In God's Country
Encyclopedia
"In God's Country" was a difficult song for the band to record, which they put down to not being trained musicians, and they do not speak overly highly of it. During The Joshua Tree sessions, they knew it was not going be one of their best songs but they needed more up-tempo songs. It was developed out of Bono's frustration at trying to get "...a bit of Rock'n'Roll out of [U2 guitarist], The Edge
". Bono tried to inspire The Edge by teasing and playing on his competitive instincts by claiming to be a better guitarist. Of the song, Bono says "[My] lyric was really good, the tune is pretty good, and the hook is pretty average - thanks to The Edge". Played in the key of D, the verses of the studio version alternates between D and A minor chords. The first chorus repeats a C-G-D-C-G-D chord progression while the second chorus repeats a Em-G-D-Em-G-D progression.
Bono
has stated that he originally didn't know whether the song was about Ireland
or America, but eventually dedicated it to the Statue of Liberty
. The song characterises the United States as a desert rose, a siren whose dress is torn in "ribbons and bows". The lyric speaks of a lack of political ideas in The West which Bono later contrasted to the revolution in Nicaragua
where he had travelled during the recording of The Joshua Tree.
Along with "Where The Streets Have No Name
", "In God's Country" was one of two songs on the The Joshua Tree to be similar in sound to U2's previous trademark sound. Both songs' "cinematic" lyrics and sound reference the desert in accordance with the band's wish for The Joshua Tree to have a sense of location.
), sleeve (designed by Steve Averill), and B-sides ("Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Running to Stand Still
") were identical to those used for U2's 1988 single "One Tree Hill
", released only in New Zealand and Australia. The Canadian release was available on 7", 12" and cassette, while the US release was limited to 7" only.
"In God's Country" reached number 44 on the Billboard singles chart and number 48 as an import in the UK. The single's video appears on Outside it's America, a documentary tracking the band's first few weeks on tour through the American southwest in 1987. Sales of the single may have been hampered by the fact that its b-sides
were two tracks from The Joshua Tree album instead of the usual non-album tracks. The music video was not released to MTV or other outlets.
An abridged live version of the song recorded on the 1987 Joshua Tree Tour
appeared on the band's 1988 rockumentary, "Rattle and Hum
", but did not appear on the accompanying album of the same name.
Hot Press
editor and long-time U2 supporter, Bill Graham
, described the song as "...U2 cruising, a starter and not a main course..." and referring to the lyric's cliches he said that the song is "...saved by the fact that [Bono] does Bono better than anybody else."
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
". Bono tried to inspire The Edge by teasing and playing on his competitive instincts by claiming to be a better guitarist. Of the song, Bono says "[My] lyric was really good, the tune is pretty good, and the hook is pretty average - thanks to The Edge". Played in the key of D, the verses of the studio version alternates between D and A minor chords. The first chorus repeats a C-G-D-C-G-D chord progression while the second chorus repeats a Em-G-D-Em-G-D progression.
Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
has stated that he originally didn't know whether the song was about Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
or America, but eventually dedicated it to the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
. The song characterises the United States as a desert rose, a siren whose dress is torn in "ribbons and bows". The lyric speaks of a lack of political ideas in The West which Bono later contrasted to the revolution in Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Revolution
The Nicaraguan Revolution encompasses the rising opposition to the Somoza dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s, the campaign led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front which led to the violent ousting of that dictatorship in 1979, and the...
where he had travelled during the recording of The Joshua Tree.
Along with "Where The Streets Have No Name
Where the Streets Have No Name
"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's third single in August 1987. The song's hook is a repeating guitar arpeggio using a delay effect, played during the song's introduction and...
", "In God's Country" was one of two songs on the The Joshua Tree to be similar in sound to U2's previous trademark sound. Both songs' "cinematic" lyrics and sound reference the desert in accordance with the band's wish for The Joshua Tree to have a sense of location.
Release and critical response
"In God's Country" was released as a single in Canada and the United States in November 1987. The cover art (photographed by Anton CorbijnAnton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
), sleeve (designed by Steve Averill), and B-sides ("Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Running to Stand Still
Running to Stand Still
"Running to Stand Still" is a song by rock band U2, and it is the fifth track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. A slow ballad based on piano and guitar, it describes a heroin-addicted couple living in Dublin's Ballymun flats; the towers have since become associated with the song...
") were identical to those used for U2's 1988 single "One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (song)
"One Tree Hill" is a song by rock band U2. It is the ninth track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree. It was released as the fourth single from the album in New Zealand and Australia in March 1988, while "In God's Country" was released as the fourth single in North America...
", released only in New Zealand and Australia. The Canadian release was available on 7", 12" and cassette, while the US release was limited to 7" only.
"In God's Country" reached number 44 on the Billboard singles chart and number 48 as an import in the UK. The single's video appears on Outside it's America, a documentary tracking the band's first few weeks on tour through the American southwest in 1987. Sales of the single may have been hampered by the fact that its b-sides
B-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
were two tracks from The Joshua Tree album instead of the usual non-album tracks. The music video was not released to MTV or other outlets.
An abridged live version of the song recorded on the 1987 Joshua Tree Tour
Joshua Tree Tour
The Joshua Tree Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place during 1987, in support of their album The Joshua Tree. The tour was depicted by the video and live album Live from Paris.-Itinerary:...
appeared on the band's 1988 rockumentary, "Rattle and Hum
Rattle and Hum
Rattle and Hum is the sixth studio album by rock band U2 and companion rockumentary directed by Phil Joanou, both released in 1988. The film and the album feature live recordings, covers, and new songs...
", but did not appear on the accompanying album of the same name.
Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
editor and long-time U2 supporter, Bill Graham
Bill Graham
William Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC QC is a former Canadian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defence, and Leader of the Opposition and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.-Personal life:...
, described the song as "...U2 cruising, a starter and not a main course..." and referring to the lyric's cliches he said that the song is "...saved by the fact that [Bono] does Bono better than anybody else."
Track listings
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
48 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
44 | |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
6 | |
| 1988 | Canada RPM Top 100 RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
25 |
See also
- List of covers of U2 songs - In God's Country