Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures—such as her ordination as a priest despite being a woman with a Roman Catholic background—and her strongly expressed views on organised religion, women's rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her ten solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Since converting to Islam in 2018 she has changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
In December 2019 she gave her first UK concert in five years at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
On 26 July 2023, O'Connor's family issued a statement that she had died at the age of 56, without indicating the date or cause.
In the statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The acclaimed Dublin performer released 10 studio albums, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
The Lamb's Book of Life
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Great hatred and little room
Maimed us at the start
And now home just breaks my heart
To America I have come
I hope to bring your preachermen
Home to show my people how they can
Get their names back in the book of life of the lamb
I know that I have done many things
To give you reason not to listen to me
Especially as I have been so angry
But if you´d knew me maybe you would understand me
Words can´t express how sorry I am
If I ever caused pain to anybody
I just hope that you can show compassion
And love me enough to just please listen
Out of Ireland I did run
Great hatred and little room
Aimed to break my heart
Or wreck me up and tear me all apart
To America I have come
I need to find a good preacherman
Who can show me how I can
Get my name back in the book of life of the lamb
I bring these blessings with me
A strong heart full of hope and a feeling
That everything in this world would be okay
If people just believed enough in God to pray
But the world thinks that sounds crazy
And that´s the thing that makes me sing so sadly
To think that we would leave God so lonely
To think that we would mess up our own destiny
Out of history we have come
With great hatred and little room
It aims to break our hearts
Or wrecks us up and tear us all apart
But if we listen to the preacherman
He can show us how it can be done
To live in peace and live as one
Get our names back in the book of life of the lamb
Out of hopelessness we can come
If people just believe it can be done
´cause every prayer ever prayed is heard
take power in the power of the word
Out of history we have come
With great hatred and little room
It aims to break our hearts
Or wrecks us up and tear us all apart
But if we listen to the Rasta man
He can show us how it can be done
To live in peace and live as one
Get our names back in the book of life of the lamb
Out of history we have come
With great hatred and little room
It aims to break our hearts
Or smash us up and tear us all apart
But if we listen to the Rasta woman
She can show us how it can be done
To live in peace and live as one
Get our names back in the book of life of the lamb
"The Lamb's Book of Life" by Sinéad O'Connor is a song about searching for spirituality and purpose in a world filled with hatred and hardship. O'Connor speaks about the difficulties she faced growing up in Ireland, where she experienced a lot of pain and sorrow. She then moved to America, hoping to find a way to help her people, who were also struggling to find their place in the world.
The song is emotional and powerful, with O'Connor's solemn vocals delivering an urgent message about the importance of finding peace, love, and spirituality in a world where these things are often hard to come by. O'Connor speaks candidly about her past mistakes and the pain she's caused others, but she asks for compassion and understanding, hoping that people will listen to her message and be moved by it.
Overall, "The Lamb's Book of Life" is a deeply personal song about the search for purpose and meaning in a troubled world, and O'Connor's passionate delivery underscores the urgency and importance of this message.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of Ireland I have come
I come from a country that has hated and oppressed me, and I'm looking for hope and salvation.
Great hatred and little room
My homeland has had a history of hatred and limited resources, making it hard for me and my people to thrive.
Maimed us at the start
The hurt and pain my people have experienced have caused a barrier to entry that we still grapple with.
And now home just breaks my heart
My country's present and past have been so difficult that my heart aches for a better future.
To America I have come
I have come to a new land in search of something better for myself and my people.
I hope to bring your preachermen
I am searching for spiritual leaders who can help guide my people toward a better future.
Home to show my people how they can
I am looking for answers that can help my people find their way back to hope and salvation.
Get their names back in the book of life of the lamb
I am seeking a way for my people to find their faith and reconnect with God before it is too late.
I know that I have done many things
I am aware that my past actions have caused pain and hurt to others, and I'm trying to make amends.
To give you reason not to listen to me
I understand that my past words and deeds might make it hard for people to trust and hear me now.
Especially as I have been so angry
My past anger and frustration have contributed to people misunderstanding and dismissing me.
But if you´d knew me maybe you would understand me
If people could see beyond my past and get to know me now, they might see a different side of me.
Words can´t express how sorry I am
I am deeply and genuinely sorry for the pain I have caused others.
If I ever caused pain to anybody
I take responsibility for any harm I have done to others, and I want to make it right.
I just hope that you can show compassion
I am asking for others to extend grace and mercy to me as I try to make amends and move forward.
And love me enough to just please listen
I am asking for others to hear me out, even if they do not agree with me or my past.
Out of Ireland I did run
I left Ireland and its troubles behind, seeking a better life and future.
Aimed to break my heart
I endured hardship and trauma that could have broken my spirit.
Or wreck me up and tear me all apart
I went through painful experiences that could have destroyed me from the inside out.
I bring these blessings with me
Despite my challenges, I am still able to offer hope and positivity to others.
A strong heart full of hope and a feeling
I carry within me a sense of optimism and faith that things can get better.
That everything in this world would be okay
I believe that the world could be a better, kinder, more loving place if we embrace our faith and belief in God.
If people just believed enough in God to pray
I believe that if people could trust in the power of prayer, they could help improve the world and their own lives.
But the world thinks that sounds crazy
I understand that not everyone believes in God or the power of prayer, and that's a source of frustration and sadness for me.
And that´s the thing that makes me sing so sadly
The world's lack of faith and belief in God's power is a source of sorrow and grief for me.
To think that we would leave God so lonely
The thought that we might abandon our faith or reject God makes me feel sad and worried.
To think that we would mess up our own destiny
I worry that our own actions and beliefs might cause untold damage to our lives and the world around us.
From out of history we have come
My people have a long history of struggle and strife, and that shapes our present and future.
With great hatred and little room
We have faced hate and oppression, which have limited our resources and opportunities.
It aims to break our hearts
The hurt and harm my people have suffered have been meant to destroy us emotionally and spiritually.
Or wrecks us up and tear us all apart
The pain and trauma we experience could tear us apart from within and damage us for life.
But if we listen to the preacherman
I believe that by turning to God and spiritual leaders, we can find a way to overcome our struggles and find hope.
He can show us how it can be done
I believe that through faith and prayer, we can discover a path to a better future and healing.
To live in peace and live as one
I believe that by working together and embracing love and compassion, we can create a world of peace and unity.
Get our names back in the book of life of the lamb
I believe that by finding faith and reclaiming our spirituality, we can renew our connection to God and find hope in our future.
Out of hopelessness we can come
Even in the darkest moments, we can find hope and a way forward if we trust in God's power.
If people just believe it can be done
I believe that if we keep faith and trust in God's plan, anything is possible.
Take power in the power of the word
The power of prayer and faith is immense and can give us strength and hope even in the toughest moments.
But if we listen to the Rasta man
I respect and value other spiritual leaders who can offer guidance and wisdom beyond my own tradition.
She can show us how it can be done
I look up to women leaders and believe that they can offer powerful insights and solutions to our problems.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEVIN BRIGGS, SINEAD O'CONNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K. Maczák
on Troy
The song is about her abusive mother, who locked her out of the house, and she sitting in the long grass in summer keeping warm , while her mother turned off the light inside the house , and she screamed . etc.