U2’s New Album ‘Ash Wednesday’ Takes a Bold Stance
Irish rock band U2 recently dropped a brief album called ‘Ash Wednesday’ on Ash Wednesday. One of the standout tracks, “American Obituary,” pays tribute to radical anti-ICE activist Renee Goode, who was tragically shot by ICE agents in January after an incident involving a police officer in Minneapolis.
The song opens with the haunting line that Goode was crushed “like a coffee cup.” It emphasizes that “Lenny Goode was born to die free,” which is quite a powerful statement. Bono, reflecting on the moment, remarked, “January 7th / A bullet for each child,” signing in American Sign Language, which adds an emotional layer to the performance.
He pays homage to Goode, singing about her and emphasizing, “Three bullets exploded, three babies kissed/Renee was a domestic terrorist???”. There’s a palpable intensity here, as he claims that Trump and ICE supporters are “people who lied.” It’s a desperate call to question moral values in the current landscape.
Bono continues, singing, “What can’t be killed can’t die,” while a subtle image of a cross appears in the lyric video. He asserts, “America will rise up/against those who lie,” suggesting hope amidst turmoil.
In discussing his songwriting influences, Bono mentioned Bob Dylan, particularly admiring the rhythm of Dylan’s “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding).” He pointed out a thematic difference: in Dylan’s work, children sing to their mothers, while U2 centers their narrative around mothers expressing love for their children, stating, “I love you more than hate loves war.”
The album includes a pro-Palestinian song, “The Tears of Things,” critiquing Israel for its treatment of Hamas and hinting at the justification of Palestinian anger: “If you put a man in a cage and let him rattle long enough, he’ll feel too angry to be kept,” Bono sings. This line certainly resonates with broader discussions about conflict and humanity.
Moreover, the album features four additional tracks that cover various contemporary issues, including a song about the 2022 schoolgirl uprising in Iran, a piece on insecurity in Africa, another critical of Israel, and a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian artist Taras Topolia titled “Forever Yours.”
