U2, Exit | Controversial Songs

In the 13th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Exit” by the legendary Irish rock band, U2.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 13^th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Exit” by U2.

“The pistol weighed heavy / And his heart, he could feel was beating / Beating, beating, beating / Oh, my love, oh my love.” Those chilling lyrics from “Exit” influenced celebrity stalker and murderer Robert John Bardo. Bardo infamously murdered actress Rebecca Schaeffer in 1989.  At Schaeffer’s murder trial, when the dark U2 gem was played, Bardo lip-synced alongside the recording.  The legendary, Grammy-winning Irish rock band rarely performed the 10^th track from Joshua Tree (1987) live. After hearing the song’s negative influence on a murderer, it makes sense that “Exit,” a dark, distinct record by Bono and company, was scrapped from live performances until 30 years later.

How controversial is “Exit?” “Exit” isn’t explicit, gruesome, or obscene.  But, it does mark a shift to darkness. A religious man has gone astray: “He wanted to believe / In the hands of love.” In the second verse, Bono poetically expands upon this mind shift: “His head, it felt heavy /… A dog started cryin’ / Like a broken-hearted man / At the howling wind.”  The most descriptive section is the chorus, where Bono expressively sings, “He went deeper into black / Deeper into white / He could see the stars shine / Like nails in the night.”  Of course, the biggest moment from the chorus begins with the pistol, suggesting this nameless man has committed a heinous, murderous act.  What influenced U2 to write “Exit”? The 1980 Norman Mailer novel, The Executioner’s Song.  Like the lyrics, the music is chilling and unsettling.  There’s a sense of minimalism early on, with “Exit” percolating – more instruments and sounds, louder dynamics, more pronounced rhythm, and greater intensity.  Even after a significant build-up, U2 can bring things back down only to ramp them up again.  Murderous and serial killer songs always cause controversy.  In this case, the negative influence of “Exit”, a great song, earned U2 the controversial song stamp.

U2 // The Joshua Tree // Island // 1987

U2, Exit: Controversial Songs No. 13 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Island; Tazz Vaughn via Pexels; Elena Arboleda Salas, nikolaytaman90, Tumisu from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]