I posted this in "It's a Musical Journey" because I thought it was appropriate there but I what I really wanted was it here in a forum where tons of people visit. If I shouldn't be posting this here let me know and I'll get lost. Otherwise, I could use some help. I am doing a paper on alienation and isolation in Irish Lit and I was wondering if someone can come up with some U2 songs that deal with those themes. Sorry again if this thread is out of place......
Anyone want to help with a paper? ;)
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Gina Marie
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Hmmm-I'm not too good at this sort of thing, but off the top of my head...
Like your user name-'Tomorrow'-maybe about isolation?
'Exit' I think could definitely be considered to be about someone alienated from society.
There have to be plenty of others-I just can't think of any right now-hopefully other people on here are smarter than I am.
Like your user name-'Tomorrow'-maybe about isolation?
'Exit' I think could definitely be considered to be about someone alienated from society.
There have to be plenty of others-I just can't think of any right now-hopefully other people on here are smarter than I am.
Originally posted by Gina Marie:
Hmmm-I'm not too good at this sort of thing, but off the top of my head...
Like your user name-'Tomorrow'-maybe about isolation?
'Exit' I think could definitely be considered to be about someone alienated from society.
There have to be plenty of others-I just can't think of any right now-hopefully other people on here are smarter than I am.
Thanks Gina!
Gina Marie
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
You're welcome, though I wasn't much help.
Here's a link for lyrics-maybe it'll help a little
http://www.atu2.com/lyrics/
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If you are really good friends with The Edge, you can just call him The~ Adam
The right side of my brain is kinda redundant~ Larry
Here's a link for lyrics-maybe it'll help a little
http://www.atu2.com/lyrics/
------------------
If you are really good friends with The Edge, you can just call him The~ Adam
The right side of my brain is kinda redundant~ Larry
wildhoney22
Refugee
I'm trying to think of specifics, but the place I'd start is w/ their early work.... and here are a few I think are good too:
I agree w/ Gina - "Exit" fits that topic pretty well...
And "Stranger in a Strange Land" - the title is a giveaway....
"A Day without Me" maybe?
"Wake Up Dead Man" - that is definetly about isolation
Well, that's all I got for now. Hope this helps some
------------------
*~*?*~*~ Katie ~*~*?*~*
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me
I agree w/ Gina - "Exit" fits that topic pretty well...
And "Stranger in a Strange Land" - the title is a giveaway....
"A Day without Me" maybe?
"Wake Up Dead Man" - that is definetly about isolation
Well, that's all I got for now. Hope this helps some
------------------
*~*?*~*~ Katie ~*~*?*~*
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me
pax
ONE love, blood, life
Arguments could be made for many of their songs; the thing is, however, what kind of alienation/isolation are you talking about? If it's for Irish studies/Irish lit you may want to dig into "old-school"/pre-AB U2 for music that is more specifically coming from an Irish perspective. U2 I think became more universal with Achtung Baby, and that's NOT a bad thing--but AB is of course the fulcrum that U2-ology turns on, and it's important not to neglect that in any critical study of their music.
(Can you tell I'm an English major?)
I Will Follow
Out of Control (a particularly fine example IMHO)
Van Diemen's Land (also good!)
Shadows and Tall Trees
The Refugee (?)
Running to Stand Still
If I were you, I would really pick out either Van Diemen's Land or Out of Control from the list I gave, but you know, I could be wrong and you're liable to get lots of great suggestions. I've done some similar work with writers like E.E. Cummings and Pablo Neruda, so if you'd like some help, don't hesitate to ask.
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If you cannot live together in here, you cannot live together out there, let me tell ya. --Bono
You've got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice... --Bono
(Can you tell I'm an English major?)
I Will Follow
Out of Control (a particularly fine example IMHO)
Van Diemen's Land (also good!)
Shadows and Tall Trees
The Refugee (?)
Running to Stand Still
If I were you, I would really pick out either Van Diemen's Land or Out of Control from the list I gave, but you know, I could be wrong and you're liable to get lots of great suggestions. I've done some similar work with writers like E.E. Cummings and Pablo Neruda, so if you'd like some help, don't hesitate to ask.
------------------
If you cannot live together in here, you cannot live together out there, let me tell ya. --Bono
You've got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice... --Bono
Who'd have guessed?
(I dropped the major for a minor but now I want to go back!!!!!!)
Anyway thanks for the suggestions. Gathering from what you said along with the suggestions from everyone else it looks like the earlier stuff would work much better, thanks, all of you, for the help.
martha
Blue Crack Supplier
Come to the light...come to the light!
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...a highway with no one on it, a treasure just to look upon it...
alreadygone
The Fly
There are so many songs to choose from here, like paxetaurora said, depending on your perspective. I took Irish Lit myself--"The Irish Renaissance," taught by this wonderful Irish guy named Jonathan Allison, who of course was a U2 fan...
Anyway, a couple of suggestions:
Johann Georg Kohl was quoted in Desiree Edwards-Rees' Ireland's story as saying over 200 years ago: "It seems as if there were something peculiar in the nature and condition of Ireland that prevents her wounds from ever healing." This is a fabuous lead-in to many songs that speak of alienation or isolation on more than just a personal level: just about everything on War, for example.
