U2 released “Where The Streets Have No Name” on their 1987 masterpiece The Joshua Tree. The song is known for its iconic introduction and The Edge’s arpeggiated guitar riff, but behind the ambient song lies a set of intriguing lyrics. In this article, I will delve into the meaning behind “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2.
Contrast between Belfast and Ethiopia
The lyrics of “Where The Streets Have No Name” were written by U2’s frontman Bono. He was inspired to write the song after hearing a story about class division in Belfast. “An interesting story that someone told me once is that in Belfast, by what street someone lives on you can tell not only their religion but tell how much money they’re making,” Bono explained. “That said something to me, and so I started writing about a place where the streets have no name.”
The true spark of the lyrics, however, came when Bono visited Ethiopia with his wife Ali. They went there after U2’s performance on Live Aid in 1985 and volunteered 5 weeks at a feeding center in Ajibar, Ethiopia. It is there where Bono – on an airsickness bag – wrote the lyrics of “Where The Streets Have No Name”.
“The spirit of the people met in Ethiopia was very strong,” Bono said about his stay. “There’s no doubt that, even in poverty, they had something that we didn’t have. When I got back, I realized the extent to which people in the West were like spoiled children.”
Read more: The 10 Best U2 Songs of All Time
The contrast between the story Bono heard about Belfast and his stay in Ethiopia became the basis behind the lyrics of “Where The Streets Have No Name”. It presents the idea of a world without divisions, where the barriers that separate people are broken down, and, as a result, the streets metaphorically have no name.
Overall, “Where The Streets Have No Name” conveys a deep longing for freedom, escape, and a better life, while also acknowledging the challenges that accompany establishing such a life. The song’s title phrase functions as a symbol of a world without societal expectations and limitations.
Bono’s Dislike of The Lyrics
Despite presenting an intriguing idea, Bono has always showcased his dislike of the lyrics of “Where The Streets Have No Name”. He considers the words ‘teenage poetry’ and ‘unfinished’. Producer Brian Eno actually advised Bono to not finish the lyrics so that they would be open for interpretation.
“Incomplete thoughts are generous because they allow the listener to finish them,” Bono reflected. “It’s a sort of odd, unfinished lyric, it doesn’t make any sense,” He later told Rolling Stone. “But it contains a very powerful idea.”
Despite Bono’s dislike of the lyrics, “Where The Streets Have No Name” presents a very intriguing idea. And as a result, Bono’s vague lyrics actually strengthen the message of the song. There’s no mention of where the streets with no names are, and how to get there, it just presents the idea of an imaginary place where limitations do not exist.
The Legacy of Where The Streets Have No Name
Over the years, “Where The Streets Have No Name” grew out to be one of U2’s most celebrated songs. The song is the perfect introduction to The Joshua Tree, which became U2’s best-selling album with over 25 million copies sold.
The song is also a staple during U2 live performances, being the band’s 4th most performed live song. According to Bono, “Where The Streets Have No Name” is the very song that can save a concert. “If a U2 show is going askew, as it can, the one song you can rely on to get the room back is ‘Where The Streets Have No Name”, he said in 2005.
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