"Peace on Earth" is a song by U2 and the eighth track on their 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind. Its lyrics were inspired by the Real IRA Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on 15 August 1998. The song lists the names of people killed in the bombing. Similarly, inspiration for the lyric, "She never got to say goodbye / To see the colour in his eye / Now he's in the dirt" comes from the funeral of James Barker, another victim of the bombing. The Irish Times quoted his mother as stating, "I never realised how green his eyes were." After the September 11, 2001 attacks, "Peace on Earth" took on additional meaning and consequently, was used as an encore song in the Elevation Tour, coupled with "Walk On". The two songs were similarly paired during the band's performance on the telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes.U2 songs are written like psalms by king David and others. They are edgy and provoke the listener to take seriously the content and to evaluate life in the light of the sung lyrics. Bono and the lads are masters of the genre. "Peace on earth" is written in that vein.
Heaven on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
I'm sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing
Again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth
Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you
And it's already gone too far
You said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt
Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No who's or why's
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the color in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth
They're reading names out
Over the radio
All the folks the rest of us
Won't get to know
Sean and Julia
Gareth, Anne, and Breeda
Their lives are bigger than
Any big idea
Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
Jesus in the song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth
This peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
I'm sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing
Again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth
Where I grew up
There weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies
They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you
And it's already gone too far
You said that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt
Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
No who's or why's
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth
She never got to say goodbye
To see the color in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth
They're reading names out
Over the radio
All the folks the rest of us
Won't get to know
Sean and Julia
Gareth, Anne, and Breeda
Their lives are bigger than
Any big idea
Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
Jesus in the song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth
This peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
"Peace on Earth" was written by Bono after the Omagh bombing in August 1998. "Peace On Earth" is a prayer of lament that takes its cue from the angels proclamation to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus in Luke 2.
"Peace on Earth" asks, where is this peace on earth? “Jesus can you take the time / To throw a drowning man a line / Peace on Earth.” This dissatisfaction over the gap between “hope and history” is a major theme of U2′s music and is expressed well in this song: “Hear it every Christmas time / But hope and history won’t rhyme / So what’s it worth / This peace on Earth.”
This is a real lament that is echoed in the hearts of millions across the world during this 2015 Christmas season. A lament that cry's out to God for fulfilment of the promises. You cannot help getting cynical in face of the darkness that we endure personally, in our communities, cities, in nations and in the complex world in which we live. Where is this peace on earth?
Later in Luke 2 we hear of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. In the reading we encounter two of the faithful, Simeon and Anna who have not given up on the promises of God for redemption, salvation and peace. These two elderly saints in Jerusalem have stayed the course, they have believed against all the odds. They have not allowed themselves to grow cynical with old age. They have maintained the faith despite the darkness and the insurmountable pressures that the people of God were enduring. They may well have lamented but they would not allow themselves to abandon God or faith. They believed.
I believe that this is where we are too. We can sings the songs of lament and at the same time not give up on peace. In the song Bono is talking to Jesus and is basically asking the question "Where is this peace on earth?" It is a question that we all may ask as well. It is something to work for ....peace in families.....neighbourhoods .......communities.....cities......and in the whole world. I'm still believing for it. There is something I can do. Peace has got to start with me.......I have to play my part in breaking down walls of every kind.
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