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Exit (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007) |
| "Exit" | |||||
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| Song by U2 | |||||
| Album | The Joshua Tree | ||||
| Released | 9 March 1987 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:13 | ||||
| Label | Island | ||||
| Writer | Bono | ||||
| Composer | U2 | ||||
| Producer | Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois | ||||
| The Joshua Tree track listing | |||||
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"Exit" is the tenth track from U2's 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. Inspired by Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song, "Exit" is a somber song about a psychotic murderer obsessed about something he called the "hands of love". The song starts off so quietly that it is barely audible. It then gently builds to a crescendo, then dies back down again. It is one of the darkest and most intense songs U2 has ever recorded.
The original CD pressings of the album incorrectly indexed the ending of "One Tree Hill" at 4:43 and the beginning of "Exit" at 4:53. This error has been corrected on later editions.
Contents |
The live debut of "Exit" came on 8 March 1987 when it was performed for the TV show Old Grey Whistle Test.[1] It was played live at all 109 concerts of the Joshua Tree Tour,[2] often followed by a snippet of Van Morrison's "Gloria". One of these performances, in Denver, Colorado, was featured in the Rattle and Hum movie. However, since the Joshua Tree Tour, it has only been performed live once, at the 14 October 1989 concert in Melbourne on the Lovetown Tour.[3]
The song caused major controversy shortly after the The Joshua Tree's release, being played at the American trial of a subsequently convicted murderer of a young actress, in his defense he claimed his actions were inspired by the lyrics of "Exit". This story drew comparisons with Charles Manson, who was the leader of a cult and caused destruction and murdered people, claiming that he was inspired by the song "Helter Skelter".
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, Setlist for 8 March 1987, Belfast, accessed 28 September 2007.
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, Joshua Tree Tour overview, accessed 28 September 2007.
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, Setlist for 14 October 1989, Melbourne, accessed 28 September 2007.