Wire
by U2

Album: The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Wire" is about the dangers of heroin use. U2 stayed mostly drug-free, but they had many friends who became addicted, including Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy, who died from heroin abuse in 1986. U2 bass player Adam Clayton was arrested in Ireland for marijuana possession in 1989, but the conviction was waived in lieu of a donation to charity.
  • This was one of the first U2 songs produced by Brian Eno, who had worked with David Bowie and Talking Heads. Eno went on to produce The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.
  • U2 would revisit the theme of heroin abuse later on the album with "Bad" and on The Joshua Tree with "Running To Stand Still."
  • This was the first of four U2 songs used in the TV series Miami Vice. It appeared in the season 1 finale "Lombard" in 1985.

Comments: 4

  • Sib from Easton, PaMy neighbor Mike (hi!) makes a good point, Album Oriented Rock stations typically play non-singles, but for some reason this didn't make the cut on a lot of stations, despite its use in MIAMI VICE.
  • George from Trenton, OhAnother Irish band called Them (which featured Van Morrison) wrote a song called "Gloria" as well, but the music and lyrics of that song and U2's "Gloria" are vastly different. However, U2 quoted Them's version during the song "Exit" in the "Rattle & Hum" film.
  • Angela from Hagerstown, Mdit's not played on the radio because it's from 1984 and not a single.
  • Mike from Emmaus, PaWhy isn't this song played on the radio???? It's one of U2's best songs.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.