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Apr 03, 2026 By Mark Redfern Photography by Anton Corbijn

U2 have surprise-released a brand new six-song EP, Easter Lily. As its title suggests, its release is timed to Easter and one song features Brian Eno. Listen to it below, as well as watch lyric videos for each song.

Easter Lily is the band’s second EP of the year, following February’s politically charged Days of Ash (which was timed to Ash Wednesday). Days of Ash included “American Obituary,” a new song inspired by the death of Renée Nicole Macklin Good at the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis. It was one of our Songs of the Week.

Bono had this to say about the new EP in a press release: “We are in the studio, still working towards a noisy, messy, ‘unreasonably colorful’ album to play LIVE… which is where U2 lives. We still look to vivid rock n roll as an act of resistance against all this awfulness on our small screens. These are for sure ‘wilderness years’ for so many of us looking at the mayhem out there in the world.

“It’s a time that has our band digging deeper into our lives to find a wellspring of songs to try meet the moment… With Easter Lily we ended up asking very personal questions like: Are our own relationships up to these challenging times? How hard do you fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the mangling of meaning that those algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and still ripping us apart…? Or are there answers to find in its crevices? Are there ceremonies, rituals, dances that we might be missing in our lives? From the rite of Spring to Easter and its promise of rebirth and renewal… Patti Smith’s album Easter gave me so much hope when it was released in 1978. I wasn’t yet 18. The title is a nod to her.

“We will attempt hoopla and fanfare at a later date to remind the rest of the world we exist but in the meantime… this is between you and us.”

The press release describes each song on the EP in greater detail: “‘Song for Hal’ is a COVID-19 lockdown lament, with The Edge on lead vocals, written for the band’s friend, the music-maker, Hal Willner, who would have turned 70 on Easter Monday and passed away almost 6 years ago to the day. ‘In a Life’ is a song celebrating friendship. ‘Scars’ is a song of encouragement and acceptance; scars and all, with a twist. ‘Resurrection Song’ is about pilgrimage, a road trip into the unknown with a lover or friend. ‘Easter Parade’ is a devotional song, a celebration of new life, rebirth and resurrection. ‘COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?)’ is a lullaby for parents of children caught up in war, featuring a soundscape by Brian Eno.”

Eno previously worked with U2 on 1991’s Achtung Baby and 1993’s Zooropa, as well as their collaborative Passengers album from 1995, Original Soundtracks 1.

U2 features Bono, Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, and The Edge.

U2 have also brought back their Propaganda zine, first put out in 1986, as a digital zine, with a limited-edition print run. Check out the digital version of the new issue on Easter Lily here.

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