"Sunset on uncle sam, charlie the birdman"

[kennerado]

Hey I just watched Rattle and Hum for the first time in a while and I realised that the lyrics to Angel of Harlem and Desire were slightly different on the film compared with the Album. Can anyone explain to me what this is all about?

 

[U2girl]

Uncle Sam is a term for US government (or is it president? not sure).

I'm guessing "birdman" is some musician Bono was paying tribute to in the song.

 

[OnFire]

I'm guessing "birdman" is some musician Bono was paying tribute to in the song.

Probably Charlie Parker, who went by the nickname, "bird".

 

[Numb1075]

Bono has a tendency to alter lyrics quite often, sometimes intentional, other times, err, not so intentional.

 

[SpaceBoy]

The band records many different takes of every song they write. Often times the lyrics may vary through the different versions as the song changes/evolves. What you see in Rattle and Hum are simply different takes from the final versions that were released on Rattle and Hum.

 

[ADecentMelody]

This song is (partly) about his love for American roots music. At the heart of it, he is singing about Billie Holiday. But yes, Chalie the Birdman is Charlie Parker.

The R&H version of the song is an early version that eventually evolved into what's in the CD.

 

[LMP]

In the CD version he still makes a Birdman reference i think

 

[sundown]

Haha, just noticed this the other day too.

 

[U2DMfan]

Birdman on 43??? Street sounds like a symphony.

Or something like that.

 

[LMP]

yep, that's it DMfan