The Song is about 'Bloody Sunday' in the bogside of Derry NI. It was written years before the events in Enniskillen! A young Bono was a politicly active Irish lad, as many were and still are! This song was a direct angry attempt at describing the situation in the north at the time. 13, then a fourteenth, innocent people were killed by the British Paratroops, during a peaceful Cival Rights march, organized by a Protestant politician. This event and others, almost single handedly was responsible for the number of new volenteers that joined the Provisional IRA in the following years, to attempt to fight the British occupation of NI. Although thought of as a Rebel Song, after the the Enniskillen incident and with Bono's new reputation of the 'Champion of World Peace', he started the song live by proclaming, "This is NOT a Rebel Song", which upset many North Irish and Irish people! In 1997 Sinead O'Connor released, 'This IS a Rebel Song' as a response to Bono!
Although not as thought of, since the release of the U2 song in 1983, John Lennon wrote and sang the origonal song titled 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', released in 1972 on the heals of the event in Derry. the songs lyrics are much more directed toward the occupation of Northern Ireland and very anti British, which was surprising to many, as obviously, he was English! He and Paul McCartney had much sympythy for the Irish plight at the hands of the British people! McCartney followed with his own song,'Give Ireland back to the Irish' after! The Irish Nationalists have always prefered the Lennon song over the U2 one, as Lennon never wavered in his support, unlike Bono in '87! The lyrics are also right to the point and very harsh, describing the British actions!
The Song is about 'Bloody Sunday' in the bogside of Derry NI. It was written years before the events in Enniskillen! A young Bono was a politicly active Irish lad, as many were and still are! This song was a direct angry attempt at describing the situation in the north at the time. 13, then a fourteenth, innocent people were killed by the British Paratroops, during a peaceful Cival Rights march, organized by a Protestant politician. This event and others, almost single handedly was responsible for the number of new volenteers that joined the Provisional IRA in the following years, to attempt to fight the British occupation of NI. Although thought of as a Rebel Song, after the the Enniskillen incident and with Bono's new reputation of the 'Champion of World Peace', he started the song live by proclaming, "This is NOT a Rebel Song", which upset many North Irish and Irish people! In 1997 Sinead O'Connor released, 'This IS a Rebel Song' as a response to Bono!
Although not as thought of, since the release of the U2 song in 1983, John Lennon wrote and sang the origonal song titled 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', released in 1972 on the heals of the event in Derry. the songs lyrics are much more directed toward the occupation of Northern Ireland and very anti British, which was surprising to many, as obviously, he was English! He and Paul McCartney had much sympythy for the Irish plight at the hands of the British people! McCartney followed with his own song,'Give Ireland back to the Irish' after! The Irish Nationalists have always prefered the Lennon song over the U2 one, as Lennon never wavered in his support, unlike Bono in '87! The lyrics are also right to the point and very harsh, describing the British actions!