What Makes This Song Great? "In God's Country" U2 

For 32 years, every time I’ve bought a new stereo, new speakers, new car, new house, whatever, Joshua Tree is the first CD to go in.

The Joshua Tree isn't just an album...it's an experience. One of the greatest albums of all time...period.

Love his comment about Larry Mullen filling an arena. When I saw them, the last song of the show was 40, and while the crowd sang the chorus, the band left one by one until it was just us and Larry for about a minute. Then he got up and walked off, we kept singing another couple times through, the lights came up, show over. The most satisfying end of any concert I've ever been to.

This is my favorite band of all time. They are simple and complex at the same time. I feel like they write emotions...not songs. I need them...like oxygen.

The reason U2 don’t get the respect they deserve these days is because they still exist. When they’ve gone, there’ll be a documentary or a movie like Bohemian Rhapsody and people will tear up watching it. They had a grandiosity and power at their peak that few bands ever achieve. Overshadowed nowadays by a few mediocre albums and the endless potshots from comedians, musicians who’ll never achieve anything and every second idiot on the internet.

"Perfect albums" series, yes!

I still remember buying this, my very first rock cassette tape, at Sam Goody in 1990. I was 11. The cashier said "The first three songs are the best starting three songs off any album you will ever hear." I agree

My bass drum technique is not one of my strengths .... I remember listening to a demo of pride and tried to play a beat just using the kick and the snare. I couldn't get the bass drum to do what I wanted So I got a floor tom down and did I what use to do which was basically if I couldn't psychially do what was necessary I found another way around it. At the time I couldn't do what most people consider a normal beat when it came to songs so I used alternatives... The snare rolls on pride demo where pretty straight until bono told me it didn't sound right . so I spent hours trying things out until I came up with build ups and accents you hear on the song. You give things to get something else my career as all ways ran on my complete lack of expertise when it came to drumming.

Good to hear you shout out Larry Mullen. So underrated.

The Joshua Tree is a masterpiece. No doubt one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

Few bands ever make a masterpiece album, and even fewer make two. U2 is in that second category with Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.

This is why i love you beato. I've been defending U2 for so long. They are all truly incredible musicians. Love you man

Red Hill Mining Town is my favorite song from that album. That chorus is phenomenal.

Ricks is easily providing the highest quality content across all existing media platforms. This is a feast for the mind and soul. So glad that Rick has found RU-vid and is sharing his passion with us.

I like that you went for a deep cut instead of Where The Streets Have No Name. That said: WTSHNN is a damned perfect song.

One of the best vocal performance i have ever heard in my life : " Red hill mining town "

Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen jr are both incredibly underrated. One of the best rhythm sections imo

U2 have always helped me move forward in life.

The first time I heard "With or Without You" from this album...I felt something I've never felt from any song...magical emotion.

Adam Clayton is critical to the songs because he's frequently not just playing a bass line, he's playing a melody over which The Edge provides his atmospheric sounds or rhythmic parts. It's a pretty unique arrangement.

Well done. And 100% agree about Adam and Larry. Under-appreciated.

Thank you so much for pointing that out about Adam Clayton.. The guy wrote the book on tasteful bass parts in pop songs. Love this guy. So many great examples throughout U2 songs.

They are just so good. With Or Without You was the #1 song when I was born. Just so, so, so many beautiful and profound songs. Also, his voice is killer. Just one of a kind. There is so much emotion...Red Hill Minning Town (enough said)

The thing about Bono is that in the studio he sings the whole song through, often with the whole band performing (just like a REAL band from back in the day!!). No cut and paste, no auto-tune, just the band "live". That's why he can do it on stage while running around like a lunatic!

Larry is a BADASS drummer! Solid timing, he never got quantized, and he created some iconic drum parts. I play drums in a U2 tribute band, I've learned to appreciate his work. These songs would not work with different drum parts. Also I love Adam on bass. I personally believe every bass player should play like that. Great video!

