The Refugee
U2 · War
She's the refugee.
I see your face,
I see you staring back at me.
Oh, Oh
She's the refugee
Her mama say one day she's gonna
live in America.
In the morning,
She is waiting,
Waiting for the ship to sail,
Sail away.
Her papa go to war.
He gonna fight,
But he don't know what for.
Her papa go to war
Her mama say one day he's
gonna come back from far away.
Help me.
How can you help me?
In the evening,
She is waiting,
Waiting for her man to come.
And take her by her hand.
And take her to this promise land.
She's a pretty face,
But at the wrong time and at the wrong place.
She's a pretty face.
Her mama say one days she's gonna live in America.
Yeah, America.
She's a refugee.
She's coming amn, she's coming for company.
She's a refugee.
Her mama say one day she's gonna live in America.
The Refugee
The Refugee stands as a poignant song in U2's early discography, appearing on their 1983 album War. The track captures the band's signature blend of post-punk energy and anthemic rock, driven by The Edge's distinctive guitar work and Bono's impassioned vocals. Thematically, the song explores displacement and the search for belonging, reflecting the turbulent political climate of the early 1980s. It serves as a powerful example of the group's ability to weave personal emotion with broader social commentary. As part of the War era, the recording highlights the band's transition into a more mature sound, balancing introspection with the driving rhythms that would define their subsequent global success. The song remains a testament to U2's enduring capacity to address universal human experiences through their evolving musical landscape.