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U2 — Seconds
Album: War
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2556









Released: 1983
Length: 3:10
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Takes a second to say goodbye, say goodbye
Takes a second to say goodbye, say goodbye
Oh, oh, oh, say bye-bye.
Where you going to now?
Lightning flashes across the sky
East to West, do and die.
Like a thief in the night, see the world by candlelight.
Fall, rise and...
Fall, rise and...

In an apartment on Times Square
You can assemble them anywhere.
Held to ransom, hell to pay
A revolution every day.
U.S.S.R., G.D.R., London, New York, Peking.
It's the puppets, it's the puppets pull the strings.
Fall, rise and...
Fall, rise and...

Say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye, say goodbye

It takes a second to say goodbye
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh.
Push the button and pull the plug
Say goodbye, oh, oh, oh.

Fall, rise and...
Fall, rise and...

And they're doing the atomic bomb
Do they know where the dance comes from?
Yes they're doing the atomic bomb
They want you to sing along.

Say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye, say goodbye
Comments (258)add comment
 Knarf099 wrote:

Always loved this song. I wonder if this song would get any recognition if  the album came out today in this modern era of online/on-demand music. There's no doubt that this song was heard by many because it was wedged between two epic U2 songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. Does anyone listen to albums straight through anymore?




It kind of drives me nuts to not listen to an album straight through.
This is a moronic statement   Of course haters will come out every time they hate whatever the music is. That’s it. You like it they don’t it …done. Who cares what someone else likes anyway. Scroll on and shut up  johnalexford wrote:

Love how the U2 haters will come out when they get played. Every. Time. 



Thanks for playing one of the relatively obscure U2 tracks. The mega-hits are all fine and good, but it really is nice to hear some of the lesser-known tracks.
 siqbal wrote:

A deep cut. This was my most-played track off War when the album came out in 1983.  Glad to hear it on RP.  Certainly of its time, with references to GDR and Peking.



Drowning Man was my preferred track on this masterpiece of an album
 Knarf099 wrote:

Always loved this song. I wonder if this song would get any recognition if  the album came out today in this modern era of online/on-demand music. There's no doubt that this song was heard by many because it was wedged between two epic U2 songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. Does anyone listen to albums straight through anymore?



I do
 jkforde wrote:

U2 at their tight, innovative best! turn it up folks!




GREAT TUNE!!
One of U2's best imho.
 DReader wrote:

He was the son of a friend of the band.  The kid was paid in Mars bars.  Here's a pic of him then and now. 
https://ultimateclassicrock.co...



Thank You for the info!
 eileenomurphy wrote:

That kid has been on a couple of their album covers. I wonder what he looks like now?


He was the son of a friend of the band.  The kid was paid in Mars bars.  Here's a pic of him then and now. 
https://ultimateclassicrock.co...
U2 at their tight, innovative best! turn it up folks!
When U2 came out with these albums they changed music “War and Boy are by far the best U2 albums - and also the least played here afaict… Love it”
War and Boy are by far the best U2 albums - and also the least played here afaict… Love it
A deep cut. This was my most-played track off War when the album came out in 1983.  Glad to hear it on RP.  Certainly of its time, with references to GDR and Peking.
 Knarf099 wrote:

Always loved this song. I wonder if this song would get any recognition if  the album came out today in this modern era of online/on-demand music. There's no doubt that this song was heard by many because it was wedged between two epic U2 songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. Does anyone listen to albums straight through anymore?



Yes, daily!
Love the older stuff.  New is good, but just too "POP".  But to each his own....
 eileenomurphy wrote:

That kid has been on a couple of their album covers. I wonder what he looks like now?



https://www.nydailynews.com/re...
Always loved this song. I wonder if this song would get any recognition if  the album came out today in this modern era of online/on-demand music. There's no doubt that this song was heard by many because it was wedged between two epic U2 songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. Does anyone listen to albums straight through anymore?
 eileenomurphy wrote:

That kid has been on a couple of their album covers. I wonder what he looks like now?



