Yeah

Desert sky
Dream beneath a desert sky
The rivers run but soon run dry
We need new dreams tonight

Desert rose
Dreamed I saw a desert rose
Dress torn in ribbons and in bows
Like a siren she calls to me

Sleep comes like a drug
In God's country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses
In God's country

Set me alight
We'll punch a hole right through the night
Everyday the dreamers die
See what's on the other side

She is liberty
And she comes to rescue me
Hope, faith, her vanity
The greatest gift is gold

Sleep comes like a drug
In God's country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses
In God's country

Naked flame
She stands with a naked flame
I stand with the sons of Cain
Burned by the fire of love
Burned by the fire of love

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Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

In God's Country Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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In God's Country song meanings

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My Interpretation
I think this song is mostly about war, and more specifically European ambivalence toward American military power.

Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA", also written in the mid-1980's, shared some of its complex pro-American but anti-military themes. However, In God's Country (like many works of great art) is even more powerful in light of subsequent events, especially the two Iraq wars. Ironically, Emma Lazarus wrote the other great ode to the Statue of Liberty ("give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses..."), in 1883, before the great period of European immigration.

The "desert sky" references may have been originally intended to refer to the North African campaign during World War II, where American soldiers were joined by the British and European resistance fighters to rescue Europe from Nazi occupation. Many members of the European resistance were former pacifists (like U2), who were inspired to fight by the American example of hope, faith, courage and devotion to liberty, all of which are mentioned in the lyrics and are underscored by the music's bass line, which sounds something like a "Bonanza" episode, representing American cowboy swagger. The line, "Set me alight, We'll punch a hole right through the night" may refer to the initial eagerness to join the fray by shelling continental Europe, but it is even more descriptive of America's early "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq.

In contrast to the bass line, Edge's harrowing guitar solos express the horific consequences of war as viscerally as Picasso's "Guernica." The song equates war with fratricide, hence the reference to Cain, and concludes that the same American ideals (represented by Liberty's torch) that fuel the passion to defend freedom also burns those who embrace it by making them killers. Given this no-win proposition, U2 ultimately declares itself to stand on the side of the Americans, the Sons of Cain. In the final irony, God's Country (America and her supporters) is a nation of the damned, "burned by the fire of love", that is, by its own noble intentions.

I think this song is mostly about war, and more specifically European ambivalence toward American military power. Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA", also written in the mid-1980's, shared some of its complex pro-American but anti-military themes. However, In God's Country (like many works of great art) is even more powerful in light of subsequent events, especially the two Iraq wars. Ironically, Emma Lazarus wrote the other great ode to the Statue of Liberty ("give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses..."), in 1883, before the great period of European immigration. The "desert sky" references may have been originally intended to refer to the North African campaign during World War II, where American soldiers were joined by the British and European resistance fighters to rescue Europe from Nazi occupation. Many members of the European resistance were former pacifists (like U2), who were inspired to fight by the American example of hope, faith, courage and devotion to liberty, all of which are mentioned in the lyrics and are underscored by the music's bass line, which sounds something like a "Bonanza" episode, representing American cowboy swagger. The line, "Set me alight, We'll punch a hole right through the night" may refer to the initial eagerness to join the fray by shelling continental Europe, but it is even more descriptive of America's early "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq. In contrast to the bass line, Edge's harrowing guitar solos express the horific consequences of war as viscerally as Picasso's "Guernica." The song equates war with fratricide, hence the reference to Cain, and concludes that the same American ideals (represented by Liberty's torch) that fuel the passion to defend freedom also burns those who embrace it by making them killers. Given this no-win proposition, U2 ultimately declares itself to stand on the side of the Americans, the Sons of Cain. In the final irony, God's Country (America and her supporters) is a nation of the damned, "burned by the fire of love", that is, by its own noble intentions.

Reason:

rocknrolllawschoolon May 12, 2010 Link
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@rocknrolllawschool

Agreed! In God's Country is nothing than a searing indictment of the Bible/God/Jesus/Christianity and the horrible lies that come with it! What Bono is writing about here is how America gets so caught up with her "crooked crosses" and her right-wing extremism/media preachers etc. I am proud to say that I am not a Christian but rather an atheist who is very spiritual-Kabbalah Tree of life. I love U2 because of their heartland rock fervor and belief and healing of Rock's brilliant artistry. In U2, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry found a way out. It will stand-and that is rock & roll. In Gods Country-BRILLIANT AND LOUD COUNTRY ROCKER BY U2!

rabbitbunnyon July 25, 2012