“Lemon” by U2 is one of the band’s most experimental and unconventional tracks, released in November 1993 as a single from their album Zooropa in Japan and Australia only.. The song represents U2’s deep dive into electronic music, alternative dance, and avant-garde pop, a stark departure from their traditional rock roots.
At the heart of “Lemon” is a hypnotic electronic groove, built on synthesizers, drum machines, and ambient textures. What makes it particularly striking is Bono’s falsetto vocal performance, which he uses throughout the song—something rare and unexpected for U2 at the time. The result is a track that’s sleek, cold, and somewhat alien, yet emotionally resonant.
“Lemon” explores themes of memory, time, and the fragility of capturing moments, inspired in part by home movies of Bono’s late mother, who died when he was 14. The “lemon” itself refers to the yellow tint of the old film footage. Beneath its mechanical surface, the song is about nostalgia, loss, and the desire to preserve fleeting beauty.
The accompanying music video, directed by Mark Neale, features Bono’s alter ego MacPhisto, a devilish lounge lizard character he developed during the Zoo TV/Zooropa era, adding a theatrical layer of irony and commentary on fame and artifice.
Despite its limited release, “Lemon” gained traction on alternative and club charts, especially due to its remixes, like the “Perfecto Mix” by Paul Oakenfold, which became a dancefloor staple. It also received some airplay on alternative radio stations and was part of U2’s larger experimentation with their Zooropa and Zoo TV era sound. “Lemon” became a cult favorite among fans, and reached the top of UK Club Chart, and Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart in the U.S. It’s a standout example of U2’s willingness in the early ’90s to challenge expectations and reinvent themselves, blurring the lines between rock, art, and electronic experimentation.
U2 – Lemon – Lyrics