I believe he became photographer and an anti-abortion activist. Can't say what he looks like. 
That kid has been on a couple of their album covers. I wonder what he looks like now?
Excellent!
 Baron77 wrote:

A little U2 Completist trivia - if you have the ”Original Master Recording”  gold cd version of War “Seconds” is longer  as the ”airborne ranger” Break is extended. 

thought it was Recon Ranger...? My brother sent me the CD while serving as a corpsman in 1984 - it was my favorite but is now tied with Unforgettable Fire.  Remain fond of all the old ones but found something to like about almost all of them

Excellent song from perhaps my favorite U2 album.
This was me in 1983 at our campus pub as a freshman

Dancing with a pitcher in each hand singing out to 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' thinking I was really changing the world.
I've been on a "+1 all U2 songs lately" as I try to rid myself of the image of a U2 hater.
Not sure if I've already+1'd this already...but what the hell...it's a 9 now!
LLRP
Go away whiners and retune to another radio station😡
 pmaeroservice wrote:
First off RP is amazing, thanks for doing what you do.   Regarding negative, "hater comments"of U2, I wonder how much of it is generated by the band's Christian underpinnings.  Examine yourselves often, if there is hate, where is it coming from?
 
not the reason I click PSD on U2 - can't speak for others who are tired of these preachy old men
Superb,superb,top tune😊
First off RP is amazing, thanks for doing what you do.   Regarding negative, "hater comments"of U2, I wonder how much of it is generated by the band's Christian underpinnings.  Examine yourselves often, if there is hate, where is it coming from?
 johnalexford wrote:
Love how the U2 haters will come out when they get played. Every. Time. 
 
I get it. I am the guy the comes out to hate when Elvis Costello is played.

Seconds is a great track. 
Love how the U2 haters will come out when they get played. Every. Time. 
A little U2 Completist trivia - if you have the ”Original Master Recording”  gold cd version of War “Seconds” is longer  as the ”airborne ranger” Break is extended. 
U2 haters will do just that. Hate. But good track in my books.
 ...now say goodbye !  trevc wrote:
Nice music all day, then loud horrible tuneless racket comes on, run for the PSD, what is this dirge? Why, it's U2 as usual.:O)
 


Come on, RP. Please play something I don't like so I can stop the radio and watch another episode of Blacklist on Netflix. {#Bananajam}
 VV wrote:
Just a hair under "Godlike"... Not sure why there are so many U2 haters. Hard to ignore the band's longevity and catalog of inspired music.  

 
Probably more a dislike to the arrogant self-absorbed Bono. But their music is quite good in general. Better than mine!
Nice music all day, then loud horrible tuneless racket comes on, run for the PSD, what is this dirge? Why, it's U2 as usual.:O)
 VV wrote:
Just a hair under "Godlike"... Not sure why there are so many U2 haters. Hard to ignore the band's longevity and catalog of inspired music.  

 
{#Cheers} having seen twice, and would go tonight if close, lol let the haters go, waste of energy! 
My fave U2 album.
 bluejay08003 wrote:
Awesome segue from Zeppelin's Rock and Roll to this song!
 
Looks like Bill is still using music playlists from three years ago...
Just a hair under "Godlike"... Not sure why there are so many U2 haters. Hard to ignore the band's longevity and catalog of inspired music.  
I own zero U2 records. But, right now, this song is grabbing me. 7.
In short I HATE THIS GARAGE BAND.
Enough already. Every day you play U2 - WHY?
Every day I will trash them, Bill 
Cannot believe it's been so long since I listened to War that this song had left my consciousness. Instantly recognized, of course, when it came on, but so far back in my memory that it put me into a small trance. I love this song. I guess that's what music will do to you.
Seems surprisingly poignant with the passing of David Bowie today.  My sense is Bill has subtly woven many great tunes today that seem to honor his passing - quite discreetly I might add!
It's easy to forget that there was a day when U2 didn't suck the sour balls of tedium.
 jvalatka wrote:


Actually, before they were Bono and The Edge and Those Two Other Guys.

