Sam Fender has postponed Newcastle presale after reported bot attack•
The Healing Power of Horses have announced ‘8725’, their second EP in six months•
Kesha has dug into the ‘Animal’ archives for her long-lost ‘Backstabber’ video•
Little Grandad have shared ‘A Minute On The Lips’ and announced a January in-store tour•
CMAT has performed ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’ and more for NPR's Tiny Desk•
girl in red has released her new EP ‘BLUE’, exploring change and fresh starts•
David Bowie's unreleased 1978 concert film ‘Stage’ is getting a spectacular arena revival•
Mia Joy is taking flight with new single ‘Wings of Desire’ and her second album•
Heartworms is back with a sinister new single, ‘Guess I’m Stuck In The Dark’•
Phoebe Bridgers has been announced as All Points East 2027’s first headliner•
FKA twigs will curate Meltdown 2027 at Southbank Centre•
Hot Chip have announced their new album, ‘A Long Way From Kansas’•
The Cribs have announced a Wakefield show for ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’ anniversary•
Tate McRae has released ‘Housewife’ with a South of France-shot video•
Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan have released their ‘expectations’ remix•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Sam Fender has postponed Newcastle presale after reported bot attack•
The Healing Power of Horses have announced ‘8725’, their second EP in six months•
Kesha has dug into the ‘Animal’ archives for her long-lost ‘Backstabber’ video•
Little Grandad have shared ‘A Minute On The Lips’ and announced a January in-store tour•
CMAT has performed ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’ and more for NPR's Tiny Desk•
girl in red has released her new EP ‘BLUE’, exploring change and fresh starts•
David Bowie's unreleased 1978 concert film ‘Stage’ is getting a spectacular arena revival•
Mia Joy is taking flight with new single ‘Wings of Desire’ and her second album•
Heartworms is back with a sinister new single, ‘Guess I’m Stuck In The Dark’•
Phoebe Bridgers has been announced as All Points East 2027’s first headliner•
FKA twigs will curate Meltdown 2027 at Southbank Centre•
Hot Chip have announced their new album, ‘A Long Way From Kansas’•
The Cribs have announced a Wakefield show for ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’ anniversary•
Tate McRae has released ‘Housewife’ with a South of France-shot video•
Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan have released their ‘expectations’ remix•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Dork
News
Features
Reviews
Magazine
  • Dork
  • Popzines
Shop
Listings
Directory
Festivals
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
The 19755SOSAlessi RoseArctic MonkeysArlo ParksBastillebeabadoobeeBillie EilishBleachersblink-182BlossomsBlur
Bring Me The HorizonCarly Rae JepsenCavetownChappell RoanCharli xcxCHVRCHESCMATConan GrayDeclan McKennaDjoFall Out BoyFoals
Fontaines D.C.Ghostgirl in redGlass AnimalsGorillazGracie AbramsHAIMHarry StylesHolly HumberstoneInhalerJames MarriottThe Japanese House
The Last Dinner PartyLewis CapaldiLinkin ParkLouis TomlinsonMaggie RogersMaisie PetersMUNAMy Chemical RomanceNiall HoranOasis Live '27Olivia DeanOlivia Rodrigo
Pale WavesParamorePhoebe BridgersPinkPantheressRemi WolfReneé RappSabrina CarpenterSam FenderShameSlipknotTate McRaeTaylor Swift
Twenty One PilotsWallowsWet LegWolf AliceYard ActYUNGBLUDZara Larsson
etc.
Film & TV
Gaming
Literature
Culture
Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS
Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
Playlist Covers
Playlist Directory
Recommender
Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS
After Gates-FESTIVAL SESSIONS
Music Video Directory
Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST
Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED
Dork Live
Oasis Live ’27Tickets. Dates. What’s the story?Explore the tour
Dork Radio
Live
Live 24/7
Dork Radio
Dork
Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

October 2026

Latest issue variants

View archive
Dork, October 2026 (Cara Delevingne cover)

Cara Delevingne

Dork, October 2026 (Keo cover)

Keo

Dork, October 2026 (Lizzy McAlpine cover)

Lizzy McAlpine

Dork, October 2026 (Tove Lo cover)

