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": • Brian Eno on U2's 'Mom... 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.

[@Proud2BaPaddy]

The instumental for this was just one take. Brian Eno was trying to fix a track that wasn't playing properly. Larry Mullin came into the studio and not knowing there was a problem with the track, started playing the drums along with what he was hearing. The Edge came in and joined in. Adam Clayton joined in, and the Brian Eno started playing the keyboard. They all just seemed to synchronise. All knowing where to change cords, beat, up or down. Then Bono joined them and stated singing chords. Everyone then just followed Bono's changing pitches. Brian Eno described this as the most incredible experience he has ever had in music. Afterwards Bono said that normally they try to find the music but this time the music found them as it happened so effortlessly and organically.

[@luccaeyes]

Thank you for sharing the story behind the song. Pure magic ❤

[@EddieContrario07]

¡Santo Dios! 🙌

[@philldag]

This song deserves more credit than it's been given. I rate this as one of U2's top 3 ballads behind One and With Or Without You. Bono's passion in his voice brings up so many emotions for me.

[@henrikijonkoping4694]

This one is also up there kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoK9oKuid711jqM

[@anngulliver5964]

Me too. I have placed it as my 5th favourite U2 song after With Or Without You, one, where the streets have no name and Every Breaking Wave

[@carlosedmundobrasil1089]

A minha escolha melhores baladas do u2, One With without you, Moment Surrender!

[@Vibeagain]

Praise jesus you did not say, underrated

[@yvonnemeza4903]

😭😢😭😢😭U2 reminds of the great times My little sister & I spent together listening & singing to U2 😘😘❤️ Cancer took my best friend & baby sister

[@earthfa333]

Sending you so so much love.

[@Didi78180x]

I'm sorry ! LOVE !

[@ramonarellano4988]

I'm sorry for your loss, it is a very powerful experience to live through, I lost my little brother in 2015 to cirrhosis, he and me came a long way since childhood, we loved each other so much, when you lose someone that close the world is not the same anymore, we used to listen to many bands until late at night, U2 was our favorite band, along with The Beatles.

[@yvonnemeza4903]

@@ramonarellano4988 awwwww 😢😢 ThankQ for replying ❤️ I’m so happy we have memories of them . That love feels like magic 😇 Sometimes she & my mother comes to me in my dreams . May their souls Rest In Peace 🌹 and their spirit live forever One day we will see them again . Bless you 😘😇

[@diaanvantongelen1678]

The best band ever 😍

[@emmamoylan8501]

Masterpiece

[@lmpl4156]

Songs of Surrender is worldwide number 1 Album, 45 years after their debut they are still ahead of the top Album Charts even in the USA!!!!

[@koritlu]

Ufff Once again That moment of surrender in my life

[@thelmapolmolea4779]

Among U2 songs I considered this one of the top.❤❤❤

[@berlinfrancemcconnon1350]

We all reach a point in our lives where we desperately need to surrender. I love U2! ❤

[@alankennedy3747]

We only surrender when we die❤

[@paulburke9613]

I’ve been a U2 fan since 1981 and omg

[@vincenuzzo9619]

I folded to my knees.... The beginning of wisdom.

[@debbiebingham6721]

so much feeling in this song. one of my favorites!

[@laurenceforty6856]

Beautiful

[@baileathakowalsmithski5421]

Very underrated song!

[@samiatay]

music in its peak

[@GermanSUD63]

There is not words to say that inspiring this song; is a mix of the many feelings, moments, remembrances; this is invaluable masterpiece

[@AngelPerez-dh7tn]

Me estoy ahogando en mi tristeza, una magnífica canción que nunca ha Sido más oportuna que en este miserable momento de mi vida

[@ogt_flavour]

qué tal todo un año después amigo? (cuarentena aparte)

[@msglimmertwin52]

This made me cry. I need a moment of surrender.

[@Jesus4302]

msglimmertwin52 There's a time everyone does it, you just got tired of being so empty and lack of empathy nor emotions. Blessings.

[@josecarlosdomingues9209]

Me too

[@emmamoylan8501]

Me too

[@emmamoylan8501]

❤️

[@sanguedejesus679]

receive Jesus. The surrender

[@ottorehakles]

Wunderschöner Song, one of my favourits from U2. Fantastic 👍🙏

[@1TheWhiteKnight1]

What a tune man

[@Griffindorrock619]

it give me chills the realization that i listened this song 10 years ago

[@williammaginness6534]

The best way to fight a battle we cannot win is to surrender

[@sylsalas]

This is a masterpiece ..

[@chavalitros1]

GREAT SONG...!!!

[@sealion311]

A powerful video ...for that masterpiece!

[@nageshwarraoramasamy856]

Edge solo always brings good feeling....

