Exit

The song Exit by U2 stands out for its haunting narrative, which delves into the mind of a serial killer. This piece originated from an extensive jam session that the band recorded in one take, giving it a raw and authentic energy. The creative process was fascinating: producer Daniel Lanois recalls that, although the recording was long, there was a fragment that possessed a special magic, which led to the decision to turn it into a song. The lyrics, inspired by Norman Mailer’s novel The Executioner's Song, seek to explore the psychology of a disturbed character, with Bono attempting to tell a story from the perspective of the killer.

Exit was recorded in November 1986 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, just before the release of the album The Joshua Tree on March 9, 1987. During those sessions, guitarist The Edge faced a setback when his equipment was mismanaged, leaving him with only a Bond Electraglide guitar, an instrument initially considered of poor quality. However, upon experimenting with it, the sound proved to be surprisingly powerful and gritty, adding a unique texture to the song. This combination of circumstances and the pursuit of an authentic sound led U2 to create one of their most memorable compositions, which not only became a cornerstone of their repertoire during the The Joshua Tree tour but also returned to their performances in 2017, celebrating three decades since its release.