U2 songs that name drop real people

U2 songs that name drop real people

Here's a few songs where Bono was named checked real people in his song lyrics. There's also a few songs where the lyrics a talking about a real person but they are not directly named.

Angel of Harlem

A song about singer Billie Holiday, Bono was trying to throw the kitchen sink at this song, referencing all kinds of musical figures including John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

One Tree Hill

Bono name dropped Victor Jara in this song that is really popular in NZ for some reason.....

"And in our world a heart of darknessA firezone where poets speak their hearts
Then bleed for it Jara sang his song a weapon
In the hands of love
You know his blood still cries from the ground"

This verse is referring to how Victor Jara was executed for his political disssent and thus became a symbol of the struggle for human rights.

Elvis Ate America

This is possibly the U2 lyric that refers to the most people Lisa Marie Presley Chuck D, Johnny Cash all feature with shout outs to Hitler, Nixon, Christ, Mishima, Markus and Micheal Jackson. Bono would later refer to Jackson in Pop's The Playboy Mansion as well.

God Part II

This song was intended as a sequel to John Lennon's song called God. Lennon's song refers to things he didn't believe in such as war and The Beatles - Bono's version also refers to things that he also doesn't believe in but also goes on to refer to how angry he was at the author Albert Goldman who wrote an unflattering biography of Lennon (and also a controversial biography of Elvis, and given U2's love of Elvis, I'm not surprised Bono made the reference).


Pride

"For the Reverend Martin Luther King, sing". Pride was inspired the the civil rights activist - that particular line comes from the live version of Pride on Rattle and Hum.

Stand Up Comedy 

References the famous French soldier Napoleon and his wife Josephine...

Peace on Earth

Inspired by the Real IRA Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on 15 August 1998. The song lists the names of people killed in the bombing. Similarly, inspiration for the lyric, "She never got to say goodbye / To see the colour in his eye / Now he's in the dirt" comes from the funeral of Barker, another victim of the bombing. Other bomb victims named were Sean, Julia, Gareth, Anne, and Brenda.

Dirty Day

Whilst not directly referenced but the liner notes of Zooropa showed the song was dedicated to Charles Bukowski.

Who have I missed?

Get Your Cyber Love from U2!

Rumours are swirling across the internet that U2′s new album is going to be called Cyber Love and it features songs written by an unknown musician / producer called Bellatron! Check out this story which suggests Bellatron has written 7 of the album’s 12 songs with Bono.

If this rumour is true, it’s a a pretty novel approach for U2 – sure they’ve colalborated with the likes of Brian Eno in the past but 7 song being co-written with Bellatron suggests a huge change in in the way U2 are writing their songs. Or does it suggest that Bono has had writer’s block or has been too focussed on the Spider Man musical?

Time will tell.

U2 Auckland Song List

Auckland Song List U2 Night Two 2010

Friday 26 November

Last night's U2 set list meant for a pretty awesome U2 show, the lads backed up again with a full on night two set list. Highlights included the addition of Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me to the set, always a threatening song on the CD, live, it is a dangerous, sexual beast!

I think it was during GOYB that Bono though in some limes from Crowded House's Don't Dream Its Over.

U2 also again played One Tree Hill and dedicated it to the miners of the Pike Mine.

There was a classic bit during Mysterious Ways where The Edge's effects did not work properly at the sound. As I was seated behind him, I could see him hit a pedal but that didn't work, he then actually flipped his guitar up to have a look and then finally the guitar started proper - all the the while the band played on.

The I'll Go Crazy Remix grew on on me a little bit but it's still definitely a low point of the show.

Wifey and I were stoked Bono sang a wee bit of Unchained Melody as we danced to the U2 version at our Wedding.