[@Kellie_stars]

One of their best😊😊

[@michalusak5942]

unbelievable only 128 000 viewers. I'm speechless

[@cerclesvicieux]

"Moment Of Surrender" I tied myself with wire To let the horses run free Playing with the fire until the fire played with me The stone was semi-precious We were barely conscious Two souls too smart to be in the realm of certainty Even on our wedding day We set ourselves on fire Oh God, do not deny her It's not if I believe in love But if love believes in me Oh, believe in me At the moment of surrender I folded to my knees I did not notice the passers-by And they did not notice me I've been in every black hole At the altar of the dark star My body's now a begging bowl That's begging to get back, begging to get back To my heart To the rhythm of my soul To the rhythm of my unconsciousness To the rhythm that yearns To be released from control I was punching in the numbers At the ATM machine I could see in the reflection A face staring back at me At the moment of surrender Of vision over visibility I did not notice the passers-by And they did not notice me I was speeding on the subway Through the stations of the cross Every eye looking every other way Counting down till the pain would stop At the moment of surrender Of vision over visibility I did not notice the passers-by And they did not notice me U2, No Line on the Horizon (2009)

[@venommusclecars5998]

Man they made great songs love this 🔥✊

[@chichiponche]

Cada vez que veo una nueva versión de este tema siento que refleja toda mi vida y noto como si me estuviera hablando a mi directamente. Ya hace meses que llegué al fondo de un pozo que no creía que existiera y ahora comprendo el significado de la frase que en otra versión dice: el infierno es un sitio donde no necesitarás la ayuda de nadie más

[@edcool77]

Me pasa lo mismo!

[@zoeyssfischetti4856]

so stong masterpiece

[@robertaprugnoli3084]

Great album, great concert...Bono divine!

[@mikealanzo]

That guitar solo should have been at least 1½ minutes!!! That would definitely complete the song on a whole other level!!!

[@kevinspezia4142]

Magnificent.

[@alankennedy3747]

No, Moment of Surrender.

[@ericnathanguel]

Excellent.

[@inga-lilltjadermyr1984]

Det bästa av U2,........känsloladdat och bra

[@heltonmetzker]

Amazing

[@Gfin2Toi]

their latest good album!

[@fisicartucr6337]

Perhaps last good one...

[@antonioaugustorodrigues7480]

i loved it

[@lmpl4156]

How much nights of love I lived in these Cadiz old town streets!

[@oscarjuan8595]

Geniales ...

[@carlosedmundobrasil1089]

Esta musica e sensacional

[@emmamoylan8501]

Excellent

[@endyserena3183]

Homem seguro é aquele q acredita em si mesmo,n espera os outros confia nele

[@ImiriAgami22]

Surrendering yourself takes a lot of courage.

[@teresalucero5688]

Hermoso tema tan triste!

[@pdk213]

Ah!!! The accompanying DVD to NLOTH. I need to pull it out.

[@danielaalejandragalvezhenr7332]

Linda canción me encanta u2💓💓💓💓💓

[@ELIZANDROCAT]

the best

[@bananaboots5330]

Yesssssssssssssssss

[@carlosribeiro8380]

momentos fortes

[@alexandriaocasio-smollett5078]

Lars Ulrich (cofounder and drummer of Metallica) listed it at #1 song when asked by Rolling Stone to rank his top 20 songs of the 00s. Turns out he’s actually a self labeled “U2 groupie”. Never in a million years would I have guessed any of that. As an aside, I think U2 made a mistake by not making it the lead single of the album. I get why they wouldn’t. It’s long. But if anyone could get away with it because of the quality of the work, it would be them. Had that been the lead single, there’s no doubt in my mind it would’ve altered the trajectory of the album and subsequent albums. In my opinion it was probably the best song they wrote since Ultraviolet(Light My Way).

[@Vibeagain]

Thanks for this share. I think I get it

[@noelgamer198linare6]

La mejor banda y está una más de sus grandes exitos

[@furnygonzalez2569]

That's what I'm going through..but I here different ppl. Some good n bad.. but mostly Good.. I haven't heard this song in a while. Till now..😍 I remember now.. again...

[@Marie-ex8nh]

3.42 ♥️♥️♥️

[@EddieContrario07]

🙌🙌🙌

[@stevehall1218]

Going to a U2 concert without this song is like going to a Led Zeppelin concert without hearing "Stairway To Heaven."

[@fransiscadwi6095]

come to indonesia ..u2

[@fawzyafawzya9829]

Vive u2 vive said tarmati

[@daisydavis9886]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@user-eh9ir8qt6v]

special

[@henripernod1456]

Beautiful song. There is a fab version by Nick Mulvey. Which one you prefer is neither here nor there, but you can spot a masterpiece as soon as a great artist does a cover of another great artists work.😉

[@cinnamomumcamphora8943]

15,904 2018-1-27 20:08:26

[@joshuaporter98]

Inly good ding on that album

[@ramonvalle6628]

Is any one see bono father . ariola. I whent to nj. Joshua tree concert and it whas magnificent. My kids ask me if a bring somthing from the concert. And i did .the bracelet. And the open mind. That the 🌎 world should have . best group ever. In the 🌎 world. I get chillings only to remember the concert . and watch 4 wonderfully. Guys . figthing. For saving the planet

[@Michael-zj7lg]

A spiritual battle in which I will surrender to Jesus , which will bring the spiritual powers into line. Great Yarmouth. You should know the rest by now. ♥️💖. Two Hearts beat as One.

