Sunday Bloody Sunday was written and performed by Irish rock band U2 and released in 1983. U2 was formed in Dublin in 1976, its four members all born or raised in the Irish capital. The band released its first album in 1980 and had a first top 10 hit, Fire, the following year. Sunday Bloody Sunday appears on “War”, U2’s third and most overtly political album, at least to that point. The song’s title refers to the shooting of 28 civilians in Derry in January 1972. Its focus, however, is on the wasteful violence and human suffering of the Troubles generally.
I can’t believe the news today
I can’t close my eyes and make it go away
How long, how long must we sing this song
How long, how long
Tonight, we can be as one, tonightBroken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back against the wallSunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody SundayAnd the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apartSunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody SundayHow long, how long must we sing this song
How long, how long
‘Cause tonight we can be as one
Tonight, tonightSunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody SundayWipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh wipe your tears away
Oh wipe your tears away
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Oh wipe your blood shot eyes
Sunday, Bloody SundaySunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody SundayAnd it’s true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they dieThe real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus wonSunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
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This page was written by Jennifer Llewellyn and Steve Thompson. To reference this page, use the following citation:
J. Llewellyn and S. Thompson, “Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2, 1983)”, Alpha History, accessed [today’s date], https://alphahistory.com/northernireland/sunday-bloody-sunday-u2-1983/.