The influence of the Hebrew Bible on U2: an exploration through a Jewish lens

Abstract

U2 formed more than 45 years ago in Dublin Ireland and are still touring and recording and releasing music. The band has four members: lead singer Bono, guitarist the Edge, bass player Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jnr. To date U2 has released 16 albums, including a collaboration with Brian Eno released under the Passengers moniker and one live album, several live DVDs and has written more than 200 original songs. U2 has won more Grammy Awards than any other band in history, making them one of the most successful popular music groups of all time and a major subject for scholarly investigation.

The religious undercurrents in U2's secular songs, and U2's connection with Christianity has been examined by academics and the popular music press, however little has been published about how non-Christian fans connect with their Biblical messages. Some scholars refer to U2's 'universalism', their overt practice of speaking about faith and belief without tying their practice to any one denomination. In interviews with music and mainstream media, a YouTube series with Christian figure Eugene Peterson, and in his biography Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (2022) Bono repeatedly stated that finds inspiration in the Psalms of the Hebrew Bible. The other Jewish influences on the music of U2 are more oblique, from Paul Celan whose poetry inspired the title of The Unforgettable Fire album, to Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed.

In exploring the connection between U2 and the Hebrew Bible, my thesis draws on interpretations of the Biblical text undertaken by Jewish scholars throughout the ages unveiling complex religious symbolism and layers in U2's music that have otherwise been unobserved. My thesis is the first in-depth exploration of the relationship between U2's music and the Hebrew Bible and provides a framework for future research.

I tested a number of approaches and methodologies to reveal the connection between U2 and the Hebrew Bible within a textual and musical context. I found that by identifying common words and phrases that are contained in U2's lyrics and the Hebrew Bible and examining their literal and symbolic meanings and their gravitas in live performance, I could ascribe new meaning and a more nuanced understanding to the way the songs are received. Bono's overt lyrical use of the Psalms continues the Jewish tradition of incorporating fragments of Psalms in songs used in communal prayers and Synagogue services. In addition, through this study I have found there are layers of intertextuality that create ambiguity and support the application of multiple meanings in interpreting U2's work. Show more