The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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
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
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
I was surprised when I looked this up no one mentioned the Omagh bombing. <br /> <br /> "Another line, "She never got to say goodbye, To see the colour in his eyes, now he's in the dirt," was about how James Barker, a victim, was remembered by his mother Donna Maria Barker in an article in the Irish Times after the bombing in Omagh. The Edge has described the song as "the most bitter song U2 has ever written". The names of all 29 people killed during the bombing were recited at the conclusion of the group's anti-violence anthem "Sunday Bloody Sunday" during the Elevation Tour; one performance is captured on the concert video U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland."<br /> <br /> U2Faqs.com<br /> Irish Times
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.
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.
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.
you sure? or maybe its bout the tensions in Northern Ireland. Bono wrote it in one night after a bombing in the town of Omagh. The Lyrics "She never got to say goodbye, To see the colour in his eyes, now he's in the dirt" was about how James Barker, a victim, was remembered by his mother Donna Maria Barker in an article in the Irish Times after the bombing in Omagh. Sean and Julia, Gareth, Anne, and Breda, were victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland. They died Saturday, August 15, 1998. <br /> <br />
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.
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.
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
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
god looks over us in apathy. aint it funny?
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.