U2 Drops Surprise EP 'Days of Ash' with Powerful Tribute to Minneapolis Mother
In a stunning and unexpected move, the legendary Irish rock band U2 has released a surprise six-track EP titled Days of Ash. The collection, unveiled on Ash Wednesday, represents the band's first major release of new material since 2017. The opening track, American Obituary, serves as a poignant and emotional tribute to Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis mother of three who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in January.
American Obituary: A Song of Fury and Mourning
Frontman Bono described the EP as an urgent artistic response to current events, specifically highlighting individuals fighting on the front lines of freedom. The tribute track to Renee Good contains stark, graphic, and deeply emotional lyrics that directly reference her death and her children.
The song opens with the lines: Renee Good, born to die free. American mother of three. Seventh day, January. A bullet for each child, you see. It continues with vivid imagery tied to the shooting moment in Minneapolis: The colour of her eye. 930 Minneapolis. To desecrate domestic bliss. Three bullets blast, three babies kissed. Renee, the domestic terrorist?
Political Reckoning and Spiritual Anguish
The chorus invokes a broader political and moral reckoning for the nation: America will rise against the people of the lie. The lyrics also delve into spiritual anguish and grief, questioning divine intervention: I am not mad at you, Lord. You're the reason I was there. Could you stop a heart from breaking, by having it not care? Could you stop a bullet in mid-air?
Furthermore, the band critiques broader immigration enforcement operations within the song, referencing scenes from American life: In the streets with children playing. In the churches where they're praying. School teachers are explaining. America, America. The power of the people!
Bono characterized the song as a song of fury as well as mourning. He expressed that it reflects grief not just for Renee but for the death of an America that at the very least would have had an inquiry into her killing.
Family and Band Emphasize Peace and Unity
The song's release was accompanied by statements from Renee Good's family. Her widow, Becca Good, described Renee as a deeply compassionate person. Renee didn't just believe in kindness; she lived it, fully and fiercely, Becca said. She believed every person deserved the same compassion, care and dignity regardless of who they were.
Good's parents and siblings stated that the band's tribute honored her legacy and mirrored the urgency of the country's situation. Bono added, These songs were impatient to be out in the world. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation.
This release follows similar musical responses from other artists, including Bruce Springsteen, who recently dedicated his song Streets of Minneapolis to Good and others killed during immigration enforcement operations.
The Tragic Death of Renee Nicole Good
Renee Nicole Good was a Minneapolis-based poet and mother of three. She was fatally shot on January 7 during an enforcement operation conducted by ICE. According to federal officials, Good was accused of interfering with agents and allegedly attempted to flee in her vehicle, prompting an officer to open fire. Authorities reported that multiple shots were fired, with three striking her.
Officials in the previous administration, including then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, labeled Good a domestic terrorist, claiming she attempted to run over an ICE officer while fleeing. Her family and supporters have vehemently disputed this official account, arguing she was unfairly targeted and wrongly blamed.
Her death ignited protests in Minneapolis and beyond, with activists and civil rights advocates demanding accountability and reforms to immigration enforcement practices. Good's family has since pursued legal action and public advocacy, portraying her as a compassionate individual whose death has become a symbol in the national debate over immigration, law enforcement authority, and civil liberties.
A Call for Reflection and Justice
U2 stated that American Obituary was intended not only as a tribute to Renee Good but also as a call for reflection, justice, and unity during what they described as a deeply divided moment in American society. The surprise EP Days of Ash marks a significant and politically charged return for the band, using their platform to address urgent social issues and memorialize a life tragically lost.
