Every great songwriter has moments when inspiration takes an unexpected turn, when a song meant for one artist finds its true home elsewhere. For Bono, one of those moments came in the early 2000s, when he penned a deeply spiritual track intended for the legendary Nina Simone. That song would eventually become one of U2’s most haunting and introspective compositions: “Original of the Species.”
A Song Meant For A Legend
In interviews over the years, Bono has revealed that “Original of the Species”, a standout from U2’s 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, was originally written with Nina Simone in mind. At the time, Simone’s late-career renaissance had reignited interest in her fierce, soulful artistry, and Bono, ever the admirer, wanted to write something worthy of her voice and spirit.
“I wrote it for Nina Simone,” Bono once said. “To me, it’s like a prayer.”
The song’s tone and structure reflect that intention, intimate, reverent, and full of quiet power. Its melodies have the shape of a hymn, its lyrics carrying the weight of devotion and admiration. Bono later realized that the track also worked as a message to his daughters, blending themes of love, identity, and spiritual grace.
The Prayer Within The Pop Song
At first listen, “Original of the Species” seems like a simple love song, but beneath its surface lies something deeper, a meditation on self-acceptance and divine beauty. When Bono sings, “You are the first one of your kind,” it’s both an affirmation and a benediction, echoing the timeless reassurance of Simone’s own music: the belief that individuality itself is sacred.
Simone’s influence looms large in the song’s emotional gravity. Bono has often spoken of her as one of the purest embodiments of soul, an artist who could transform rage and pain into something transcendent. Writing a song “like a prayer” was his way of honoring that spiritual dimension she brought to every performance.
The U2 Touch
When U2 finally recorded “Original of the Species”, the band wrapped Bono’s heartfelt lyrics in a lush, cinematic arrangement. The Edge’s shimmering guitar lines and Larry Mullen Jr.’s restrained drumming gave the song a sense of spacious reverence, while Adam Clayton’s bass anchored it with quiet strength.
Producer Steve Lillywhite helped shape the track into one of the album’s most affecting moments, a mix of gospel uplift and rock vulnerability. Though it never became a major single, it earned praise for its sincerity and emotional depth, reminding fans that beneath U2’s grand gestures lay a core of spiritual intimacy.
Nina’s Spirit, U2’s Voice
While Nina Simone never recorded “Original of the Species,” her presence lingers in every note. Her influence on Bono — both as an activist and an artist — can be felt not only here but throughout U2’s work. Like Simone, Bono has always viewed music as a moral and spiritual force, a means of healing and awakening rather than just entertainment.
In that sense, “Original of the Species” is more than a tribute. It’s a bridge between two worlds, Simone’s raw, unfiltered emotion and U2’s sweeping, cathedral-like sound.
A Prayer That Found Its Voice
Looking back, the story of “Original of the Species” is quintessentially Bono: a song born out of admiration, faith, and a desire to connect. What began as a gift for one of the 20th century’s greatest voices became, instead, a meditation on grace that U2 made entirely their own.
“To me,” Bono said, “it’s like a prayer.” And indeed it is, a quiet hymn to individuality, beauty, and the enduring power of music to sanctify the human spirit.
Key Quote:
“I wrote it for Nina Simone. To me, it’s like a prayer.” – Bono
Essential Listen: “Original of the Species” (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004)
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