U2: Where the Streets Have No Name

Remarks:

My favourite U2 song by far, though I like “One” (2006) and “Everlasting Love” (1990) too. I used to play this to death. In 1987 it went to #1 on the pop charts in their native Ireland and in New Zealand, to #4 in Britain, #11 in Canada and #13 in the US.

When Bono wrote the song he was thinking of Belfast where you could tell a person’s religion and wealth by what street they lived on.

Brian Eno is on organ, The Edge on guitar, Bono sings. It proved to be a hard song to get right.

They made a self-important video which won a Grammy but which I hate. It gets in the way of the song – unlike the video above.

– Abagond, 2016.

See also:

• songs: the 1980s
• U2 and Mary J. Blige: One
• U2: Everlasting Love
• Robert Knight: Everlasting Love

Lyrics: 

I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside.
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name.

I wanna feel sunlight on my face.
I see the dust-cloud
Disappear without a trace.
I wanna take shelter
From the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name.

We’re still building and burning down love
Burning down love.
And when I go there
I go there with you
(It’s all I can do).

The city’s a flood, and our love turns to rust.
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust.
I’ll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name.

We’re still building and burning down love
Burning down love.
And when I go there
I go there with you
(It’s all I can do).

Source: u2.com.