When I started this journey into U2 songs and their spirituality, I thought Unknown Caller would be the obvious choice for most spiritual song off No Line on the Horizon - as a telephone call from God, or to God. (Since my research, it seems that other songs are just as spiritual.) I didn’t love Unknown Caller until I heard it live on the 360 Tour in 2009, and now whenever I see the time 3:33 I think of Unknown Caller – just another U2ism to add to my repertoire. “3:33 when the numbers fell off the clock face” is probably a reference to Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” which Bono has referred to as God’s telephone number. Also if you look closely at the cover of All That You Can’t Leave Behind, you will notice J33:3. Once he reaches God in Unknown Caller, ”Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak.” This may be in reference to Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
do you see the J33:3 on the left?
Sunshine, sunshine
Sunshine, sunshine
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
I was lost between the midnight and the dawning
In a place of no consequence or company
3:33 when the numbers fell off the clock face
Speed dialling with no signal at all
Go, shout it out, rise up
Oh, oh
Escape yourself, and gravity
Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak
Shush now
Oh, oh
Force quit and move to trash
I was right there at the top of the bottom
On the edge of the known universe where I wanted to be
I had driven to the scene of the accident
And I sat there waiting for me
Restart and re-boot yourself
You’re free to go
Oh, oh
Shout for joy if you get the chance
Password, you, enter here, right now
Oh, oh
You know your name so punch it in
Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak
Shush now
Oh, oh
Then don’t move or say a thing
