Heartland
by U2

Album: Rattle And Hum (1988)
Play Video
  • See the sun rise over her skin
    Don't change it
    See the sun rise over her skin
    Dawn changes everything
    Everything
    And the delta sun
    Burns bright and violet

    Mississippi and the cotton wool heat
    Sixty six a highway speaks
    Of deserts dry
    Of cool green valleys
    Gold and silver veins
    Of the shining cities

    In this heartland
    In this heartland soil
    In this heartland
    Heaven knows this is a heartland
    Heartland, heartland

    See the sun rise over her skin
    She feels like water in my hand
    Freeway like a river cuts through this land
    Into the side of love
    Like a burning spear
    And the poison rain
    Brings a flood of fear
    Through the ghost ranch hills
    Death valley waters
    In the towers of steel
    Belief goes on and on

    In this heartland
    In this heartland soil
    In this heartland
    Heaven knows this is a heartland
    Heartland, heaven knows this is a heartland
    Heartland, heartland
    Heartland, heaven's day here in the heartland
    Heart Writer/s: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Lisa B from St. Petersburg, FlSee the sun rise over her skin. Don't change it. - I always believed her skin was the horizon of Earth in the Heartland of America, and the sun rise over her skin meaning the sunrise in the early morning in the Heartland of America. "Don't change it", I interpret: Don't change the natural beauty of the Heartland which most areas are unlike that of the big city, fast pace life, rude people and violence, ect. The rest of the lyrics have been covered by others. Just like to say thank you to U2 for this beautiful song which I danced to so many times during shows. I believe in natural beauty and I also believed "don't change it", meaning in my case fake boobs. It kept me from many bookings, but it's all about the journey.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaThis song is about The American Heartland. THey talk about the Mississippi River and Route 66. Love this song...
  • K_cool from Costa Mesa, CaThis song talks about the American Heartland and more specifically the Mississipi River Delta the band saw while visiting "GraceLand", Elvis's estate. The first verse sets up the image of the delta which he uses to set up the image of the crucified christ in the last verse.

    John 19:34

    But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came (flowed) out.

    See the sun rise over her skin
    She feels like water in my hand
    [Freeway like a river cuts through this land
    Into the side of love ***John 19:34
    Like a burning spear] ***John 19:34
    And the poison rain
    Brings a flood of fear
    Through the ghost-ranch hills
    Death valley waters
    In the towers of steel
    Belief goes on and on

    The song "HeartLand" is set up on this scripture. Keeping in mind that U2 started out as a "Christian Band" most of their songs have a reference to Jesus Christ in it. Bono offers a resolve that sums up his experience their which is in the last line of the last verse

    "Belief lives on"

  • Angela from Hagerstown, MdIn the video Rattle and Hum, this song is played while they visit Graceland.
  • Richard from St. Louis, MoThis song talks about the American heartland

    it mentions route 66 a historic interstate highway and pop culture symbol.

    It mentions the Mississippi river and cotton feilds.
  • Oscar from Mexico City, OtherIt's a very soft song that makes you feel peace.
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