This song is supposed to represent the alternative (a non-violent) version of Irish resistance to UK occupation of Northern Ireland. U2 was a big advocate of this, carrying white flags on horseback in their videos and such. So much bloodshed in the sectarian conflict failed to produce an English surrender— nor did an assassination (bomb) attack against Margaret Thatcher— so the MLK and Gandhi approach seemed logical. (Don’t fight, just surrender but don’t cooperate… and hope to wear down or guilt the occupational forces into retreat.) It may have saved some lives, but in the end, the current truce has left Northern Ireland still in Unionist hands. Alas, idealism doesn’t always work. I still like the song a lot though, one of the best on the album.
This song is supposed to represent the alternative (a non-violent) version of Irish resistance to UK occupation of Northern Ireland. U2 was a big advocate of this, carrying white flags on horseback in their videos and such. So much bloodshed in the sectarian conflict failed to produce an English surrender— nor did an assassination (bomb) attack against Margaret Thatcher— so the MLK and Gandhi approach seemed logical. (Don’t fight, just surrender but don’t cooperate… and hope to wear down or guilt the occupational forces into retreat.) It may have saved some lives, but in the end, the current truce has left Northern Ireland still in Unionist hands. Alas, idealism doesn’t always work. I still like the song a lot though, one of the best on the album.