U2 - Moment of Surrender

“Moment of Surrender“ is a song by U2 and the third track on their 2009 album No Line on the Horizon. Click the CC button to pick up the lyrics. This song is probably one of the best U2 songs ever recorded :) It was written by U2, Eno and Lanois within a few hours, and then recorded in a single take at a Moroccan riad in Hotel Yacout (google it). After the song’s recording completed, everyone, including production personnel and visitors, was completely silent. It received minor treatments afterwards. “...the most amazing studio experience I’ve ever had“ - Brian Eno “...it was a spell and we were in it“ - Bono Watch Brian Eno on “Moment of Surrender“: You wont regret! This video is part of the Anton Corbijn film Linear, based on a story by Corbijn and Bono. The film was created as companion to No Line on the Horizon, and Corbijn has claimed that the film is not a music video, but rather “a new way to listen to a record“ and “a new way to use film to connect to music“. Since LINEAR has little to do with the songs original meaning (and since it’s not the music video) I would guess the cop is just a little fed up with the world and misses his girl (read below). THE STORYLINE A motorcycle cop sits on his police-issued motorcycle, staring at some graffiti on a wall which reads “Fuck the Police“ in French. Kicking his bike over, he pours gasoline on it, sets it alight, and watches it burn. As dawn breaks, he gets on his own motorcycle and begins his journey through the French countryside before crossing into Spain, aiming to see his girlfriend in Tripoli. Pulling off for a break part-way through the journey, the cop lies on his back and watches a cloud form the image of the African continent before falling asleep. Waking up, he resumes his journey across Spain. Upon coming to a town, he pulls off for lunch and enters a small café which, with the exception of the waitress, is devoid of people. Bored, the waitress flicks on the television and they watch a U2 music video. Resuming his journey, the cop travels through the countryside until making a stop in Cádiz. Walking into a bar, the cop attracts the attention of a woman who begins to dance, while the barman serves him several drinks. Leaving the dancer his keys on the table, the cop goes to leave the bar, but as he does so he looks through a peephole and observes several women with moustaches dancing. This is where “Moment of Surrender“ begins. Walking alone through the streets and with no place to stay overnight, he makes his way down to the beach and falls asleep on the sand. Waking up in the morning, he rents a rowboat and begins to paddle his way across the Mediterranean Sea to Tripoli.