YES!! We need to see the "perfect albums" video soon!!

One of the things I love about this song is that it takes me back to when I first heard Edge's guitar on Boy and October. When it was the very first time we heard the driving rhythm/lead guitar sounds he innovated. No one else plays like that, even today. And what does it allow him to do? Create movement and tension INFINITELY, and then BREAK it, whenever he wants to. As he does in this song when he breaks it down to play lead. So smart. Signature U2.

Bono is a prolific poet and one of the best lyricists of the English language 👌

I miss this U2 so much... a masterpiece for sure, great video rick

How many bands have been together over 40 years and still have the original members? I bet it's a small list. Thanks for this!

The nuances in Bono's voice are my personal favorite parts

We want another U2 What makes this song great 👏🏼👏🏼

This has always been their best song. It has very strong lyrics and a groove that moves oh so smoothly. "She is liberty, She comes to rescue me, hope , faith and vanity, and her greatest gift is gold. Naked flame, I stand with the son`s of Cain, burned by the fire of love."

Fantastic choice, but hard to pick a bad U2 song at that time. They were killing it every album!

Bono is an unbelievably good singer. He still sings as well as he used to 40 years ago. I hope to see U2 live before they retire.

Brian Eno is a brilliant genius.

My absolute favorite U2 album has to be The Unforgettable Fire, it’s also in my top five favorite EVER. That string of albums, from that to Achtung Baby, and imo even War, are some the absolute greatest pieces of art ever created.

One thing I think has hurt rock music through the years is the counter-culture against bands that get really big like U2

I totally agree, this is definitely one of Bono n Co's best unsung songs. Another of my favorites lyrically is "Running to Stand Still": the lyrics on this song are some of the most melancholy, touching lyrics I know.

I cut my teeth on the drums learning to play all of Larry Mullen's drum lines. Also, two standout Adam Clayton basslines that no one talks about: New Years Day and Love Comes Tumbling.

Thank you so much for sharing so much of your huge knowledge with us. You turn internet into something meaningful. Thankful from Brazil.

Thanks Rick! U2 is by far one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Say what you will about personalities in the band. They KILL it live. Seen them twice. Unreal.

Unforgettable Fire. 😎

You’re totally right,about U2’s Live performances Rick,I’ve seen them 5 times in Toronto...unbelievable! The intensity of U2 and and the palpable excitement of the audience was magical🤗🇨🇦

What I love about U2, more than anything, is that their music is about SOMETHING. They don't write songs that brag about how great their songs are, they don't simply write songs about sex positions or body parts or things that rely on some sort of sonic novelty. The write about being human both from within that and beyond. I hope their last act as a group comes at a point in musical history that gets them celebrated properly. They have had much to say and said it in many beautiful songs.

My favourite band of all time. I'd go as far as to say they've changed my life. Amazing. PLEASE do more U2 tracks 👌

u2 zoo tv live in sydney - is one of the best live recording ever.

I discovered U2 first with the song "The unforgettable fire" from the album of the same name. At the time I didn't notice how high the quality of the band is. I discovered the unbelievable quality and talent when listening to "The Joshua Tree". And there, my favorite song is "Red Hill Mining Town". Absolutely unbelievable! But when you discuss the "Rattle and hum", you cannot go without a note about "Hawkmoon 269". This is my favorite U2 song. Yes, "In God's Country" is a great song. When you are 14 like I was at the time, you feel that "Where the streets have no name" might be better because "In God's Country" was different to all the stuff that european teenagers could hear on the radio. I like the song, especially the additional Oh-Oh-Oh-singing.

12:19 "Me being a producer and hearing people do vocal takes, there are very few people that can come in and just nail it in one take." That was cute!