Tove Lo

Advertise|Support|About Dork|Editorial standards & corrections|Privacy Policy|Genres|Years|Sitemap|RSS|Cookie settings
© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
Powered by PlaywireAdvertise on this site.
  1. Tracks
  2. U2
  3. War
  4. Surrender

TRACK

U2

Surrender

Release date: 28th February 1983

From War
RockMusicArena Rock
Spotify More on U2

About This Track

'Surrender' by U2 is a track from the album 'War', released in 1983. The lyrics paint a night-time city glow, full of love and dishonesty, where brightness feels almost too vivid. In the chorus, the repeated plea to "Surrender, surrender" turns that atmosphere into something devotional and beaten down. Elsewhere, there is a specific conversation around not understanding what something is, then letting go, with a sense that someone has moved on to a new, uncertain state. The overall impression is romantic, restless, and slightly resigned, as if escape is both required and feared.

"Surrender" is a track by U2, from the album War, released 28th February 1983. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

U2

U2

Lyrics

Surrender

[Verse 1]

Oh, the city's alight with lovers and lies

And bright blue eyes

Oh, the city is bright

It's brighter than day tonight

[Chorus]

Surrender, surrender

Surrender, surrender

[Verse 2]

Sadie said she couldn't work out what it was all about

And so she let go

Now Sadie's on the street

And the people she meets you know

[Verse 3]

She tried to be a good girl and a good wife

Raise a good family, lead a good life

It's not good enough

She got herself up on the forty-eighth floor

Gotta find out, find out what she's living for

[Chorus]

Surrender, surrender

Surrender, surrender

[Post-Chorus]

Tonight

[Verse 4]

Oh, the city's afire

A passionate flame that knows me by name

Oh, the city's desire

To take me for more and more

[Verse 5]

It's in the street gettin' under my feet

It's in the air, it's everywhere I look for you

It's in the things that I do and say

And if I wanna live I gotta die to myself someday

[Bridge]

Papa, sing my, sing my, sing my song

Papa, sing my, sing my, sing my song

Papa, sing my, sing my, sing my song

Papa, sing my, sing my, sing my song

[Chorus]

Surrender, surrender

Surrender, surrender

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From War

1983
Listen
Album
War
War
U2
28th February 1983
Release year
1983

More from U2

Albums & EPs

Deep Thoughts
Deep Thoughts
2026
Songs of Surrender
Songs of Surrender
2026
Days Of Ash - EP
Days Of Ash - EP
2026
Woody Guthrie Prize 2005

Explore

More tracks by U2

  1. OneWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  2. Sunday Bloody SundayWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  3. YahwehWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  4. 1000 Times (feat. Lil Baby)Deep Thoughts
    3:24
  5. AlhamdulilahDeep Thoughts
    2:38
  6. American Obituary
    4:23
  7. American ObituarySongs of Surrender
    4:23
  8. American ObituaryDays Of Ash - EP
    4:23
  9. Can't Hide It (feat. Jhené Aiko)Deep Thoughts
    2:42
  10. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (W/Glen Hansard)Woody Guthrie Prize 2005

Showing 10 of 50

If you like U2

Bono

Passengers

Simple Minds

Simple Minds

INXS

INXS

R.E.M.

R.E.M.