 
You mean those two "Other Guys" (Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., btw, cuz maybe we should actually use their names) that are paid exactly the same in song royalties, are treated as family members by all "others" in the band, helped to keep the band together during tougher times, and share song writing credits on nearly every U2 song. 

Those two "Other Guys"?
 zurcronium wrote:
U2 following Led Zep? It like watching porn after having sex. 

 
You mean you don't do that?
I understand that some things are an aquired taste, but I've tried and tried to like U2, but I just can't.
I've purchased three of their albums and ... well ... it's just not going to happen. 
 Hoosfoos wrote:
A once mighty band has fallen.

 
I never realized how poorly mixed their first few albums were, until recently. Still love their old stuff anyway. 
U2 following Led Zep? It like watching porn after having sex. 
Did someone mention my favorite singer, Bone-O Vox?  I loved their masterpiece, Zoo TV.  What a great CD... to poop on.


A once mighty band has fallen.
 WonderLizard wrote:
Before they were Bono and The Trio.

 

Actually, before they were Bono and The Edge and Those Two Other Guys.


Before they were Bono and The Trio.
Zippin' up my boots {#Eek}
Is it safe to come out yet?  

sans wrote:
It's the apocalyptic set on 122112. Say goodbye.

 


 bluejay08003 wrote:
Awesome segue from Zeppelin's Rock and Roll to this song!
 
Still good segue, but not as "special" second time around.  
How about following this U2 with some Grandmaster Flash {#Sorry}
Awesome segue from Zeppelin's Rock and Roll to this song!
 Cynaera wrote:
Me too - leave romeotuma alone. He's got a good soul, and just because he loves music, it shouldn't be a reason to slag him on this board. He posts comments here that make some people doubt whether he has two brain-cells to rub together, but I assure you, he's far more intelligent, articulate and sensitive than he allows at these boards (wise decision, I'm learning.) If a song is "good for the ears," I'm all for giving it a chance or two.

Don't mess with him, or you mess with me. And I'm not nearly as benign as he is.

Let's move on now, okay? It's about the music, not the commenter...
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

we be dancing to this marvelous revolutionary song...
 
Saw them early summer of that year at Red Rocks, then again the next night at CU Events Center, thanks to a largely-rained out (but long enough to record the Under a Blood Red Sky thing!) show where The Edge almost got electrocuted...they told us save our ticket stubs then the next night rocked us out of our minds; had us on our feet for more than three hours solid!
That bass line is funky!  And the pause, silence, then the line comes back....dooon dooon dooon...even cooler.  Say good bye.....oohh oohh oohh.
This is that new band my kids liked. I haven't heard anything from them for a while; I guess they faded away.
It's the apocalyptic set on 122112. Say goodbye.
Uggggh. Plodding. Pedantic.

Sorry if I incur the wrath of the U2 Faithful, but I just don't get it.
Bought this gem at a little record shop on Broadway when I lived in Chicago.... Sill listening.....9
 eltom wrote:
Why do I hate U2 since 1999?
 
Why do people ask questions to the wind that only they themselves can answer?
 olesonb wrote:
 

Heavy sigh. Love the stuff back when they were unique and had soul.



 
I still think of this as "the new U2 album."
 olesonb wrote:
 

Heavy sigh. Love the stuff back when they were unique and had soul.



 

like NOW for instance...
 olesonb wrote:
 

Heavy sigh. Love the stuff back when they were unique and had soul.



 
DITTO!
 olesonb wrote:
 

Heavy sigh. Love the stuff back when they were unique and had soul.



 
My thoughts exactly as I listened to this....well put.
Nice song & nice album!
I'll come back when bono stops screeching in my ears.  No hate either.  Sorry, just don't get it, never have (since the early 80s), doubt I ever will.
 lemmoth wrote:

May I ask why?  The band is still putting out some fantastic music.  There are a half dozen songs on each of their last three albums that stand with the best of their material from 1981 to 1991.  The live shows are absolutely incredible. Bono has leveraged his celebrity to do some real good in the world.

