“Rejoice” by U2 delves into the biblical themes of renewal, destruction, and the pursuit of joy amidst adversity, drawing on Jeremiah and the Psalms to enrich its lyrical and thematic depth. The song’s reflection on societal and personal upheaval finds a parallel in Jeremiah’s prophetic messages, specifically the tearing down and building up in Jeremiah 1:10, where God commissions the prophet to “uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
The exhortation to “Rejoice” in the song directly echoes the calls found throughout the Psalms, where rejoicing is often presented as a response to divine forgiveness and grace. Psalm 32:11, “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” specifically captures the essence of joy that emanates from experiencing God’s forgiveness and love. This Psalm, with its focus on the joy of forgiveness (Psalm 32:3-5), underlines the song’s message of finding peace and happiness through internal transformation and the acknowledgment of one’s transgressions before God.
Meynell’s analysis in “U2 and the Religious Impulse” highlights the psalmist’s command to rejoice as a response to divine forgiveness, reinforcing the song’s connection to biblical teachings on joy and redemption. The song’s exploration of overcoming shame and embracing divine acceptance aligns with Isaiah’s prophecy of joy in exchange for shame (Isaiah 61:7), pointing to joy’s transformative power (Meynell 93–94).
Bono’s introspective lyrics, coupled with the song’s development during a period of spiritual awakening within the band, underscore “Rejoice” as a reflection on personal and collective spiritual journeys. The lyric “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me” encapsulates the essence of the song, combining personal transformation with renewal and joy. Through “Rejoice,” Bono articulates a message of hope and internal change, rooted in the biblical traditions of lamentation and celebration, inviting listeners to experience the transformative power of faith and joy in the middle of life’s upheaval.
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Meynell, Mark. “‘You Carried the Cross of My Shame’: From Crippling Stigma to Infectious Joy in the Songs of U2.” Pages 87–103 in U2 and the Religious Impulse: Take Me Higher. Edited by Scott D. Calhoun. Bloomsbury Studies in Religion and Popular Music. London: Bloomsbury Press, 2018.