It is the fir… Read Full Bio ↴"Seconds" is the second track on U2's 1983 album, War.
It is the first song in the band's history not sung solely by Bono, as The Edge sings the first two stanzas. "Seconds" accordingly became the first song to feature Edge on lead vocals live when it debuted at the first concert of the War Tour on 26 February 1983. It was a regular inclusion in the first half of the band's main sets for the War and Unforgettable Fire Tours, but it has not been played on any later tours. Its last performance was on 7 July 1985.
There is a break of approximately 11 seconds in the song at 2:10 featuring a sample of a 1982 TV documentary titled "Soldier Girls". U2 felt that it would fit perfectly -- this disturbing evidence of training for an atomic attack. Bono states that he was watching this documentary in the Green Room in Windmill studios and he recorded it.
Rogue Wave released an iTunes Store-exclusive cover of this song.
Aerosmith released a cover of the song in 2007 with the West African band the Refugee All Star
Seconds
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh
It takes a second to say goodbye
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh, say bye bye
Where you going to now
Lightning flashes across the sky
East to west, do or die
See the world by candlelight
Fall, rise and fall, rise and
Fall, rise and fall, rise and
In an apartment on Time Square
You can assemble them anywhere
Held to ransom, hell to pay
A revolution everyday
USSR, GDR, London, New York, Peking
It's the puppets, it's the puppets
Who pull the strings, yeh
Fall, rise and fall
Fall, rise and fall
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye
It takes a second to say goodbye
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh
Push the button and pull the plug
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh
Fall, rise and fall
Fall, rise and fall
And they're doing the atomic bomb
Do they know where the dance comes from
Yes they're doing the atomic bomb
They want you to sing along
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
The song "Seconds" by U2 was released in 1983 and addresses the issue of nuclear war and its impact on society. The song starts by emphasizing how easy it is to say goodbye - that it only takes a second. The relevance of this idea becomes clearer throughout the song. The lyrics describe an apocalyptic scene, where lightning flashes across the sky and a revolution occurs every day. The imagery used here is powerful, as it highlights the volatility and unpredictability of the world in the event of nuclear war. Furthermore, the line "See the world by candlelight" implies that civilization as we know it would come to an end, and the only lights that remain would be those of candles.
The lyrics also make references to some of the most significant world powers at the time, including the USSR, GDR, London, New York, and Peking. The puppets mentioned in the song are a reference to the political leaders who manipulate the world stage for their own benefit, regardless of the consequences. The lyrics describe how these leaders can hold the world hostage and that the general public is powerless to stop them. The line, "Push the button and pull the plug" highlights how easily the world could be destroyed if someone were to make the wrong decision.
Overall, "Seconds" is a bold and daring commentary on the threat of nuclear war, which was a prevalent issue during the Cold War era. U2's use of vivid imagery and hard-hitting lyrics drives home the message that the impact of nuclear war on the world, civilization, and human life would be catastrophic.
Line by Line Meaning
Takes a second to say goodbye
Saying goodbye requires only a moment's time
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh
Emphasizing the importance of farewell
It takes a second to say goodbye
Reiterating that saying goodbye is a process that takes no time
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh, say bye bye
Urging someone to bid farewell in a quick and efficient manner
Where you going to now
Questioning someone about their next destination and purpose
Lightning flashes across the sky
Describing an electrifying and dangerous atmosphere
East to west, do or die
Emphasizing the high stakes and risk involved
Like a thief in the night
Comparing a potentially violent situation to sudden and unexpected theft
See the world by candlelight
Suggesting that difficult and dark times can provide a new perspective on the world
Fall, rise and fall, rise and
Describing a cycle of ups and downs and the inevitability of change
In an apartment on Time Square
Setting a location for the action to take place, highlighting the bustling and iconic nature of the area
You can assemble them anywhere
Implying that any gathering of people can lead to a potential uprising or movement
Held to ransom, hell to pay
Describing a situation of being trapped and expected to pay for one's actions
A revolution everyday
Suggesting that political upheaval is an ongoing occurrence
USSR, GDR, London, New York, Peking
Listing several international locations that have dealt with political turmoil or social movements
It's the puppets, it's the puppets
Blaming those behind the scenes for pulling the strings and making decisions for the populace
Who pull the strings, yeh
Reiterating that those with power control the actions of others
Push the button and pull the plug
Mentioning two drastic actions that can cause immediate change or destruction
And they're doing the atomic bomb
Speculating on a potential future disaster
Do they know where the dance comes from
Questioning whether those in charge understand the consequences of their actions
Yes they're doing the atomic bomb
Asserting that the threat of nuclear war is real
They want you to sing along
Contemplating the idea that those in power want to broadcast their actions to justify them to the masses
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Returning to the theme of farewell, implying a general sense of loss or finality
Fall, rise and fall
Repeating the idea of change and cyclical occurrences
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Echoing the importance of closure and ending things properly
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Finalizing the idea that leaving something behind is necessary
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheYankees204
Easily U2's most underrated song, amazing tune
Stop the Philosophical Zombies
No, that would be Drowning Man.
John Gregory
A landmark album that never gets old
georgeharrison70
War is definitely one of the finest albums of the 80s.
Brian Christian
This and Boy are phenomenal.
Yellow Jackboots
True. From the clattering drums of Sunday Bloody Sunday to the calming strains of '40'. Perfect
Ken Vail
I'll go as far to say this album changed my life
Zack Zallie
From Boy to Achtung Baby, U2 were at peak these moments. Too bad they went downfall after that.
Daniel Elston
It’s a 10/10 album
gacha savanah
The average age of the band must have been about 20 or 21 when this was released, absolutely astonishing, literally kids producing some of the most mature and sublime rock music of all time.