them that their eyes are opened, and they recognize him.
This miraculous recognition is triggered not by any physical transformation or revelation, but by the intimate, almost humble act of sharing a meal—an act that symbolizes communion and connection.
In "Stranger in a Strange Land", Bono taps into the essence of this moment, using it as a metaphor for the journey of spiritual or personal revelation. The idea of a "stranger" in a "strange land" speaks to the experience of encountering the unfamiliar—whether it’s a stranger walking among us, or a deeper truth that seems elusive until the right moment.
The message of this song can be difficult to fully grasp, but the lyrics seem to convey a character who finds themselves in a world that feels overwhelming, where they desperately need help—perhaps in the form of angels—to make sense of it all and set things right.
The line "where is the hope, and where is the faith, and the love?" suggests a lost soul, searching for direction in a chaotic and troubling world. The reference to a world where the "cartoon network leads into the news" and the "blind lead the blondes" paints a picture of societal confusion and moral disorientation, highlighting the sense of disillusionment that the character feels.
This track, which featured on the City of Angels soundtrack, became a notable single from U2's op album. It captured the band’s signature mix of existential concern and social commentary, resonating with listeners who were grappling with similar questions about hope, faith, and the state of the world.
Salome
Shake it, shake it...Salome draws inspiration from the biblical tale of the death of John the Baptist, as recounted in the Gospel of Mark. In the story, Salome, a dancer whose sensual movements 'sway' the King, is granted a wish for her performance. She requests, rather ominously, the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
It’s a strange and somewhat macabre story, one that almost feels like it could have been a mix-up in translation over the centuries. Nonetheless, it has all the elements of a dramatic, dark legend—seduction, power, and tragic consequences—making it a compelling, if bizarre, narrative to inspire a song.
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