I chose the song, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2. It’s one of my all time favorites and really strikes a chord with me regarding war and bloodshed. U2 is an Irish band, and in this song they are referring to an incident in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972 where 26 civil rights protesters were shot by the British Parachute Regiment. U2 commemorated on this bloodshed with this 1983 song “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. U2’s overall message in this song is not taking sides with either party involved, but taking the side of peace. The Irish band sings in their lyrics, “How long must we sing this song, how long…cause tonight we can be as one tonight…” pleading for both sides to leave past animosities behind. U2 brings to light in their lyrics, “there’s many lost, but tell me who has won”? This song can be identified and relate to any wartime where loved ones are torn apart when they receive news of their son, daughter, or spouses being killed. The ones left behind carry on with the loss of their loved ones, and are only left with memories of war.
lyrics: Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
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
Cause 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 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
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Oh, wipe your bloodshot 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
To claim the victory Jesus won
On
Sunday bloody Sunday, yeah
Sunday bloody Sunday
Listen to song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQZLPV6xcHI