I just don't get the hate

 
I agree with the comment of this period of their music being raw and powerful, but I also agree with you that they have continued to put out good work.  Nothing captures my attention like their pre-Joshua Tree stuff, but it is still quality music.
 iTuner wrote:
Awesome song from a time when their music had some power and rawness.

Now Bono just irritates.
 
May I ask why?  The band is still putting out some fantastic music.  There are a half dozen songs on each of their last three albums that stand with the best of their material from 1981 to 1991.  The live shows are absolutely incredible. Bono has leveraged his celebrity to do some real good in the world.

I just don't get the hate

Amen, brother. This was great stuff.
 

Heavy sigh. Love the stuff back when they were unique and had soul.



Is this a Travis cover?
I always wondered if that military training count-off in the bridge of R.E.M.'s "Orange Crush" was somehow a tribute to the one buried in this cut.  Does anybody know anything about this similarity in these two tracks?
Awesome song from a time when their music had some power and rawness.

Now Bono just irritates.
 sirdroseph wrote:
 Cynaera wrote:

So, based on your musical choices, you must have a better station than RP. Gimme. Nope, not betraying RP, but curious.
 
WUSC 90.5 "left of the dial, right in your ear."  Also WRAS 88.5 out of Atlanta though they do not have a webstream yet.

 

Haven't heard WRAS 88.5 in ages. I listened to them for 15 years while in Atlanta. Glad to hear they are still broadcasting. I found some great music through that station.
Seeing these guys for the first time Saturday in Minneapolis.  Excited to see one of the great bands of the past 30 years.  
Why do I hate U2 since 1999?
 Cynaera wrote:

So, based on your musical choices, you must have a better station than RP. Gimme. Nope, not betraying RP, but curious.
 
WUSC 90.5 "left of the dial, right in your ear."  Also WRAS 88.5 out of Atlanta though they do not have a webstream yet.

 pilgrimsoul wrote:
One of the short list of their songs that I still have a fondness for... those were the days. Good stuff and great teenage memories.  However, most of their stuff I find hard to listen to now.  
 
I feel exactly the same way and yes this one is near the top.{#Yes}
 Cynaera wrote:

So, based on your musical choices, you must have a better station than RP. Gimme. Nope, not betraying RP, but curious.

 

Not very often, but sometimes I go to Youtube and find stuff I'd rather hear than what's on RP's playlist.  For instance, whenever I get a hankering for some Primus, which you can't get here.

One of the short list of their songs that I still have a fondness for... those were the days. Good stuff and great teenage memories.  However, most of their stuff I find hard to listen to now.  
 Cynaera wrote:

So, based on your musical choices, you must have a better station than RP. Gimme. Nope, not betraying RP, but curious.

 
Excellent call.  I'd love to know myself.  (Poseurs beware!)  RP rocks on......{#Dancingbanana_2}
 SaintPeter wrote:
Good bye!!
 
So, based on your musical choices, you must have a better station than RP. Gimme. Nope, not betraying RP, but curious.

The Doors? {#Think}
Good bye!!

Hey, hey
Love, love
Yeah, yeah
Ah, ha
Freddies dead
That's what I said


Ooooooh, look at all the sock puppets....pretty.
 trekhead wrote:
Anyone ever guess that's Larry Mullen on the album cover, as a kid? Curious.
 
It's the son of a friend of Bono's. Peter Rowen is now a photographer himself. He was on the cover of Boy, and the hits album too. Photo by Anton Corbijn.
 
edit: ha ha ha I'm too slow.

 trekhead wrote:
Anyone ever guess that's Larry Mullen on the album cover, as a kid? Curious.
 

