Caught on A Barbed-Wire Fence

January 06, 2004

barbed wire I received this question from a friend about a popular U2 song. She figured I would have some insight because of my interest in their music.

I have a question for you. I’ve decided to focus my lessons next week on Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of his birthday (really, in honor of him). I’m going to have the class listen to “Pride” by U2, and I was wondering if YOU (the biggest U2 fan I know!) know the meaning of a few of the lyrics:
“One man caught on a barbed-wire fence” and
“One man washed on an empty beach”

Well, I do know a little about this song… and I found a couple things online through a google search. however, here’s what I think it’s about…

In general, the song is about brave people throughout history who have made a stand (“one man to overthrow”), for the good, in the name of love. Hence, the title “Pride, in the name of love.”

verse 1: General reference to these type of people
verse 2: Examples or descriptions of a few people who have acted this way
verse 3: Specific example of martin luther king jr.
chorus: Bono’s battle cry for it to happen more often

Additionally, “one man caught on a barbed wire fence…” I think is simply referring to the proverbial attempt at escape, but not making it. Getting caught on the fence and never making it out. And the “empty beach” is probably referring to escape attempts again. Think of people in 3rd world countries trying to make it to the U.S. or other “promising” places in boats. Some are found being washed up on an empty beach not having made it. Both of these things are probably referring to people not just escaping from anything, but escaping from something they don’t deserve to be “imprisoned” for, which is why they would fit into a song like this. Bono is calling for pride to stand up for your rights to break down the oppressor… in the name of love.

I’ve read that the whole song is about MLK which would be pretty believable because there is a song entitled MLK on the same album “Pride” is on. However I think it’s not only this because of the line “one man betrayed with a kiss.” If I know Bono, he tries to throw references to Jesus in his songs in really obscure ways, but this may be one of the more obvious references.

OTHER REFERENCES
Bredband.net
cbel.com

Hope this helps. By the way, there are a few books out there about the spiritual side of U2. Maybe someone else has blogged about the specifics of this song based on one of those books.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16

But since we belong to the day, let us be self�controlled, putting on faithand love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Posted by pablohart on January 06, 2004 09:49 AM

Comments

It's been some time since I have listened to Pride and thought about it in detail. I recall that back in the day - in my younger days - I thought that the lines about "one man..." were about specific historical persons - as in your example, "one man betrayed with a kiss" being Jesus. I'll have to think about it some more, maybe I can recall who I thought the lines referred to...

Posted by Simon at January 7, 2004 10:14 AM

i looked around at the various "U2 Lyrics Meanings" websites and nobody seems to get that specific on this particular lyric. i also asked my friend, but he wasn't sure either. said it was a good question.

as U2 lyrics continue to become a part of my own emotional vocabulary, i keep coming back to two songs: Acrobat and When I Look at the World. those just blow me away.

Posted by nathan at January 7, 2004 3:11 PM

and i can't believe i forgot, of course, Until the End of the World. wow, what a song! from the perspective of Judas.

Bono rules.

Posted by nathan at January 7, 2004 3:17 PM

Paul, I'm honored that my question prompted a spot on your website! Thanks for the insights! I meant to tell you "in person" while we were on the phone tonight, but didn't get the chance. So, thanks! It was great to talk to and "see" you tonight!

Posted by Robyn at January 7, 2004 7:19 PM

I've no idea about the barbed wire fence, except as a possible generic image. I've always thought the beach might be either Gandhi, who staged a major nonviolent action by making salt on a beach... or perhaps even an allusion to the practice of the Bible study group U2 were in, who baptized people in the sea (if you can trust Dunphy's book).

Posted by Beth at January 11, 2004 3:35 PM

Ok, after a bit of net research (read: these are not completely original thoughts) I've come up with these ideas about the song.

One man come in the name of love
I think this first verse sets up the comparison that Bono is going to make between Jesus & MLK.
One man come and go
Both men have been here and left.
One man come, he to justify
Both men came to justify.
One man to overthrow
Again, both Jesus and MLK came to overthrow the establishment.

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
I think the fence here is a picture of discrimination and oppression. It is also probably a veiled reference to Jesus' crown of thorns.
One man he resists
Both men came to resist peacefully.
One man washed on an empty beach
I think this is meant to be a picture of baptism - both men were probably baptized. Jesus baptism was in fact on a beach as recorded in scripture. It was also at this time that Jesus was commissioned.
One man betrayed with a kiss
This is an overt reference to Judas Iscariot's kiss.

The last verse is too obvious for line-by-line commentary. This is simply the story of MLK's death:

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

Posted by Samuel at January 12, 2004 2:49 PM

More interesting notes on 'Pride' (this was taken from a book called 'Into the Heart' which talks about every song from Boy to Zooropa):

Apparently, Bono was planning to write a song named 'Pride' that would speak about the arrogance of the Reagan administration (the type of pride that goeth before a fall). Then the band saw a MLK memorial in Chicago, so he decided to switch gears. He ended up keeping the title, and changing the subject of the song -the title refers now to the pride that MLK instilled in blacks during the civil rights era. The references to the beach and barbed wire fence are meant to evoke images of war casualties.

Posted by Dick at January 13, 2004 1:17 PM

good work, Dick. i ordered a new U2 book, which should arrive any day. if there's anything in it regarding said topic, i'll post.

Posted by nathan at January 13, 2004 1:29 PM

what does man betrayed by a kiss mean?

Posted by at February 20, 2004 1:22 PM

to the anonymous post: see Samuel's post above. here's a quote:

One man betrayed with a kiss This is an overt reference to Judas Iscariot's kiss

Posted by pablohart at February 20, 2004 1:32 PM

The following excerpt, an argument i will corroborate, is from another website. I believe this is the Biblical passage that "man washed on an empty beach" is alluding to:
"One man washed on an empty beach" -- Possibly a reference to Jonah 2:10: "Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on the beach, and it did."

It makes sense. Jonah was a prophet called to serve God, although he shirked the task. After the whale, per God's order, leaves Jonah on an empty beach, Jonah obeys God and does his duty.

The allusion fits the overall message of the song: serving God by doing things "in the name of love."

Posted by danny at February 28, 2004 10:42 PM

I always thought " one man washed on an empty beach.."
referred to JFK. As a naval officer, his ship (PT-109) w
was hit by a Japanese destroyer. JFK rescued
a crew mate and they washed up on a beach where
natives later found them. He was wounded and
received a purple heart. It would make sense
to connec JFK, MLK and Jesus in the same
song.

Posted by Mark at March 22, 2004 12:39 PM

I agree with what Samuel said. This song takes on an intirely Christian meaning

Posted by Siara at June 2, 2004 12:40 AM

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