Auckland Night Two Set List - Night One Set List Here

Return of the Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Movin' On Up, One Tree Hill, Angel Of Harlem - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Relax - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix) - Two Tribes, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Encore(s): One, Unchained Melody - Where the Streets Have No Name

Set Encore 2: Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me (lyrics), With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Pike Mine Miners name's displayed during One Tree Hill

Source: U2 Auckland Set List

U2 Lyrics Mercy

"Mercy" Lyrics U2

On the current 360 Degree tour U2, have been playing and road testing new songs such as North Star and Every Breaking Wave, at the Munich show, U2 debuted Mercy. 

Originally a song left over from the recording sessions from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Mercy appears to be destined for U2's expected album, Songs of Ascent.

This live version of Mercy featured a set of revised lyrics from Bono:

Mercy Lyrics

I was drinking some wine

And it turned to blood

What’s the use of religion

If you’re only good

I know I’m weed killer, honey

And you’re sugar

If you’re the prosecution

I get away with murder

You’re gravity searching for the ground

I’m silence searching for a sound

Your heart is aching

Your heart is my home

It’s fascinating

I know I’ll never be alone

You’re gonna kill me and I wanna die

We were meant for each other, you and I

Souls allowed to love

And there’s nowhere else to turn

You’re not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

If you’re hunger, baby let me feed it

If your heart is full, baby let me bleed it

And happiness is for those who don’t really need it

You love me too much

You wanna kill me and I wanna die

We’re a perfect match, you and I

Slaves without the drug

And there’s no one else to trust

I’m not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

I’m gonna kill me and I wanna die

We were meant for each other, you and I

Souls allowed to trust

And there’s no one left to trust

I’m not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

Because, because, because we can

We must

Because, because, because we can

We must

Check out the lyrics to another song U2 have tested out, Flower of Glastonbury.

Zurich Set List U2

U2 Zurich Set List Switzerland

U2 played on the ignominious date of September 11, 2010 at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium. The show was notable for the inclusion in the set of new song, Every Breaking Wave which will possibly be included on the expected U2 album, Songs of Ascent. The song was debuted on this leg of the tour in Helsinki. Only four songs from No Line on the Horizon were played.

Set List:

Return of the Stingray Guitar, Magnificent, Beautiful Day, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Every Breaking Wave, Elevation, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On

Set Encore: One, Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

Source: The Spaghetti Incident?

Helsinki Set List U2 Finland

U2 Finland Set List 2010

August 20, 2010 at Helsinki, Finland at the Olympic Stadium.

The opening act for the show was Razorlight. Boring!

Set List: Return of the Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, North Star (lyrics), Glastonbury (lyrics), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix) - Discotheque, Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Set Encore: One, Amazing Grace - Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Sauce Check out the lyrics to Taylor Swift's Speak Now album

North Star U2 Lyrics

North Star Lyrics U2

These are the lyrics to the new song U2 debuted at the Turin, Italy gig on March 6, 2010. No telling where the song will end up, maybe on Songs of Ascent. In which case the lyrics could be totally different by then.

North Star was apparently written during the How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb sessions and according to @U2, the song is a tribute to Johnny Cash.

U2 North Star Lyrics

Forty-five light years
From home
From where you are
Where I wanna be
Beside you

Looking for direction
Star to your affection
The space between you and me

I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For it
I can’t wait any longer
For your love

The birds still singing for them
As they fly above the firmament
It’s not a song of discontent
It’s not like that
Up in the sky

Here I am, a space guy
Caught between the love and logic
Out here in the universe
Hey hey

I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For it
I can’t wait any longer
For your love

And a day as it ends
And you watch as the sun goes down
Pray that the night
Will go quickly now
Your hope
Your prayer
And the clouds leave the sky alone
There’s only one light that can guide you
Guide you

I can’t wait any longer
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
For your love

It’s like the silence and shock
Of the lights up there shining
You want it
You got it
You want it

Also debuted during the night was the song, Glastonbury.

Want to learn more about U2? Check out the lyrics to:

• All you need is U2 Love Songs
• Atomic Bombs
• Bible References by U2
• Bono's lyrical qualities
• Elvis was the King
• Jesus, Yahweh and The Good Book
• Name Droppers