Just a little info about the songs that The Edge sang and/or wrote.Seconds Seconds, from War, is a statement about nuclear war. "I've always felt physically ill at the concept of nuclear fallout," said Bono, who wrote the song. "We are the first generation of people who have to live with that possibility." In the song is an excerpt from a 1982 TV documentary called Soldier Girls. "The whole spectacle of these girls going through this incredible routine of training seemed perfect to slip here in the middle," said Edge. "It's not obvious, but if you listen closely, you can hear the refrain 'I want to be an airborne ranger. I want to live the life of danger.' It's very disturbing." The Edge sings this song, but most people fail to realize this, and mistake it for Bono's singing.
Edge wrote and sang this song, from the album Rattle and Hum. It's a song of suffering and injustice. During Ireland's great famine, many of the Irish rebels were sent to Tasmania, which they called Van Dieman's Land. "It's an emmigrant's song- or an immigrant's song," said Bono. "That's what justifies its place on the album."
The Edge actually intended for Bono to sing this song, but he "never got around to it".
NumbEdge took the backing track from a song that didn't make it onto Achtung Baby, called Down All the Days, and worked it into Numb. U2 were trying to figure out what to put over the track, and eventually Edge came up with his monotone-style lyrics. Bono and Larry sing the backing vocals, which was Larry's first time on vocals. It was the first single off the Zooropa album. There is a remix of the song on the Last Night on Earth single.
Corpse (These Chains are Way too Long)In 1995, U2 collaborated with Brian Eno and Howie B, among others, to produce an album called Original Soundtracks 1, under the name Passengers. It's about having too much freedom; no limits. Edge says, "It has struck me that constraints, whatever form they take, are really important. I often feel that it is a sad and lonely place to be, when you see someone who's gone beyond constraints."