What is the meaning of U2's song 'pride in the name of love'?

Answer 1

I believe this song is about Martin Luther King Jr. It mentions April 4th, the day that King was assassinated. It also mentions Memphis. King was assassinated on the balcony of his room in the Lorraine Motel at 6:01 on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN.

I agree that the verse "Early mornin' April 4th, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last. They took your life but they could not take your pride." IS without a doubt referring to Martin Luther King Jr. But there are others as well that are mentioned.

"One man caught on a barbed wire fence" Could be referring to the Great Escape from the Stalag Luft III concentration camp during WWII. Of the 76 who escaped, only three - two Norwegians and a Dutchman - made it back to Britain, and most were not at liberty for long before being recaptured. 50 were shot by the Gestapo and four of the surviving most determined escapers were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp - apparently to die. Instead they all escaped again!

"One man he resist" could be anyone who stood up for a cause but the most likely is Ghandi for his peaceful disobedience in India. He was later assassinated for his beliefs.

"One man washed on an empty beach" is John F. Kennedy. He and 11 of his ship mates wound up marroned on a very sparsely populated island when the boat they were on was destroyed by a Japanese destroyer during WWII. Of course we all know Kennedy was later assassinated.

"One man betrayed with a kiss." That's a referrence to Jesus Christ. The gospels all describe his betrayal the same way: Judas Iscariot went to the Romans and was paid 30 pieces of silver for leading them to Jesus. He told them the man he kissed on the cheek was the one they wanted. Then he went to Jesus and said "teacher" then kissed him on the cheek. We all know what followed.

Obviously anything I've suggested is open to interpretation but I believe that this is the most likely interpretation. It's basically laying out a number of historical people that were willing to lay down their lives in order to make a stand and in doing so, did effect a real change in the world. Therefore: They can take your life, but they can never take your pride.