I was born 4 years after the release of Joshua Tree but I grew up listening to it endlessly with my dad in our living room... Lights out, we both silently lying on the floor in warm summer nights, we would only stand up to change sides of the vinyl. He would eventually tell me stories of when he was listening to a particular song in a particular situation and it always filled my imagination. Those are memories I treasure so much and I have them across my whole childhood and that was when I learned how to listen to music. It seems obvious but it's not, truly appreciate music goes way beyond just listening and I feel so privileged I was taught that from early age, especially nowadays with streaming making music a product to be quickly consumed. Thanks for the analysis Rick, I love this song so much and it's usually underrated among the biggest hits in the record. I could tell in a moment that you got carried away and it was actually beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us your passion, which is also ours.

I totally agree, The Joshua Tree is a perfect Album. I love U2. I would listen to the album and go to another place. Awesome!

Hello all! Just would like to say, I'm 66 and I remember the 60's, music has been a constant through my life, universal language! That said, U2 have/& continue to make my soul soar! They are a conduit of Love! I know that ppl trip/misinterpret Bono, but Irish humor, tongue-in-cheek, we all have a bit of Bono! They are "together" as One! I am grateful for ALL they have done, and continue to do! Many Blessings to all, and Rick you are such an inspiration! Thank you for being you!

Saw them live during the Joshua Tree tour, and it might have been my favorite concert ever. And my friends and I were watching from obstructed view, behind-stage seats....no matter, we were blown away. You're dead right about them being every bit as good live as in the studio.

My first year of college was when Rattle and Hum came out, and at the time I had a little of my own money and spent it on one of the best walkmans I'd ever owned. It sounded fantastic. It even had ear buds way before ear buds were a thing. I bought Rattle and Hum, but waited to listen to it until I was taking a long walk home from "studying" late at night. I'll never forget how blown away I was by that album. It sounded fantastic over headphones, and I could just get lost in it. What a great time to be alive.

I just searched your page and this is the only U2 video! This is unacceptable, please do the right thing and make MORE U2 VIDEOS!!!!

I'm an amateur guitarist and producer who's been writing and recording instrumentals for a few years now and leaving space in the bass line is something I discovered pretty early on. Its amazing how much it can add to a song. It can actually change an entire song if its done correctly.

I saw U2 on the Joshua Tree tour at the San Diego Sports Arena - acoustically THE worst place I have ever seen a show. My seat was pretty much as far away from the stage as you could get. To this day it is one of my favorite concerts I have ever seen. They just killed it. And it is a phenomenal album. Thanks Rick!

I’ve never clicked on a video so fast! U2’s one of my all time favorite bands. 🤘🏽🔥

In God's country has always one of my favorite tunes of all time!!! Thank you for this. You're right..Larry is a machine, Adam is a fantastic bass player who's lines have defined their tunes in ways most people don't realize. It is such a gift to see you break this tune down. Bono was talking about dreamers long before anyone knew what that meant. Song always gives me chills

U2 is my favorite band ever, and this song is amazing. The Joshua Tree like you say is perfect! !!!

Rick! This song brings up a great point-the relationship between the bassist (or drummer) and the guitarist. A great video would be calling out the best pairings. I’m thinking of people like Michael Anthony who played very basic bass parts so that Eddie could shred or the reverse in many RHCP songs.

I love this series...and I always feel " smarter" after watching! Thanks Rick!!

Mate may I thank you for an excellent breakdown of one of my favourite U2 songs. These days people seem to dismiss them as irrelevant & maybe their best days our behind them, but it’s albums like The Joshua Tree, The Unforgettable Fire & Achtung Baby that makes them one of the greatest bands of all time & they truly deserve to be held in such high esteem. Easily up there with The Beatles, The Stones & The Who!!

A legendary band. They deserve every record sale. History will treat them well.

Finally someone gives "Forever Young" Larry the credit he deserves...

I'd love to see Rick break down One Tree Hill.

The best live band I have ever seen. They play stadiums of 100.000 people and somehow make you feel like they play just for you. I think Bono is known more for his political and charity side these days, but you summed up what‘s at the core of it. An utterly magnificient singer.

