The single was released in March 1983 in Germany and The Netherlands only; "Two Hearts Beat As One" was released instead in other territories. Along with "New Year's Day", the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well-received by critics on the album's release.
The song has remained a staple of U2's live concerts. During its earliest performances, the song created controversy. Bono reasserted the song's anti-hate, anti-sectarian-violence message to his audience for many years. Today, it is considered one of U2's signature songs, being one of the band's most performed songs. Critics rate it among the best political protest songs, and it has been covered by over a dozen artists. It was named the 268th greatest song by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes
And make it go away
How long?
How long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
Tonight
Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Sunday, Bloody Sunday (alright)
And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
How long?
How long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cause tonight, we can be as one
Tonight, tonight
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
(Tonight, tonight) Sunday, Bloody Sunday (let's go)
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
I'll, wipe your tears away (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
I'll, wipe your blood shot eyes (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday) the real battle just begun
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday) to claim the victory Jesus won
On
Sunday Bloody Sunday, yeah
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The lyrics in U2's song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" addresses the Northern Ireland conflict known as "The Troubles." The song speaks to the violence and chaos of the era, specifically the Bloody Sunday massacre. As the song begins, the singer expresses disbelief and a desire to ignore the terrible news. The repetition of "How long, how long?" highlights the never-ending nature of the conflict, and the singer wants to know how much longer the violence will go on before people can live in peace. The chorus repeats the name of the song, which is a reference to the day of the Bloody Sunday massacre. The second verse adds more detail to the violence, speaking about the people who have died and the fact that no one has truly won the conflict, as it continues to tear apart families and communities.
The bridge of the song turns from describing the broader conflict to addressing the immorality of society. The singer references how people are complacent about the struggles of others and use media as a way to distance themselves from reality. The repetition of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" at the end of the song serves as a reminder that although the day of the massacre has passed, the violence is ongoing, and the battle is far from won.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing agreement or affirmation
I can't believe the news today
Expressing disbelief and shock at the news received
Oh, I can't close my eyes
Unable to ignore the reality of the situation
And make it go away
Wishing the situation could be erased or undone
How long?
Asking how much longer something will continue
How long must we sing this song?
Asking how much longer they must speak out about the issue
How long, how long?
Repeating the question about the duration of the issue
'Cause tonight, we can be as one
Believing that they can come together and unite to make a change
Broken bottles under children's feet
Describing a violent and dangerous environment
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
Describing the aftermath of deadly violence
But I won't heed the battle call
Refusing to be a part of the cycle of violence and hatred
It puts my back up
Causing a defensive reaction
Puts my back up against the wall
Feeling trapped and powerless in the situation
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Referencing the event of Bloody Sunday, a violent event in history
And the battle's just begun
Acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to overcome the issue
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
Questioning who benefits from the violence and loss of life
The trench is dug within our hearts
Referring to the emotional and psychological impact of violence on society
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Describing the human toll of violence
How long, how long?
Repeating the question about the duration of the issue
'Cause tonight, we can be as one
Believing that they can come together and unite to make a change
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Referencing the event of Bloody Sunday, a violent event in history
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Encouraging others to persevere despite the sadness and pain
Wipe your tears away
Repeating the encouragement to remain strong and resilient
Oh, wipe your tears away
Further emphasizing the need to let go of the pain and sadness
I'll, wipe your tears away (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
Offering to provide comfort and support
I'll, wipe your blood shot eyes (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
Noticing the exhaustion and fatigue from the ongoing issue
And it's true we are immune
Acknowledging that they have become desensitized to the violence
When fact is fiction and TV reality
Critiquing the media for their portrayal of the issue
And today the millions cry
Highlighting the widespread impact of the issue
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
Confronting the audience with the contrast between their comfortable lives and the ongoing suffering of others
The real battle just begun
Acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to overcome the issue
To claim the victory Jesus won
Referring to the biblical idea of justice and righteousness
On Sunday Bloody Sunday, yeah
Referencing the event of Bloody Sunday, a violent event in history
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul David Hewson, Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One