Raised by Wolves
by U2

Album: Songs of Innocence (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song talks about Bono growing up in a tough part of Dublin during 'The Troubles' as he recounts the true story of a deadly car-bombing in his home city. "It was a real incident that happened in our country where three car bombs were set to go off at the same time in Dublin on a Friday night, 5:30," Bono recalled to Rolling Stone, "On any other Friday I would have been at this record shop, just down the corner, but I cycled to school that day."

    "The bomb tore apart the street," he continued. "I escaped but one of my mates was around the corner with his father, and it was a very hard thing for him to witness and I'm not sure he really got over it."
  • The track namechecks the registration plate of the blue Ford Escort used in the bombings, 1385WZ.
  • Speaking to The Observer, Bono wondered if the experience outlined in this track is one reason why he's drawn to protest songs. "Why do I write songs about political violence?" he asked. "Where is that coming from?"

    "And I think that's why," he continued. "It was very disturbing to realise that my teenage life was largely dominated by memories of violence and that my worldview was shaped by that. It might mean some sort of psychological flaw in me, but I feel most comfortable in the middle of the biggest, noisiest, most chaotic, howling argument."

Comments: 1

  • Philippe from Yellowknife, CanadaI suspect that this song could possibly be on the soundtrack of a movie supposed to be release next year. Here is what I found after a little research...

    http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3040964/
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.