Scarlet
by U2

Album: October (1981)
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Songfacts®:

  • This spartan song from U2's second album, October, is largely instrumental save for Bono singing the word "Rejoice." They couldn't use that title because there is a a different song on the album called "Rejoice".
  • This was Inspired by an album of Gregorian Chants that U2's manager, Paul McGuiness, gave to Bono.
  • "Scarlet" was going to be the title track of the album, until they decided to go with October.
  • The Edge played the piano on this track. Steve Lillywhite produced it.
  • U2 didn't play this at any of their concerts until 2010, when they put it on the setlist to their 360° tour.

Comments: 2

  • Steve from Torrance, CaBono, from the book "Touch the Flame": "A lot of people found the October album hard to accept at first. I mean, I used the word "rejoice" precisely because I knew that people have a mental block against it. It's a powerful word, it's lovely to say. It's implying more than "get up and dance, baby.""
  • Jeremy from Hopedale, MaThe only lyric in this song is "Rejoice".
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