Biblical Allusions in U2’s “Tomorrow” (October, 1981)

“Tomorrow” by Bono in the anguish of his mother’s untimely demise, incorporates biblical imagery with his personal narrative of loss and longing for divine reassurance. It’s a plea for the presence and return of a loved one, against the backdrop of biblical promises of hope and restoration. The tearing of the temple curtain, as described in Mark 15:38, is a pivotal moment of divine revelation and the dissolution of barriers between the divine and humanity, resonating with the song’s theme of seeking solace and connection beyond the veil of death. Revelation 3:20’s depiction of Christ knocking at the door serves as a metaphor for an invitation to open one’s heart to healing and divine fellowship amidst grief. The reference to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), who has the power to make the blind see (Matthew 15:31), turns the song into a prayer for spiritual sight and healing. The anticipation of Christ’s return, promised in Acts 1:11, amplifies the song’s yearning for a reunion and the fulfillment of divine promises.

In discussing this song, Kootnikoff refers to Bono’s comment, “The lyrics are like a puzzle because, on October, I didn’t know what I was saying a lot of the time”(Kootnikoff, U2, p. 22). Stokes wrote that Bono initially framed “Tomorrow” in the context of Northern Ireland’s turmoil, before noting, “But Bono has been revisiting the song recently, and is in no doubt now about what had really been troubling him so deeply back then,” that is, his mother’s death (Stokes, U2, p. 28). McCormick quoted Bono’s comments about the origin of the lyrics: “‘Tomorrow’ was unconscious rambling…I guess a hearse is what I was thinking about.” (McCormick, U2 By U2, p. 116). Panacella noted that this song is the first instance of the word “believe” in U2’s lyrics (Panacella, “Like Faith Needs A Doubt”: U2 And The Theist/Nontheist Dialogue,” p. 162).

In weaving together personal loss, cultural identity, and spiritual longing with biblical allusions, “Tomorrow” emerges as a poignant reflection on the human condition, the search for meaning, and the hope for divine intervention and reconciliation.