Coldplay

Coldplay

—New Year's Day
  • —Like a Song
  • —Red Light
  • —Surrender
  • —The Refugee
  • —"40"
  • —Seconds
  • —Drowning Man
    • 2026
    Too Much Is Not Enough, The Last Italian Zooropa Show
    2025
    How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb
    How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb
    2024
    Deep Thoughts
    2:37
  • Monitoring MeDeep Thoughts
    2:25
  • AlhamdulilahDeep Thoughts
    2:38
  • UntouchableDeep Thoughts
    1:53
  • Notebook (No Hook)Deep Thoughts
    2:34
  • OpportunistDeep Thoughts
    2:36
  • Can't Hide It (feat. Jhené Aiko)Deep Thoughts
    2:42
  • Think You GlowedDeep Thoughts
    2:55
  • Late Checkout (feat. Hunxho)Deep Thoughts
    3:45
  • 1000 Times (feat. Lil Baby)Deep Thoughts
    3:24
  • Wonderin' AgainDeep Thoughts
    2:09
  • Soul BleedDeep Thoughts
    2:08
  • Keep On Sippin'Deep Thoughts
    2:49
  • They Want To Be You (feat. Future)Deep Thoughts
    2:47
  • Shaking When I PrayDeep Thoughts
    3:02
  • Vanish ModeDeep Thoughts
    2:03
  • Yours Eternally (feat. Ed Sheeran & Taras Topolia)
    4:26
  • The Tears Of Things
    5:25
  • Song Of The Future
    3:55
  • WildpeaceSongs of Surrender
    1:18
  • American Obituary
    4:23
  • One Life At A TimeSongs of Surrender
    4:04
  • Yours Eternally (feat. Ed Sheeran & Taras Topolia)Songs of Surrender
    4:26
  • One Life At A Time
    4:04
  • Song Of The FutureSongs of Surrender
    3:55
  • Wildpeace
    1:18
  • American ObituarySongs of Surrender
    4:23
  • The Tears Of ThingsSongs of Surrender
    5:25
  • Yours Eternally
  • The Tears Of ThingsDays Of Ash - EP
    5:25
  • Song Of The FutureDays Of Ash - EP
    3:55
  • Yours Eternally (feat. Ed Sheeran & Taras Topolia)Days Of Ash - EP
    4:26
  • One Life At A TimeDays Of Ash - EP
    4:04
  • WildpeaceDays Of Ash - EP
    1:18
  • American ObituaryDays Of Ash - EP
    4:23
  • YahwehWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • Running To Stand Still / This Train Is Bound For GloryWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • OneWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • RainWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (W/Glen Hansard)Woody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • Sunday Bloody SundayWoody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • Invisible (W/Glen Hansard, Kate Ellis And Jacknife Lee)Woody Guthrie Prize 2005
  • Intro / OneWoody Guthrie Prize 2005

    • View all tracks by U2 →

    Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Adam Clayton, Bono, Larry Mullen Jr., The Edge (Guitarist)
    Producer
    Steve Lillywhite
    Background Vocals
    Adriana Kaegi, Cheryl Poirier, Jessica Felton, Taryn Hagey
    READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2
    READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2READ MORE ABOUT U2
    U2 have announced two London stadium shows with Wolf Alice as part of their 2027 world tour
    News

    U2 have announced two London stadium shows with Wolf Alice as part of their 2027 world tour

    U2 will play two nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next June, with Wolf Alice supporting across the UK and European run.

    29 Oct 2026 • 12:23 pm
    U2 have announced an exclusive BBC Music concert in London
    News

    U2 have announced an exclusive BBC Music concert in London

    U2 will play songs from their catalogue and upcoming album ‘Carnaval De Luz’ at a central London show recorded for BBC Music next week.

    27 Oct 2026 • 9:25 pm
    Martin Garrix has announced his debut pop album ‘MARTY’ featuring U2 and Madonna
    News

    Martin Garrix has announced his debut pop album ‘MARTY’ featuring U2 and Madonna

    Martin Garrix’s 14-track debut pop album 'MARTY' arrives on 5th March 2027.

    21 Oct 2026 • 10:05 pm
    U2 will headline the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve halftime show
    News

    U2 will headline the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve halftime show

    U2 will perform at halftime when the Los Angeles Rams host the Green Bay Packers on 25th November, with the game streaming live on Netflix.

    21 Oct 2026 • 11:18 am
    Bono says Ed Sheeran was wary of politics on U2 collaboration ‘Yours Eternally’
    News

    Bono says Ed Sheeran was wary of politics on U2 collaboration ‘Yours Eternally’

    Bono has recalled Ed Sheeran asking whether U2’s ‘Yours Eternally’ would draw him into politics.

    30 Sept 2026 • 11:27 am
    Dolly Parton will feature on U2’s new song ‘Torn’
    News

    Dolly Parton will feature on U2’s new song ‘Torn’

    Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocal performance will close U2’s forthcoming album ‘Carnaval De Luz’.

    24 Sept 2026 • 10:00 pm