Another interesting topic might be to trace the evolution of lyrical references to the Troubles and how the narrator (singer? author?) often turns to religion as a solace in the face of the alienation (bewilderment?) and rage or confusion caused by conflict. Sunday Bloody Sunday, Please, Wake up Dead Man, Peace on Earth...
Or you could trace the evolution of the theme of isolation throughout Bono's career, taking each album as a whole:
Boy - teenage angst, loss of mother
October - looking to God for answers; finding any?
War - anger, national conflict, personal conflict
Unforgettable fire - inner turmoil, introspection (a line from Bad is "Isolation, desolation, let it go..."--he's feeling isolated from a friend because of the helplessness he feels in the face of that friend's addiction)
Joshua Tree - the liberation of finding new perspectives? (though there's angst there, too "I want to run, I want to hide.." Still Haven't Found, WOWY, Exit, and even anguish--WOWY, Running to Stand Still)
R&H - uh, well, there's.... someone help me out, here?
Achtung - So Cruel, Acrobat, Ultraviolet, Love is Blindness--things seem to have taken a bitter turn?
Pop - hmmm... references back to themes touched on in earlier albums: Mofo=Boy; If God will send his Angels=October; Please=War; ?=UF--Do you feel loved? Wake up Dead man?; ok, it breaks down there. Pop, I think, sort of acknowledges that the bitter turn taken in AB should be laughed off.
All That You Can't Leave Behind - I think that the feel of Grace sort of sums up Bono's attitude at this point (pre-9/11)--has he accepted or otherwise somehow gotten past his alienation? Seen that his isolation was of his own creation, or a product of his youth (immaturity)?
Uh, how long does this paper have to be?
I could go on all night...
References to check out if you like:
The Irish Renaissance by Richard Fallis ISBN 0-8156-2187-6
Ireland: a concise history, by Maire & Conor Cruise O'Brien, ISBN 0-500-27379-0
I thought I had an anthology of Irish literature, but I'm not seeing it...
Best of luck. You're welcome to email me privately if you like.
--
This desparation.
Dislocation.
Separation.
Condemnation.
Revelation.
In temptation.
Isolation.
Desolation.
Let it go,
And so to fade away.
To let it go,
And so fade away.
Anyway, a couple of suggestions:
Johann Georg Kohl was quoted in Desiree Edwards-Rees' Ireland's story as saying over 200 years ago: "It seems as if there were something peculiar in the nature and condition of Ireland that prevents her wounds from ever healing." This is a fabuous lead-in to many songs that speak of alienation or isolation on more than just a personal level: just about everything on War, for example.
Another interesting topic might be to trace the evolution of lyrical references to the Troubles and how the narrator (singer? author?) often turns to religion as a solace in the face of the alienation (bewilderment?) and rage or confusion caused by conflict. Sunday Bloody Sunday, Please, Wake up Dead Man, Peace on Earth...
Or you could trace the evolution of the theme of isolation throughout Bono's career, taking each album as a whole:
Boy - teenage angst, loss of mother
October - looking to God for answers; finding any?
War - anger, national conflict, personal conflict
Unforgettable fire - inner turmoil, introspection (a line from Bad is "Isolation, desolation, let it go..."--he's feeling isolated from a friend because of the helplessness he feels in the face of that friend's addiction)
Joshua Tree - the liberation of finding new perspectives? (though there's angst there, too "I want to run, I want to hide.." Still Haven't Found, WOWY, Exit, and even anguish--WOWY, Running to Stand Still)
R&H - uh, well, there's.... someone help me out, here?
Achtung - So Cruel, Acrobat, Ultraviolet, Love is Blindness--things seem to have taken a bitter turn?
Pop - hmmm... references back to themes touched on in earlier albums: Mofo=Boy; If God will send his Angels=October; Please=War; ?=UF--Do you feel loved? Wake up Dead man?; ok, it breaks down there. Pop, I think, sort of acknowledges that the bitter turn taken in AB should be laughed off.
All That You Can't Leave Behind - I think that the feel of Grace sort of sums up Bono's attitude at this point (pre-9/11)--has he accepted or otherwise somehow gotten past his alienation? Seen that his isolation was of his own creation, or a product of his youth (immaturity)?
Uh, how long does this paper have to be?
References to check out if you like:
The Irish Renaissance by Richard Fallis ISBN 0-8156-2187-6
Ireland: a concise history, by Maire & Conor Cruise O'Brien, ISBN 0-500-27379-0
I thought I had an anthology of Irish literature, but I'm not seeing it...
Best of luck. You're welcome to email me privately if you like.
--
This desparation.
Dislocation.
Separation.
Condemnation.
Revelation.
In temptation.
Isolation.
Desolation.
Let it go,
And so to fade away.
To let it go,
And so fade away.
HeartlandGirl
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
I was also going to suggest "Bad."
Guess I'm a little late...
Guess I'm a little late...
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