Heaven on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
Sick of the pain
Sick of hearing
Again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth

Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

It's already gone too far
Who said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt

Jesus, can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line?
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No whos or whys
No-one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the colour in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth

They're reading names out
Over the radio
All the folks, the rest of us
Won't get to know
Sean and Julia
Gareth, Ann and Breda
Their lives are bigger than
Any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
Jesus in the song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth?
This peace on Earth

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

Peace on Earth Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Peace On Earth song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This is such a beautiful song and a terrible one. The Christian names mentioned are those of some of the victims of the bomb that exploded in Omagh on 15th August 1998, just a few months after the Good Friday agreement that was meant to bring peace to Northern Ireland. So this song continues U2's traditional concern about the violence in that region. It also ties into their deep Christian faith mingled with extreme impatience with God (e.g. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" or "Wake Up Dead Man"). Wars continue around the world even to the present day and God, for whatever reason, hasn't seen fit to put an end to them. I have to say that as a citizen of the USA post-9/11, the line "you become a monster so the monster will not break you" is sadly convicting.

    albanyankeeon January 02, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Breda Devine, aged 20 months Sean McLaughlin, 12 Julia Huges, 21 Gareth Conway, 18 Ann McCombe, 48

    I think these are the victims named in the song they all died in the bombing. I guess the point of the song is to question why this happens and to point out how much it effects the people around us when it happens.

    Bonavoxon June 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is about the Omagh Bombing, Northern Ireland, 1998. The names Bono reads out were some of the 20 plus victims of the bombing.

    rz0on June 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about Bono asking god to help the world. It's about how he thinks people are ruining this world and the only person that can save us is god.

    TornUpInsideon June 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Always loved this song and one night after Sept. 11 heard it and burst into tears. Amazing how music can help define your emotions- and U2 is one amazing band.

    littlenightowlon June 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is, in my opinion, U2's deepest song. It is the opposite of what people would think of it by hearing the title. It is actually a bitter song about how our world is in disarray and unless we do something about it, or as the person above said-if God saves us, we cannot acheive peace.

    "Sick of hearing again and again that there's gonna be Peace on Earth"

    It is a very good song and I think you really have to look deep into the lyrics to understand the true meaning of it.

    u2elevationon August 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a sad song and every time I listen to it I think of the vanity of war and all those innocent lives lost and destroyed because of it and the empty promises about peace on earth when producing mass killing weapons

    Idion September 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Anyone who hasnt seen the videoclip of this song mixed with walk on, on the "tribute to heroes" thing for the victims of the WTC incident should watch it. Bono sings peace on earth at the start and you can literally see the pain on his face and it looks as though he is about to cry. It gave me goosebumps when i first saw it

    u2_loveron August 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    god looks over us in apathy. aint it funny?

    heart of darknesson August 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    At the end you can clearly hear "Daaaisy.. daaaaisy.." For those who have read/watched Arthur C Clarke's "2001: A Space Odyssey" the HAL 9000 artificial intelligence utters this poem as his last message before he's taken offline. In 2001, the main character Dave Bowman becomes the "star child" and sends out a wave of calm and peace upon the earth. So this song is a bit of a tribute to 2001, in addition to having other meanings as seen on this page.

    Unidanon September 22, 2005   Link

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