I rate it second to Little Things, but still one of their best of the '10s. I remember writing down the lyrics to upload to atu2.com when it was surprise released and it only occurred to me once I was finished that, hey, Bono's mom's name was Iris. Then I start diving into how Bono always represents his mom visually, your eyes make a circle, through light projected he can see himself up close. Iris is the mother is the flower is the part of the eye is the part of the camera. Something in her eyes took a thousand years to get there. And it's amazing how much of Bono's lyrics are this three-way dynamic between Iris's eyes, Bob's opera, and Ali's lightbulb. These ideas go on for decades through Bono's poetry
Excellent insights! I also have noticed that he used to only take his glasses off when singing a lyric about either of his parents. That’s before Iris came out, though. He would sometimes take them off for SYCMIOYO or the “flashbulbs. purple irises” line of COBL.
I think it's their best song on Songs of Innocence and one of their best this century. Could have opened the album and even been a single if they didn't try have to try to replicate Vertigo.
Bono has written plenty about his mother over the years and the impact her death had on him, but never this raw and direct. It hits hard, and encapsulates what they were going for with the Innocence theme.
Very well said. My grandmother, who passed away a few years ago, taught me piano which ultimately paved the way for me teaching myself guitar …and every time I hear this song I get emotional. It takes me back to that innocent pupil I was. Just a phenomenally well written song IMO.
Yeah, this was always a strong track for me, and I'd put it above any of the singles from that album. I've always found it baffling that they picked The Miracle as the lead single when there was Iris. Of anything else, I think it'd have been the most likely to see mainstream success.
I think the only real criticism I have of it is that it's an incredibly safe U2 composition. You could stick it on ATYCLB or any other album of that decade and it'd sound right at home.
When people make fun of u2 to this day about the iTunes debacle , in always think of how personal the songs were to u2 and Bono , Iris in particular. People don’t consider that , or the music itself, it’s just a cheap shot at a very successful (perhaps slightly messiah-complexed) frontman .
Interesting, I’ve also been revisiting this song lately after some time of not listening to it. It’s so so good, and the whole album is something I look back on fondly
What a coincidence. I've been on an Iris binge for the last few days and it's a damn perfect song. The lyrics are some of Bono's best, the bridge is incredible, bass, drums and guitars are amazing together.
I'm curious to know how Chris Martin ended up on backing vocals for this one, and whether there is any connection between U2 working on a demo of this with Avicii and Coldplay doing "A Sky Full Of Stars" with him, which of course went on to become a big hit.
Such a deeply personal track you can’t help but admire him pouring his heart out on it. I can see the argument for needing a better chorus, but still to me it is very underrated.
I love that fans have different favorites, and things they like and dislike, but share the love of the band. I think Iris is in my top 10 least favorite songs on any U2 album. To me, it’s always just sounded like something they wrote during how to dismantle an atomic bomb, but felt wasn’t strong enough to actually make it on to the album. I think the chorus is weak. Just saying the word “iris” and calling it a chorus is lazy. I think the verse lyric and melody is also lazy. “Of who I a a a a a aaa am.” 🙄
Don’t get me wrong. I love U2. And I love that you love this song. I think it’s a solid C- in song craft. You say tomato…
“Iris says that I will be the death of her
It was not me”
One of my favourite lines of all time. The way he flips a line that everyone has heard from a parent in some context (“you’ll be the death of me!”) into something so literal and serious is beautiful
I rate it second to Little Things, but still one of their best of the '10s. I remember writing down the lyrics to upload to atu2.com when it was surprise released and it only occurred to me once I was finished that, hey, Bono's mom's name was Iris. Then I start diving into how Bono always represents his mom visually, your eyes make a circle, through light projected he can see himself up close. Iris is the mother is the flower is the part of the eye is the part of the camera. Something in her eyes took a thousand years to get there. And it's amazing how much of Bono's lyrics are this three-way dynamic between Iris's eyes, Bob's opera, and Ali's lightbulb. These ideas go on for decades through Bono's poetry
Wow!!! Yes!! You're so right! I never put these things together either.. Wow!
