Anybody know what Salome means in the U2 song?

Tom Mahieu

unread,

Sep 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/23/97

to

Salome was a stripper at the time of John the Baptist. The king wanted
her to dance for him and he offered her anything that she wanted in return
for the dance. He even offered her half of his kingdom. So she danced
for him and in return she asked for John the Baptist's head on a plate.
So the king complied and gave it to her...
Tom

On Tue, 23 Sep 1997, Jeff Crawley wrote:

> My friend asked what Salome means?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> -Jeff
>
>
>
>
>

"i think there's something wrong with me cuz i don't fit in"

Jeff Crawley

unread,

Sep 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/23/97

to

sw2day

unread,

Sep 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/24/97

to

Isn't it a girls name??

Jeff Crawley wrote in article

> My friend asked what Salome means?
>
> Any ideas?

Mark

utopia

unread,

Sep 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/24/97

to

"Jeff Crawley" <jcra...@az.com> writes: > My friend asked what Salome means?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> -Jeff

Check the link near the bottom of my page:

Who is Salome?

http://members.aol.com/Utopa/

JohnDoe636

unread,

Sep 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/24/97

to

She was the daughter of Herodius and is said to have caused the beheading
of JOhn the Baptist----it should be in any encyclopedia if you want more

BugJar

unread,

Sep 25, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/25/97

to

Salome is a biblical figure....a dancer. Was always causing trouble.

Paolo Malatesta

unread,

Sep 27, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/27/97

to

Generally, stemming from these descriptions in the Bible, the theme of
Salome is widely used in art (esp in the late 19th early 20th century).
Salome is thought of as a very vunerable, soft woman who can turn on you in
a second, become overbearing and downright mean. As much as U2's into art,
my bet is that it's a little more leaning towards that. Salome is a woman.

> This little bit comes from my web-page:
>
> 1. A female disciple of Jesus, named in the Gospel according to Mark.
> She was present at the crucifixion (Mk. 15:40) and at the burial (16:1).
> Associated with Mary the mother of Jesusutopia <uto...@telis.org> wrote
in article <60d17i$s9j$1...@mentor.telis.org>...
, and Mary the mother of James
> and John. Salome figures prominently in the gospels, suggesting that
> women played a greater role in the ministry of the gospel than commonly
> supposed.
> 2. The daughter of Herodias by her first husband Herod Philip; not
> identified by name in the gospels, but by Josephus (Ant. xviii.5.4).
> According to the gospel sources (inferred, perhaps, by Josephus), Salome
> pleased Herod the Great (her step-father) by her dancing. Herod offered
> to grant her any request, and at the behest of her mother, asked of the
> head of John the Baptist. Herodias was upset over John’s denouncement of
> her marriage to Herod the Great (Herod Philip’s brother, whom Herod G.
> killed). Salome was the subject of Oscar Wilde’s play of the same name,
> which was banned in England, and published in France. Richard Straus
> later committed Wilde’s work to music (opera). In literature, Salome
> represents the seductive dancer-type, and is probably the inspiration
> for the U2 tune.
> That the gospel writers never call the daughter of Herodias by name is
> worth noting, but this point is not important. It is written that the
> names of the good appear in the Book of Life, and I wonder where upon
> her name is written. What was the sum of her life? Did she ever
> contribute to the poor? Help the helpless? Give care to the sick? Or did
> she follow in the footsteps of her mother? We too have a choice to make,
> between good and bad, love and hate. To “call upon the name of Christ”
> is to choose right over wrong, creation over the individual, God over
> self. Whereupon shall your name be written?
> ACTS 4:12
>
> http://members.aol.com/Utopa/
>
> and try:
>
> http://members.aol.com/Womanfish/
>

BugJar

unread,

Sep 27, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/27/97

to

Has Salome ever been performed live and if so does anyone have a live
recording of this song?

Bugjar

James or Lisa Stapleton

unread,

Sep 27, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/27/97

to

Peace

Jeff Crawley wrote:

> My friend asked what Salome means?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> -Jeff

--
Sincerely,
James & Lisa Stapleton

Salome06

unread,

Oct 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM10/4/97

to

>Salome is a biblical figure....a dancer. Was always causing trouble.
>
>

Hey..gotta stick with what you do best........
...........you don't know me by any chance, do you? :))

Salome....just over here untieing the knot...

'Steve' A. Stevens

unread,

Oct 10, 1997, 3:00:00 AM10/10/97

to

I saw the Oscar Wilde play "Salome" last month and the U2 song was used
during her "Dance of the Seven Veils" that she does for King Herod.
Basically, Herod lusts after his own stepdaughter Salome, promises her
anything if she will only dance for him. She agrees to the dance, then
asks for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Herod is
horrified by her request, and after much pleading with her to change her
mind, finally gives her what she wants. The great line in the song is when
Bono sings, "Baby, I feel sick, don't make me stick to my promise,
Salome."

____________________________________________________________________

Steve Fredd Stevens
fste...@u.washington.edu
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~fstevens/