War cover
War · Track 3 · 1983

New Year's Day

Studio Version

Visit the song discussion

Lyrics

Read the lyrics and recording notes for this version at U2Songs.

Read lyrics at U2Songs ↗

Song Propaganda

The documented history below belongs to the song's original single or specifically named recording/video—not automatically to this album's mix, live performance or re-recording. Single-era reference: 1983.

Chart positions

  • Ireland — Singles peak: 2 Source
  • UK — Singles peak: 10 Source
  • US — Billboard Hot 100 peak: 53 Source

Certifications

No song-specific certification has been verified for this entry. The album's certification does not certify each track.

Grammys & other honours

No work-specific award win has been verified for this entry. This is not a claim that none exists.

Checked 2026-09-11. A missing entry means not established here, not necessarily that the song never charted or won an award.

Recording context

War brought a sharper political focus and a more forceful rhythm section. Violin, trumpet and guest backing voices complicate the idea that this is simply a stripped-back guitar record.

Album credits, production history and Did you know?

Exact recording source — U2SongsOfficial release — U2.com

Typeface: Web Fonts