In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Shake! Shake!
Don't go
I believe in a celebration
I believe you set me free
I believe you can loose this chains
I believe you can dance with me
Dance with me
Shake! Shake!
Shake! Shake!
I believe in the third world war
I believe in the atomic bomb
I believe in the powers that be
But they won't overpower me
And, and you can go there too
And, and you can go go go go
Shake! Shake!
Shake! Shake!
And we dance out of time
And everything goes 'round and 'round
And we don't have the time
To watch the world go tumbling down
Go! Go!
I believe in the bells of Christchurch
Ringing for this land
I believe in the cells of Mount joy
There's an honest man
And, and you can go there too
And, and you can go go go go
I believe in the walls of Jericho
I believe they're coming down
I believe in this city's children
I believe the trumpet's sound
And you can go there too
And you can go go go go.
I believe in what I'm doing
What am I doing here.
Don't go
I believe in a celebration
I believe you set me free
I believe you can loose this chains
I believe you can dance with me
Dance with me
Shake! Shake!
Shake! Shake!
I believe in the third world war
I believe in the atomic bomb
I believe in the powers that be
But they won't overpower me
And, and you can go there too
And, and you can go go go go
Shake! Shake!
Shake! Shake!
And we dance out of time
And everything goes 'round and 'round
And we don't have the time
To watch the world go tumbling down
Go! Go!
I believe in the bells of Christchurch
Ringing for this land
I believe in the cells of Mount joy
There's an honest man
And, and you can go there too
And, and you can go go go go
I believe in the walls of Jericho
I believe they're coming down
I believe in this city's children
I believe the trumpet's sound
And you can go there too
And you can go go go go.
I believe in what I'm doing
What am I doing here.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
This was the first video from U2 I ever saw when MTV first came out and I HAD to find out who these guys were. The song is infused with energy and set the tone for what I expected from the Band as each new album was released through my youth...
From what I hear, this is the rarest U2 song out there - only released on 45'. I've never heard it, so I can't quite say what it means..but if anyone knows where I can get a listen, let me know.
montrose, email me and I will send you a file. BTW, I have this on an import 45 record too from when I was a teenager.
I love this song. It's a pity it isn't on any of their albums.
It was the first U2 video I saw, as well. Only I saw it on ABC's Friday Night Videos (we didn't have cable at that time).
Ever since "The Complete U2" was released on iTunes, this song has been available for download there. But I can only imagine how hard it must've been to get before that.
Great song. I have it on a cassette tape from my teenage years (Arrghh, Matey!) It's kind of a multipurpose protest song. In the live version I have, Bono shouts "No Way!" after the line "I believe in the atomic bomb"
Here's my best take on the song:
The main focus on the song is Irish protest. Christchurch is the oldest cathedral in Dublin, and the seat of the archbishop of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) but is officially recognized as the seat of the Roman Catholic bishop, who is physically located at St. Mary's. "I believe in the bells of Christchurch" could be either way, Catholic or Protestant. But "ringing for this land signifies a unified Ireland.
I think the lines about Mountjoy are pretty bold. I think the actual line is "I believe in the cells of Mountjoy there's an honest man." I believe it refers to the hunger strikes. Mountjoy is an infamous prison in Dublin. Thomas Ashe, founder of the Irish Volunteers died there on hunger strike during the Irish Revolution. He was the inspriation for the IRA hunger strikes in which Bobby Sands died in 1981 at Long Kesh.
The real force comes at the end of the song where Bono refers to Mountjoy and then sings "and you.. can go there too.. and you can go there too.."
The "Shake, Shake" goes along with the trumpet sound, which refers to the trumpets the Lord commanded the people to blow to bring down the walls of Jericho in the Bible (see Joshua 6:1-26).
everything about u2 is pure evil!!! all who like them are spawn of the nonexistent devil
like my music teacher