U2 – Van Diemen's Land

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Send "Van Diemen's Land" Ringtone to Cell

Hold me now, oh hold me now
'Til this hour has gone around
And I'm gone on the rising tide
For to face Van Diemen's land

It's a bitter pill I swallow here
To be rent from one so dear
We fought for justice and not for gain
But the magistrate sent me away

Now kings will rule and the poor will toil
And tear their hands as they tear the soil
But a day will come in this dawning age
When an honest man sees an honest wage

Hold me now, oh hold me now
'Til this hour has gone around
And I'm gone on the rising tide
For to face Van Diemen's land

Send "Van Diemen's Land" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by archmastermind

Track duration: 03:05

"Van Diemen's Land" as written by Laurence Mullen Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Van Diemen's Land song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Comparison:In places, this melody reminds me very much of the song "The Water Is Wide."
    Flag kksh8on January 02, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:check this...

    AT BEST

    by: John Boyle O'Reilly (1844-1890)

    HE faithful helm commands the keel,
    From port to port fair breezes blow;
    But the ship must sail the convex sea,
    Nor may she straighter go.

    So, man to man; in fair accord,
    On thought and will the winds may wait;
    But the world will bend the passing word,
    Though its shortest course be straight.

    From soul to soul the shortest line
    At best will bended be:
    The ship that holds the straightest course
    Still sails the convex sea.

    Flag BizarreAppuon October 07, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:there is another, more traditional song also called "van diemens land",sung most notably by Ronnie Drew. This song as far as now was wrtten by The Edge about the Irish Poet John Boyle O'Reilly who was exiled to Australia. President JFK said he carried a book of JBOR's Poems on him where ever he went, check em out if you get a chance, the guy is far too anonymous and brilliant for someone held in such esteem by world leaders and rock stars alike!!
    Flag PapaJedon August 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first comment for this song is completely wrong. Van Diemen never saw Australia. He was the captain of an expidition that discovered modern day Tasmania, but he died before he got there, The guy who did discover it was Able Tasman, and he named it after Van Diemen, this name was later changed to Tasmania. Shuttface, get your facts straight.
    Flag tomas_austenon April 08, 2006   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:This song (which was not written by US - its a traditional lament) bears an uncanny resemblance in feel if not lyric to the much more well known Fields of Athenry, both about transportation to Tasmania (VDL)
    Flag travis_fanon March 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:^^^

    It's Edge singing it. If you've seen the Rattle and Hum movie, you'll see that it's him. It's a very moving piece.
    Flag tmlon February 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not sure if edge wrote this song or not (thoughaccording to the poster above it was not him)... but I am pretty sure that it is Paul McCartney (or Beatles fame) singing and not Edge. Could be wrong though.
    Flag Vogon Poeton November 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The Edge did NOT write this song, it's a Trad. song from way back.
    Flag simonjon September 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Basically a song about social injustics; about a man probably morally coerced into a life of crime or theft to survive and either for himself or his family. Thus he is "sent away" to van Diemens Land- a place established for those who broke British criminal rule.In those days laws were strict and when they brought someone down,it was usually the masses in extreme poverty the reasons being a mixture of political and social beliefs that had been continually upheld by the British,stationed in Ireland for 600 years. This song exemplifies the sentiment of multiple Irish generations,particularly those who came before the great famine of the 1840's,mainly in the 18th century- who were plundered by those "kings" who will continue to "rule" over the "poor" who will continue to "toil". The idea of revolution rebellion- this man and his comrades "fought for justice and not for gain"- probably an attempt of reclaiming food and land that was rightfully theirs.Remeber- at this peiod of immense poverty throughout Ireland,the British were exporting more food than importing it. And so,this man years for his loved one to hold him one last time as he faces the "rising tide" towards the dreaded Van Diemen's Land.
    Flag sexysadieon January 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's a great song.According to "Rattle & Hum"'s booklet it is "Dedicated to John Boyle O'Reilly.A Fenian poet deported from Ireland to Australia because of his poetry.(it wasn't very good...)"
    Flag Lyraon April 15, 2004   Link

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