Editing How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (section)

==Composition==
As with ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'', this album finds U2 returning to "more 'stripped down' rock and pop sounds", according to musicologist Susan Fast.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fast|first=Susan|chapter=Music, Contexts, and Meaning in U2|editor1-last=Everett|editor1-first=Walter|editor-link=Walter Everett (musicologist)|year=2008|title=Expression in Pop-rock Music: Critical and Analytical Essays|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415979597|page=176}}</ref>

[[Adam Clayton]] said of ''Atomic Bomb'', "It's very much a guitar record. "[[Vertigo (U2 song)|Vertigo]]", "Love and Peace", "[[City of Blinding Lights]]", "[[All Because of You (U2 song)|All Because of You]]", all pretty up, rocky tunes. A lot of them are a kick-back to our very early days, so it's like with each year we have gathered a little bit more and this is what we are now."

In 2003, Bono said one of their new songs called "Full Metal Jacket" was "the mother of all rock songs" and "the reason to make a new album". A similar demo called "Native Son" was also recorded. Both of these demos would later become "Vertigo".

Contemporary [[Christian music|Christian]] artist [[Michael W. Smith]] joined the band in the studio during the ''Atomic Bomb'' sessions and worked on at least one track with them, entitled "North Star". That track, which was a tribute to [[Johnny Cash]], has not yet surfaced officially or unofficially in any form. A song introduced by Bono as "North Star" was played in [[Turin]] during the U2 360° Tour; however, it is unknown whether or not this is the same song that was worked on during the sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefish.com/music/interviews/1300442/Michael-W.-Smith%3a--Ready-for-His-Close-up/|title=Michael W. Smith: Ready for His Close-up|first=Roberta|last=Crouteau|work=[[CCM Magazine]]|date=30 November 2004|access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u2.com/news/title/torino-torino|title=Torino, Torino...|work=U2.com|publisher=[[Live Nation]]|access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> Other tracks, such as "Shark Soup" (another version of "Vertigo"), "Lead Me in the Way I Should Go", and "You Can't Give Away Your Heart", were referenced in the media and by the band themselves, but have not been released.

{{listen |pos=right |filename=u2cityofblindinglights.ogg |title="City of Blinding Lights" (2004) |description="City of Blinding Lights" is one of the tracks which reflects back to the band's earlier work. |format=[[Ogg]]}}

The very earliest versions of "Love and Peace or Else" originated during the recording sessions for ''All That You Can't Leave Behind''. It serves as ''Atomic Bomb''{{'}}s "big plea for peace" song, following in the footsteps of "[[Sunday Bloody Sunday (song)|Sunday Bloody Sunday]]", "[[Miss Sarajevo]]", "[[Please (U2 song)|Please]]", and "[[Peace on Earth (U2 song)|Peace on Earth]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://u2sermons.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_u2sermons_archive.html#110470982697928180|title=The root cause of a lot of the problems in politics is hardness of the heart.|publisher=U2 Sermons|date=12 January 2005|access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> During performances on the [[Vertigo Tour]], "Love and Peace Or Else" featured Mullen moving out to the center of the [[ellipse]]-shaped ramp, where he played a floor tom and crash cymbal for the majority of the song. Near the end, Bono took over and played the drum until the song segued into the opening drumbeat of "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Most live performances of the song also saw Mullen singing the "release, release, release, release" part during the chorus alongside Bono.

"Crumbs from Your Table" is about the relationship between Western countries and developing countries. The verses and chorus address the relationship from the perspective of citizens from the developing world, focusing on the disparity between the long-term socioeconomic planning stressed by the West ("You speak in signs and wonders") and the developing world's immediate need for sustenance ("But I'm begging for the crumbs from your table"). One line ("You speak in signs and wonders") was meant as a criticism of the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>McCormick (2006)</ref> The bridge ("Where you live should not decide / Whether you live or whether you die") is statement from Bono that follows with the theme in his speeches in which he tries to raise awareness about African poverty. Bono stated on a bonus DVD included with special editions of the album that the band has no recollection of writing the song, as they were intoxicated at the time. A studio performance is also included on the aforementioned bonus DVD. It was only played a handful on times during the third leg of the Vertigo Tour.<ref>{{cite web |title=U2 Setlist Archive-U2 Vertigo Tour Leg III/North America |url=http://www.u2setlists.com/vertigo-leg3.shtml |publisher=u2setlists.com |access-date=8 September 2009}}</ref>

"One Step Closer" is a slow tempo song, with Bono's lyrics centered around traffic images, leading to the singer being stranded on a [[refuge island]]. The origins of the song go back to the ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' sessions.<ref name="u2byu2">McCormick (2006), p. 325</ref> It was revived for ''Atomic Bomb'', with Lanois introducing a [[pedal steel guitar]], in addition to guitars from the Edge and Bono, and musical influences varying from [[country music]] to [[The Velvet Underground]] making themselves felt.<ref name="u2byu2"/> One recording of the song ran for more than 15 minutes, with Bono adding many verses that were subsequently dropped.<ref name="u2byu2"/> Jacknife Lee also contributed to the final form of the recording.<ref name="int">[http://www.u2achtung.com/00/htdaab/interview.php Interview with Bono and Edge for promotion of How to Dismantle ...], u2achtung.com, undated.</ref> "One Step Closer" is billed in the album with thanks to [[Noel Gallagher]] of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]. The title of the song comes from a conversation Bono had with Gallagher about Bono's dying father, Bob Hewson. Bono asked, "Do you think he believes in God?" to which Gallagher replied, "Well, he's one step closer to knowing."<ref name="u2byu2"/> Through the end of the Vertigo Tour, the song had never been performed in any U2 concert. The title of the album derives from a lyric in the song "Fast Cars", which was only available on some versions of the album.