My Sunday Song – “Paper Sun” by Def Leppard

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My Sunday Song #153, we are exploring the great song “Paper Sun” from the band’s 1999 album ‘Euphoria’.  The song was released as a single in the U.S., but to little fanfare despite it being one of the best songs on the album.

The song is about the Omagh terrorist bombing on August 15, 1998 in Northern Ireland.  Here is what wikipedia says about the bombing…

It was carried out by a group calling themselves the Real Irish Republican Army, a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) splinter group who opposed the IRA’s ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement. The bombing killed 29 people (including a woman pregnant with twins) and injured some 220 others, making it the deadliest single incident of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Lyrically and musically, the song is very dark and sad.  At over 5:26 minutes, the song takes you on a journey through the emotions of that sad day.  It feels like they are losing hope in humanity and in life.  The world is so fragile as if made of paper that could burn up in an instant.  Lyrics, like “Do you still hear ’em screamin'” is full of the pain that one would feel if they were at the bombing and could hear the cries for help and the cries of sorrow for those lost.

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The lyrics are so powerful and the band’s true musicianship is in full bloom.  The care they take with each note to pull the emotions out of the music are sensational.  Phil and Viv take extra care with each guitar note Rick Savage’s bass is the heartbeat and the soul of the song as Rick Allen’s drum beats have a soft touch of sadness with each strike.  Joe pours out his feelings with each lyric as it falls painfully from his lips and drips with a hidden anger that is ready to explode at any minute.  The guys out did themselves with this one.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Sunday (or you can after this).

“Paper Sun”

Does it hurt to remember
Does it help to forget
Do you know what you started
When you lit the fuse of regret

There’s not a reason why you’ve come undone
There’s nothing left to justify, this can’t go on
There’s nothing left inside as I walk this broken land

Cause you’re living on a paper sun
Blind to all the damage done
Living on a paper sun
Waiting for the tide to turn
Living on a paper sun
You can’t hide and you can’t run
All your dreams have come and gone
Living on a paper sun

Do you still hear ’em screamin’
And does the fear make you run
Is the anger inside of you
A gift from father to son

I don’t believe in you, you’ve come undone
I don’t believe in what you do, this can’t go on
I don’t believe in you as I walk this broken land

Cause you’re living on a paper sun
Blind to all the damage done
Living on a paper sun
Waiting for the tide to turn
Living on a paper sun
You can’t hide and you can’t run
All your dreams have come and gone
Living on a paper…..

You will discover the way to suffer
And like no other you feed the fire

There’s not a reason why you’ve come undone
There’s nothing left to justify, this can’t go on
There’s nothing left inside as I walk this broken land

Cause you’re living on a paper sun
Blind to all the damage done
Living on a paper sun
Waiting for the tide to turn
Living on a paper sun
Waiting for the night
All your dreams have come and gone

Written by Phill Collen, Vivian Campbell, Joe Elliott, Rick Savage and Pete Woodruff

13 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Paper Sun” by Def Leppard”

    1. Agreed, but when I was listening back for the ranking and then on the box set release, I found it to be much more enjoyable than I remembered. There a few really great tunes. I like it more now then I did then.

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  2. Good track for sure but could never really get into the album as a whole.
    Kinda the lost Leppard years for me. Bought I still purchased their stuff whenever it came out.

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      1. That’s cool! I will eventually get that second Box Set and will dig in. I would like that second one on vinyl but it’s way too pricey right now!
        Worst case scenario I’ll ask for it for Xmas! haha

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  3. Interesting contrast as the album name would lead me to believe the songs would be positive. I hadn’t realized DL had done so many darker tunes, it’s been interesting learning about them here

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