OJBs Web Site: Bullet the Blue Sky

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Music: Lyrics for "Bullet the Blue Sky"

This has some of the strongest imagery of any of U2's songs, just read the lyrics below and you'll see what I mean. The extended version (see below) has an extra spoken section with sn even stronger anti-USA message. I think this is a good example of how effective raw rock music can be.

In the howling wind comes a stinging rain
See it driving nails into soul on the tree of pain
From the firefly, a red orange glow
See the face of fear running scared in the valley below

Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue

In the locust wind comes a rattle and hum
Jacob wrestled the angel and the angel was overcome
Plant a demon seed, you raise a flower of fire
See them burning crosses, see the flames, higher and higher

Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue

Suit and tie comes up to me
His face red
Like a rose on a thorn bush
Like all the colours of a royal flush
Through the alleys of a quiet city street
Up the staircase to the first floor
We turn the key and slowly unlock the door
A man breathes deep into saxophone
Through the walls we hear the city groan
Outside is America
Outside is America

Spoken part in the Version on Rattle and Hum

So I'm back in my hotel room with Johnnie Coltrane and the love supreme.
In the next room I hear some woman scream out
that her lover's turning off turning on the television.
And I can't tell the difference between ABC news,
Hill Street Blues
and a preacher on the old time gospel hour stealing money from the sick and the old.
Well the God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister.
I feel a long way from the hills of San Salvador
where the sky is ripped open and the rain pours through a gaping wound
pelting the women and children...
pelting the women and children...
who run...
who run...
into the arms...
of America

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