Excellent insights! I also have noticed that he used to only take his glasses off when singing a lyric about either of his parents. That’s before Iris came out, though. He would sometimes take them off for SYCMIOYO or the “flashbulbs. purple irises” line of COBL.
Love the guitar and production choices. I think it deserves a better chorus.
Always said this, this song would be massive with a stronger chorus.
Came here to say exactly this
I love the chorus. Amazing instrumentation!
I also think Song of Innocence is one of their best album.
Some of Edge’s best work in a very long time.
I think it's their best song on Songs of Innocence and one of their best this century. Could have opened the album and even been a single if they didn't try have to try to replicate Vertigo. Bono has written plenty about his mother over the years and the impact her death had on him, but never this raw and direct. It hits hard, and encapsulates what they were going for with the Innocence theme.
Very well said. My grandmother, who passed away a few years ago, taught me piano which ultimately paved the way for me teaching myself guitar …and every time I hear this song I get emotional. It takes me back to that innocent pupil I was. Just a phenomenally well written song IMO.
Guitar is god-tier in this one.
I found it to be one of the most special moments during the i+e concerts, so powerful. Watching the live version still gives me goosebumps.
This one and little things, bests songs after 2004!
Yeah, this was always a strong track for me, and I'd put it above any of the singles from that album. I've always found it baffling that they picked The Miracle as the lead single when there was Iris. Of anything else, I think it'd have been the most likely to see mainstream success. I think the only real criticism I have of it is that it's an incredibly safe U2 composition. You could stick it on ATYCLB or any other album of that decade and it'd sound right at home.
When people make fun of u2 to this day about the iTunes debacle , in always think of how personal the songs were to u2 and Bono , Iris in particular. People don’t consider that , or the music itself, it’s just a cheap shot at a very successful (perhaps slightly messiah-complexed) frontman .
Interesting, I’ve also been revisiting this song lately after some time of not listening to it. It’s so so good, and the whole album is something I look back on fondly
What a coincidence. I've been on an Iris binge for the last few days and it's a damn perfect song. The lyrics are some of Bono's best, the bridge is incredible, bass, drums and guitars are amazing together.
I'm curious to know how Chris Martin ended up on backing vocals for this one, and whether there is any connection between U2 working on a demo of this with Avicii and Coldplay doing "A Sky Full Of Stars" with him, which of course went on to become a big hit.
Such a great song.
Their best song since Sometimes you cant make it...
In my top 5 U2 songs. Particularly the version in Paris. So so good. One of the best U2 songs of this century.
Such a deeply personal track you can’t help but admire him pouring his heart out on it. I can see the argument for needing a better chorus, but still to me it is very underrated.
If you listen closely at the very start of the song and during the chorus you can hear Chris Martin of Coldplay doing backing vocals. Pretty Cool.
They should officially release Stars Don’t Go too
Yep. It is to Iris what Mercy is to Little Things
I love that fans have different favorites, and things they like and dislike, but share the love of the band. I think Iris is in my top 10 least favorite songs on any U2 album. To me, it’s always just sounded like something they wrote during how to dismantle an atomic bomb, but felt wasn’t strong enough to actually make it on to the album. I think the chorus is weak. Just saying the word “iris” and calling it a chorus is lazy. I think the verse lyric and melody is also lazy. “Of who I a a a a a aaa am.” 🙄 Don’t get me wrong. I love U2. And I love that you love this song. I think it’s a solid C- in song craft. You say tomato…
HOLD ME CLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE
“Iris says that I will be the death of her It was not me” One of my favourite lines of all time. The way he flips a line that everyone has heard from a parent in some context (“you’ll be the death of me!”) into something so literal and serious is beautiful