Last Night On Earth
by U2

Album: Pop (1997)
Charted: 10 57
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the band bio U2 by U2, Bono recalled how the song came together: "The chorus came to me at the very end of the sessions for Pop, which were getting a little turgid and tiring. It was four o'clock in the morning of the last night in the studio. We had people mixing who hadn't been in bed for a week. Paul was waiting to take the tapes to New York to master the record. I started singing the line: 'You've got to give it away.' Don't turn it into work was the message. Which was exactly what we were doing. We were supposed to be making an uplifting expression of what happens when rock 'n' roll meets club culture. Instead, it felt like a load of men on an oil rig in the middle of the North Sea. My voice was completely shot, which is why we put so much echo on it and Edge sang along with me to cover it up."
  • For two days in May 1997, traffic in Kansas City was tied up while U2 was shooting the video. The author William Burroughs and model Sophie Dahl appear in it.

Comments: 2

  • Zander from Los AngelesIt's about a drug addict.
  • Kyle from Perth, AustraliaModel Sophie Dahl, the girl in the video, is authour Roald Dahl's daughter.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.