| "God Part II" | |
|---|---|
| Song byU2 | |
| from the albumRattle and Hum | |
| Released | 10 October 1988 |
| Studio | Ocean Way |
| Genre | Alternative rock |
| Length | 3:15 |
| Label | Island |
| Composer | U2 |
| Lyricist | Bono |
| Producer | Jimmy Iovine |
"God Part II" is a song byrock bandU2, and the 14th track from their 1988 albumRattle and Hum.
It was written as ananswer song toJohn Lennon's "God", having the same kind of lyrical structure. It also contains an attack on American biographerAlbert Goldman, on the following verses, by way of Lennon's song "Instant Karma!":
Additionally, the song alludes toBruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", in the lyric "Heard a singer on the radio late last night/He says he's gonna kick the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight."
The song is a departure from the folksy-roots rock sound of the album's other studio recordings and is an introduction to the darker sound the band would adopt following the release of their next album,Achtung Baby.[1]
A remix entitled the 'Hard Metal Dance Mix' was released on the "When Love Comes to Town" single.
"God Part II" was only played on theLovetown Tour in late 1989 and early 1990. It was played at 36 of the 47 concerts; it debuted at the first show of the tour on 21 September 1989 inPerth and was last performed at the second-last show of the tour on 9 January 1990 inRotterdam. It was one of six songs to be used as concert openers on the tour, opening two concerts: 26 December 1989 inDublin and 5 January 1990 in Rotterdam. For these two performances, its heavy bassline was linked to a recording of theRolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil".[2]
A performance from a Dublin show later saw light on the releaseLive from the Point Depot.
After the Lovetown Tour, its sole live appearance was as a brief lyrical snippet by Bono at the end of "With or Without You" on 23 April 1992 inVancouver.[3]