Great tune, great album, great band. One of the quotes from Bono/Edge that I love was their discussion on why there is a lack of "great bands" today. The short version is that "bands are not allowed to fail". "Boy" was not great. "October" was better but still not great. It wasn't until their 3rd album and 8ish years together that they really started to nail their sound. They credit a patient record company and industry as one of the reasons for their success. Pretty interesting perspective.U2 utilizes texturing and space so well. They don't overlap and let each other have room to exist. One of the few bands where Drums, Bass, and Guitar can exist without overlap. So many bands are heavy handed in that regard.

I remember, way back in the day, reading the book "U2: At the End of the World" by Bill Flanagan. Larry Mullen Jr. is quoted something to the effect of, "I want to take some time off and just become a really great drummer". I had no idea what he was talking about. "YOU ALREADY ARE GREAT, LARRY!" He's a lot like Ringo: not technically gifted or flashy, but able to play EXACTLY the right notes in EXACTLY the right places to carry and ELEVATE (haha!) the song to the highest possible level.

Bono's vocals = perfection! His phrasing and passion behind every single word are incredibly emotive. Just little things like, singing the same "G" as the top note on the verse, and then on the second verse, flipping to falsetto on the word "greatest." It gives that moment a bit of tenderness in the midst of what feels like angst.

They are Just a DAMM Great Band ! I´ve seen em Live in 1993 in Stuttgard Germany (Cannstadter Vasen, the Biggest Open Air Place in Germany ) they where maybe 100 000 Peoples there .. it was the Zooropa Tour and it WAS JUST GIGANTIC ... The Sound was PHENOMENAL !!! I will Never forget this day

Hello Mr. Beato. We are dying to get more U2 songs analysis from you. The world needs it

Adam writes PERFECT melodic bass hooks. For a great use of space look at "Mysterious Ways"

Thanks for putting in a lot of work and taking a risk doing a U2 video. Very helpful words on Larry. That guy is a machine. They all are in a way.

my son is called Joshua because of this album. ❤

My family (three at home and one in the office..me) called 3400 times one day to get tickets to U2 Vancouver concert. We got 6! My son got to stand in Bono's sweat spray. Awesome concert with local cable on multiple screens, a flying car, and an acoustic song out on a long runway into the crowd. I'll never forget it!

This was a fantastic video, Rick. PLEASE do more on U2. I've recently become a huge fan, and I'd love to learn more about them, especially your take on it all.

Another great analysis of a super tune. You always seem to find a little hook that many of us miss, on the structure, space, techniques applied by the band/engineers. Thanks Rick

Rick beato you're easily the only guy who is keeping the bastion of rock genre (in all its entirety i.e. hard, metal, techno, grunge, punk, prog etc.) alive and making it accessible to understand the ethos behind what makes an album, a song great which we laymen know and feel but lack the complexity and the knowledge to articulate absolute godly service you are providing and leaving a thesis of knowledge behind which future people can utilize kudos !!

I love U2's old stuff. And I don't care what critics say: I love both the Rattle and Hum movie and album. Self-indulgent? Whatever. It's good. Anyway I would love to hear just the Edge's tracks.

What a great album and song for this series. Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois...legends. Joshua Tree was my first U2 record, but I was born in 1990 and didn't hear it until 2007 - 20 years after it first came out. And then life changed! Been to every U2 tour since then. They started writing this song when Edge was stuck and Bono said, "It's easy to write a song - just one chord after the other." Edge was annoyed and said, "It's not that easy," and Bono grabbed a guitar and started playing the chords for "In God's Country." That Adam bass line is delicious. Space is part of Edge's brilliance too - filling in the spaces around Bono's lyrics. I definitely agree that this song was not fully-realized on record.

Yes finally! I’m so happy to see this! I have been waiting. I love U2. The Edge is the reason I started playing guitar and I’m 17.

