Watch: U2's Bono shares song inspired by fight against coronavirus
It's called 'Let Your Love Be Known'
U2 frontman Bono has shared a new song inspired by the viral footage Italians singing from their apartment blocks during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The singer – real name Paul Hewson – took to U2’s official Instagram account on St Patrick’s Day yesterday (17th March) to post a video of himself in self-isolation at his home.
In the clip, Bono revealed he wrote the song tentatively called ‘Let Your Love Be Known’ just an hour earlier before he proceeded to play it solo on the piano.
He captioned the post: “For the Italians who inspired it… for the Irish…
“For ANYONE who this St. Patrick’s day is in a tight spot and still singing. For the doctors, nurses, carers on the front line, it's you we’re singing to.”
Thematically, the song sees Bono traverse the deserted streets of Dublin before he references the uplifting viral footage of Italians singing from their balconies while in lockdown.
“You can’t touch but you can sing across rooftops,” Bono sings. “Sing to me down the phone / sing and promise me you won’t stop / sing and you’re never alone.”
Watch Bono perform the track here:
The ‘Let Your Love Be Known’ lyrics are as follows:
Yes there was silence
Yes there was no people here
Yes I walked through the streets of Dublin and no one was near
Yes I don’t know you
No I didn’t think I didn’t care
You live so very far away from just across the square
And I can’t reach but I can rain
You can’t touch but you can sing
Across rooftops
Sing down the phone
Sing and promise me you won’t stop
Sing your love, be known, let your love be known.
Yes there is isolation
You and me we’re still here
Yes when we open our eyes we will stare down the fear
And maybe I’ve said the wrong thing
Yes I made you smile
I guess the longest distance is always the last mile.
And I can’t reach but I can rain
You can’t touch but you can sing
Across rooftops
Sing to me down the phone
Sing and promise me you won’t stop
Sing and you’re never alone.
Sing as an act of resistance
Sing though your heart is overthrown
When you sing there is no distance
So let your love be known, oh let your love be known
Though your heart is overthrown.
Let your love be known