From Canberra Times

U2 tribute to Paris attack victims

U2 pays tribute to victims of the Paris attacks as they return to perform at shows postponed in the wake of the November bloodshed.

U2 frontman Bono has dedicated a new song about freedom and love to the 130 people murdered by terrorists in Paris last month.

During an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Bono revealed he’d written a song for veteran Italian blues and rock singer Zucchero Fornaciari but had decided to reclaim and release it as The Streets of Surrender.

Then, at length, Bono ran through the song’s dramatic lyrics, which boil down to being a plug for all kinds of “freedom”.

In the aftermath of the November 13, attacks most bands in the French capital pulled the plug on shows. But U2’s concerts were quickly rescheduled. The band appear at the 16,000-capacity AccorHotels Arena in the French capital on Sunday and again on Monday.

U2 guitarist The Edge said the band think of music as the sound of freedom, so their return to Paris is not just symbolic, it’s starting the process of resistance and of defiance against IS which carried out the killings.

U2’s rebooked Paris gigs were rumoured to feature the Eagles of Death Metal, the band on stage when the shooting began. They did not join U2 on Sunday but may on Monday.

Lyrics to U2’s ‘The Streets of Surrender’ (S.O.S.)

Every man has two cities he needs to be: The one he can touch and the one he can’t see.

The one where a stranger’s a friend; every man has got one city of liberty.

Every time I get lost down these ancient streets I find myself again.

You’re free baby baby, free now and forever.

It’s Christmas time, you can decide to forget or remember.

You’re free baby baby, I didn’t come down here to fight you.

I came down these streets of lovin’ pride to surrender, the streets of surrender

I heard a far-fetched story that nobody seems to know, I think it was about that stranger.

It was youth, it was love and it was danger.

It was winter, but that warm it gets before the snow, it chilled my soul.

Everybody’s cryin’ about some kid that they found lyin’ on a beach, born in a manger.

You’re free baby baby, free now and forever.

It’s Christmas time, you can decide to forget or to remember.

You’re free baby baby, I didn’t come down here to fight you.

I came down these streets of lovin’ pride to surrender, streets of surrender.

IMAGE: Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near Bataclan Concert Hall.

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/music/u2s-bono-writes-freedom-song-about-terror-attacks-at-the-bataclan-in-paris-20151207-glgvk3.html#ixzz3wgBeBxBV