In the long-suffering Irish history, there were two events that are commonly called “Bloody Sundays”. On November 21, 1920, Irish Republican Army gunmen killed several intelligence officers. In response, the army and police shot football fans at a match in Dublin. The second tragedy, also known as the Bogside Massacre, occurred on January 30, 1972, when soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on demonstrators in Derry.
The U2 song discussed in the article was, to a greater extent, written under the impression of the second incident. However, the authors have repeatedly emphasized that it cannot be considered directly dedicated to the “Bloody Sunday” of 1972. In addition, she was born ten years after the execution of a peaceful action.
The story of the creation of the song Sunday Bloody Sunday
One evening in 1982 can be considered the beginning of the story of the work. At that time, newlyweds Bono and his wife were honeymooning in Jamaica, and Edge was in Ireland, where he was working on material for a future album. On that memorable day, he quarreled with his girlfriend. While in a state close to depression, he composed a guitar riff and draft lyrics in which he strongly condemned the activities of the IRA and other radical groups.
Returning from vacation, Bono significantly altered the lyrics. He removed lines like “don’t talk to me about IRA rights” so as not to endanger the band members and their families. In addition, he changed the main idea of the composition, emphasizing calls for tolerance and abstinence from violence.
Release and achievements
The band recorded the song at Dublin’s Windmill Lane studios with producer Steve Lillywhite. Sunday Bloody Sunday became the first track on the War album and was released as a single, which was released in several countries on March 11, 1983.
Meaning of Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2 immediately began to play the track at almost all concerts. The song was received with mixed reactions by the public, and many saw it as a call for active protests. The band members had to repeatedly convince the listeners and explain the main idea of Sunday Bloody Sunday.
So, Bono never tired of repeating from the stage that the song is not a call to rebellion, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. once said:
We are interested in relationships between people, not politics. So when you mention Northern Ireland, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” people think, “Oh, that’s when the British soldiers shot thirteen Catholics. But the song is not about that. It’s just an event, the most famous event in Northern Ireland, and it’s the most powerful way to say, “How long? How long do we have to put up with this?” I don’t care who is who: Catholics, Protestants, someone else. You know, people die every single day of anger and hatred, and we ask, “Why? What’s the point?”… Let’s forget about politics, let’s stop shooting at each other, sit down at the table and talk…
1983
On November 8, 1987, IRA fighters detonated a bomb during Memorial Day events for British soldiers, killing eleven people. That evening, U2 performed the song as part of the Joshua Tree Tour. Bono addressed the audience with a poignant speech:
Let me tell you something. I’m fed up with Irish Americans out of the country for twenty or thirty years who come up to me and talk about resistance, the return of the revolution, the glory of the revolution and the glory of dying for the revolution. To hell with the revolution! They don’t talk about the glory of killing for the revolution. What’s glorious about dragging a man out of bed and shooting him in front of his wife and children? What is glorious about this? What’s glorious about bombings at the Memorial Day parade when elderly pensioners walk out in polished medals. What is glorious about this? To leave them to die, or crippled them for the rest of their lives, or kill them in the name of a revolution that most people in my country don’t want. Enough!
Sunday Bloody Sunday is considered U2’s calling card. It has been repeatedly covered by famous performers. It is included in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone readers and other authoritative lists.
Video of Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
Let’s watch the music video for the song.
Interesting Facts
- Bono usually waves a white flag from the stage when he performs Sunday Bloody Sunday.
- Drummer Larry Mullen recorded the drums on the stairs, as producer Steve Lillywhite wanted a natural echo.
- A live version of the song is heard at the end of the documentary “Bloody Sunday”, dedicated to the events of January 30, 1972.
Sunday Bloody Sunday Lyrics by U2
I can’t believe the news today
I can’t close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
‘Cos tonight
We can be as one, 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.
And the battle’s just begun
There’s a lot lost, but tell me who has won?
The trenches 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?
‘Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away.
I’ll wipe your tears away.
I’ll wipe your tears away.
I’ll wipe your bloodshot eyes.
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.
The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won
On…
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Lyrics of Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 Alternate
I can’t believe today’s news
I can’t drive them away just by closing my eyes
How much longer, how long must we sing this song?
How much more? How much more?
Because today
We can be one – today
Broken bottles under the feet of children
Bodies scattered in cul-de-sacs
But I don’t want to follow the call to battle
He makes me, makes me back against the wall
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
But the battle has just begun
So many losses, but tell me who won?
A ditch was dug in our hearts
Mothers, children, brothers and sisters
Were on opposite sides
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
How much longer, how long must we sing this song?
How much more? How much more?
Because today
We can be one – today
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Wipe away your tears
Wipe them off forever
I will wipe your tears
I will wipe your tears
I’ll wipe your bloodshot eyes
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
It’s true, we’re immune
To juggling facts and replacing reality with TV
And millions are crying today
And we eat and drink, although tomorrow they will die
The real battle has just begun
To announce the victory of Jesus
AT…
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Song quote
It’s not a rebel song at all. What I wanted to express with this is: here it is, in a close-up. I’m fed up. How long will it last? This is just a statement. The song doesn’t even indicate what the answer might be.
Bono