I first heard The Joshua Tree when I was driving home from Barrie, Ontario after covering a Junior B hockey playoff game between the Barrie Jr. Colts and Burlington Cougars. There was a massive, scary snowstorm and I was driving on the sometimes equally scary Hwy. 400. Toronto rock radio station Q107 played this new album and I was gobsmacked. I knew it was an instant classic. It still holds up more than very well 34 years later. It was U2's peak although Rattle and Hum was pretty fantastic too. Love the album War as well. New Year's Day might be my favourite U2 tune followed closely by Pride, Sunday, Bloody Sunday, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky and Red Hill Mining; Seconds is such a superb unknown song from War.

Joshua Tree was released 2 days after I was born, so it's tradition to play the whole album cranked up when I visit my folks to celebrate. So many amazing memories with this album.

Wonderful job explaining some of the reasons why U2 is a great band. They often don't receive the respect they deserve.

I think the C in the second chorus was a happy studio accident that they retained for the live versions. I've seen live versions where all the choruses for this song have the C. This was the pinnacle of Bono's vocal performances. At that time, he was using his voice with as much variety as the Edge uses effects. He could go anywhere he wanted to at this time, vocally. Thanks for reviewing this incredible song, everyone else focuses on the big three from this album.

Great channel! Professor Rick has it all figured out!😁👍

I wish he did “Trip Through Your Wires”...that’s fantastic

Jars of Flies for the album series!

From their early days and later I was blown away how U2 songs often highlight the "Maj 5 interval sound". There is something about removing the strong presence of the Major third that, for me, creates a sense of yearning and hunger in their songs. It creates this "honest", "pure" sensation and adds incredible power to their music. They actually changed the way I "heard" chords. It's a little bit like the tonality of Gregorian Chants in monastic music. Transcendent, soulful. A spiritual, powerful feeling. All that emotion coming simply from music... really amazing. Take "Pride (In the name of love)"... It starts in the key of E on the 5th goes to 1 then to 4. (B, E, A). Such an interesting song. Does it change keys when the lyrics come in? Now we're in the key of B? What exactly is the chord on the beginning of the phrase... "One man come in the name of love"? Is is major? Or minor? It sounds like B, Eb, E. Which would be the Maj7 4 chord in the key of B... So they're playing Emaj7, with the 5th (B) as the root? I'm not hearing G# in there... (the third of Emaj7). So I mostly get the 5th sound again. I think it creates intensity and tension. Amazing song. Thank you for this video Rick!

Love what you pointed out about "space" in this song - esp. the bass. Very valuable lesson for songwriting. Pleasantly surprised you would choose this underrated song out of all the far more popular U2 songs - even from JT. Would like to see you do "Electrical Storm" in a future edition. There's a lot of interesting chord changes in that song, as well as techniques, fills and sounds. Another underrated U2 song... Maybe never has been a better live performance band!

Went to the Joshua Tree 30th anniversary concert at the Superdome in New Orleans a couple of years ago--those guys are getting older but you'd never know it. Greatest concert experience I've ever been to

Perfect album series sounds amazing

Underrated song

The Edge doesnt get enough credit .. not as a guitar virtuoso .. he surely isnt .. but creatively .. his licks are instantly recognisable ..

Hey Rick... love love love your channel! Really hope you can cover another U2 song sometime in the future. (My favourite band).

My favorite U2 song!

Thank you Rick! My first U2 album was October which I got just before War was released. I remember going to the record store before it was open waiting to buy the Cassette of Joshua Tree so I could listen on my way to school on my Walkman. I played Joshua Tree so much I bought my second copy in less than a month as I ruined it. I got the sheet music for the album and I played and played. I knew every chord every nuance on that album. That album got me through troubled times as a teenager - in some ways I owe my love of music from this album. Again thank you Rick

This album and its predecessor both deserve a "What makes this album great?" episode apiece.

You could do a whole day of great U2 songs & i would watch it all