Red Hill Mining Town
U2
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From father to son The blood runs thin See faces frozen still Against the wind The seam is split The coal face cracked The lines are long There's no going back Through hands of steel And heart of stone Our labor day Has come and gone Yeah you leave me holding on In Red Hill town See lights go down, I'm Hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to I'm still waiting I'm hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to The glass is cut The bottle run dry Our love runs cold In the caverns of the night We're wounded by fear Injured in doubt I can lose myself You I can't live without Yeah you keep me holding on In Red Hill town See the lights go down on I'm hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to I'm still waiting Hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to, on to We'll scorch the earth Set fire to the sky We stoop so low, to reach so high A link is lost The chain undone We wait all day For night to come And it comes Like a hunter child I'm hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to I'm still waiting I'm hanging on You're all that's left to hold on to Love, slowly stripped away Love, has seen its better day Hanging on The lights go out on Red Hill The lights go down on Red Hill Lights go down on Red Hill town The lights go down on Red Hill
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Genesis"Red Hill Mining Town" is a song by U2 from their album "The Joshua Tree." which was released in 1987. It was primarily inspired by the 1984 British miners' strike, reflecting the band's deeply rooted political conscience.
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Unperformed in Live ShowsInterestingly, despite the popularity of "Red Hill Mining Town", it wasn't performed live until 2017, during the band's tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of "The Joshua Tree."
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Music VideoThe director of the music video, Neil Jordan, is popularly known for directing films such as “The Crying Game” and “Interview with the Vampire.” The video was shot in the UK and features actual miners.
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Recorded VersionsAlthough the song was initially planned as the second single from the album "The Joshua Tree", it was replaced at the last minute by "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". There are two known recorded versions of the song: the original version and a remix made in 2017 for the 30th anniversary.
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Bono’s Vocal IssuesThe decision not to play it live was primarily due to lead singer Bono's inability to hit the high notes in the song regularly and consistently during performances. That's why it wasn't played during The Joshua Tree Tour in 1987.
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Unreleased Brass SectionThe original recording of "Red Hill Mining Town" had a complete brass section which was never released. However, the 2017 mix of the song includes the brass band, which gives the music an even more distinctive sound.
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Song InterpretationThe lyrics of the song depict a fictional character who is a miner and is worried about how the strike affects his friends, family, and community. Bono, the band's lead vocalist, explained that the song deals with the concept of 'collectivism' versus 'individualism'.
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Homage to Working Class"Red Hill Mining Town" is a tribute to the working class and addresses serious social issues. It focuses on the impact of industrial strikes on communities and families, demonstrating the strong socio-political commentary often found in U2’s music.
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Music CompositionMusically, the song is noted for The Edge's ringing guitar sound, and Bono's passionate vocals. The original mix presents a classic U2 sound, combining rock with an almost anthemic quality.
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Title InspirationThe title, 'Red Hill Mining Town,' is inspired by places like Redcar and Sunderland in the UK. However, there’s no actual place called ‘Red Hill Mining Town.' It was created by Bono to represent typical mining towns during the 80's UK miners' strike.
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"Red Hill Mining Town Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/833163/U2/Red+Hill+Mining+Town>.
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