The boy on the cover is Peter Rowen (brother of Bono's friend, Guggi). He also appears on the covers of Boy, Three, The Best of 1980-1990, and Early Demos. Bono described the reasoning behind the cover: "Instead of putting tanks and guns on the cover, we've put a child's face. War can also be a mental thing, an emotional thing between loves. It doesn't have to be a physical thing."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(album)


Me too - leave romeotuma alone. He's got a good soul, and just because he loves music, it shouldn't be a reason to slag him on this board. He posts comments here that make some people doubt whether he has two brain-cells to rub together, but I assure you, he's far more intelligent, articulate and sensitive than he allows at these boards (wise decision, I'm learning.) If a song is "good for the ears," I'm all for giving it a chance or two.

Don't mess with him, or you mess with me. And I'm not nearly as benign as he is.

Let's move on now, okay? It's about the music, not the commenter...

Hmmmm, that's a U2 song I somehow missed.
I like it. Good choice ont that one Bill!


By the way - does anyone this this song has similar riffage to 'Johnny Was' ? Specifically the Stiff Little Fingers version.

Love it either way.
romeotuma is way cool.

I will fight anyone who thinks otherwise! {#Bananasplit}

Seriously - chill out people - it's a comments page, to each his own.

 pinklife wrote:
Reminiscent of the Talking Heads...interesting.
 
Wow, I'd never noticed that before.. you're right. Back in the early 80s, I never thought of this sort of semi-monotone, percussion-driven sound as "genre," but I guess it is.

 ziggytrix wrote:

Get over it guys.  It's not like he's obnoxiously slagging on everything.  Let him have his catchphrase.  Seriously, why does it bother you so much?
 
boredom kills

 Stave wrote:

Glad to see I'm not the only one sick of Romeotuma's well thought out posts.  {#Fire}
 
Get over it guys.  It's not like he's obnoxiously slagging on everything.  Let him have his catchphrase.  Seriously, why does it bother you so much?
 trekhead wrote:
Anyone ever guess that's Larry Mullen on the album cover, as a kid? Curious.
 

This is a bit embarrassing to admit as a U2 fan who doesn't know all their earliest stuff....but when Edge was singing at the beginning I thought it might be The Killers. (If it was Bono singing I'd be far more ashamed I didn't recognize it as U2.)

I don't know if that says more about how much The Killers can get into that 80s vibe or how much U2 has sonically evolved but....good song, anyway.

Anyone ever guess that's Larry Mullen on the album cover, as a kid? Curious.
 Crawlmeister wrote:

I know! I know! Can I?! Can I?! {#Wave}
 

Yes, you in the yellow t-shirt..go ahead.
Always like this song, it is not even tarnished by years of the bands mass popularity!{#Lol}
 Stave wrote:

Glad to see I'm not the only one sick of Romeotuma's well thought out posts.  {#Fire}
 

How can you not be? He is so defensive about  them as well. I emailed him to consider changing them up, and he ripppppped me a new one, LOL i guess for Romeotuna it's either drivel like post's or snarling retorts...
 natalita wrote:

just stop. pleeeaase

 
Glad to see I'm not the only one sick of Romeotuma's well thought out posts.  {#Fire}


 romeotuma wrote:


This song is profound and good for the ears...
 
just stop. pleeeaase

bluefrog wrote:
 shawshank wrote:
Is that Bono singing or the Edge? Doesn't  sound quite like Bono. 
  
Bono
 

Actually, it is the Edge for the first few verses. Bono joins later.
 

fluffybum wrote:
one of u2's best tunes.
 
I agree!!!!


Reminiscent of the Talking Heads...interesting.
Nice drumming.
Reminds me that somewhere I have a Rolling Stone from around 1984 or '85 with the lads on the cover and "U2  Our choice:  Band of the '80s" 

Rolling Stone misses a lot, but they nailed that one.
 shawshank wrote:
Is that Bono singing or the Edge? Doesn't  sound quite like Bono. Stupid
 
Bono

Is that Bono singing or the Edge? Doesn't  sound quite like Bono. Stupid
one of u2's best tunes.
nice propulsive power on this one
Nice. Almost forgot about this one. Still sounds great!
How much does this album rock? Looking forward to going home and listening to the entire thing later...{#Guitarist}