War: a Bloody Sunday

Cody Crockett

September 13, 2009

English 101-70

War: A Bloody Sunday

Focusing on Bloody Sunday, the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was written by U2 guitarist, The Edge and vocalist, Bono in 1982, ten years after Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday took place in Derry, a town located in Northern Ireland, on January 30 1972. During a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march, twenty seven civil rights protesters were shot by members of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment. Two other protesters were injured after they were run down by army vehicles. Of the twenty nine protestors wounded thirteen died immediately, and one died several months later from his wounds. Many witnesses testified that all those that were shot were unarmed, and that some of which were shot in the back(Peters). In an instant many lives had been affected by this terrible tragedy, but after writing this song U2 has transformed millions of lives in the world today. As Irishmen the members of U2 feel strongly about their fellow countrymen, but they also share a love of people all over the world.

The song starts with a military drumbeat that gives the song a march type feel throughout the song. The drums along with the minor chords played by the guitar and bass the verses sound gritty, fierce and even sad. In the chorus the key shifts to major chords giving it a bright and hopeful feeling. During the chorus no snare drum is played, and the guitar is muffled in an attempt to shift from the aggressiveness of the verses. This movement away from the fierce style of play before the chorus gives the song one of its central themes, change. The song's argument is clearly defined in the strong lines, "...we eat and drink while tomorrow they die" and "how long must we sing this song The lyrics tell the story of how people are dying all over the world not only in Ireland. These worldwide instances of violence such as Bloody Sunday will continue until humanity loves others...