[@yarabamba]

Where are those streets? They look like Arequipa Peru.

[@Mad_Duck]

They have no name.

[@yorgosvivi]

mi hermano eduardo

[@flygetcapeflygetcape6932]

If you like this song, then have a listen to Nick Mulvey's cover. It's amazing.

[@samiradjerroud4877]

Alovyou

[@ThisIsNotaUniversity]

in the 80s they just wrote about drug addiction whereas here they have to explain what the song's about. And then just in case it wasn't clear enough a video that explains all of the above

[@harryg7678]

Not a wasted note.

[@ka5269]

Grammatical mistake... 'machine' was not necessary after ATM.

[@FinesseFlyTying]

It's called artistic licence. The line would have ended too abruptly and not sounded right had he not added machine at the end.

[@miluskaantonietairujodelag199]

Pedro Calua canessa

[@michaelburland7932]

Before my surrender to Jesus I will be sleeping rough in a seaside town . Michael. 🦀

[@sanguedejesus679]

Jesus Cristo is the surrender

[@taramcalpine3345]

This song has good and bad memorie's 4 me, if i have any anymore, explain in a bit. Estranged from fam, few yrs bk, got on, whatever, then Hos due to wrong medz. Then too much, got fnd, heard bout my dad passing, got well, then. Was given zopiclone, mnt to b sleep pill, but with my medz, could leave u suicidal, did 3mnt xtra hos. Home couldn't get e.c.t due to fnd, medz not working, since dec, now may, home 2mnt. Started suicidal note's to fam, then stopped medz. Wrote note's every wknd for 4 month's. Tried to get bk to hos, excuse's, no bedz, prob not, but for 3mnt, a n e, dec, put bk on min medz even though sui, but police nxt day when, even ftr, talk on mob to crisis team, brkn my kitchen window open, nice, not. Spoke to dr, jan, mnt 2b face to face but wasn't, left in air min drugz, but could put up fast to gv me fnd in past, what a fckn bitch, zopiclone shit and all. Anyway's, me that don't go out much, to finally c face to face ftr a year. Well, sui left, no rehab she better give. Then gt home well, exploit her to hell, move somewhere else. All very scary. So mom of sur, when ill, b4 dad, saw me through after this song out, saw hampden. Well until fam estrangment, hos19/20 well, saw bro, dropped stuff on ground, pal helped, mom sur, going through head. What should have been, 21 hos few mnt, then 22, few mnt, and now, prob 23, few mnt, but home well this time. Moment of surrender, u can't go bk, u can't stay like this, u don't deserve to go down suicide, u can't go forward from the house, so get some rehab, she can't say no, ftr everything, i'm hoping. Noticed i didn't say i, but i am not me, at the moment, hope this time shall pass, bn a whoara year, exactly since i left yesterday, fckn a year of hell. Anywayz, noo 4wkz on sunday, since all this shit began. My mother being nasty , telling a lie, being jealous of me going to a manic's concert that i dnt even go too. Yeah week ftr my 43rd birthday, so 48 mnt to be 3wk thursday. Not myself at all, heard about my dad passing, when in hos 21, ok when well dealing with it but home not well, horrible. So Anywhoo U2, still love u, bn upsetting, new stuff coming out, not bn me, still, love my boy'z. Got joshua necklace, when well b4 due to leave, nursre saiid was nice, then zop shit. Wore once in house, mb gt to wear again. Achtung y'all, mb can come bk jack, fine with the wine, e noo, but. Oh surely due a break, for goodness sake. God bless all who read this, i hope there is hope, angel of harlem, Tara-Johan McAlpine, kilmory, Lochgilhead, argyll, scotland.

[@taramcalpine3345]

Didn't make face to face yesyerday, too get call nxt week, better get rehab. Send letter to fam, that's if bro not read yon, get well, exploit dr b to hell. Not even one foot out the wood's yet, but, deseve to be myself again, as much as what i can be after this. I believe in god, why this have to happen after family shit. Was going to go back to caring, now i can barely care for myself, anyway, it is what it is, mb gt bk to caring, whatever. Boy's, i can't surrender to what she has done, there has to be some justice, been living like a murderer, or rapist, rape victim, survivor i was, anyway. So she mb dnt gt to do this to otherz, the white south african dr b, whatever, jst nd to bite my tongue nxt wk, gt in, she cnt say no, she know's she's done wrong. No from her, go to a higher authority, either way, ndz to b exploited, for ruining, someone's past, present, and well, do i have a future ftr this, i deserve one.

[@ka5269]

​@@taramcalpine3345hope you're doing alright, pal.