Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures—such as her ordination as a priest despite being a woman with a Roman Catholic background—and her strongly expressed views on organised religion, women's rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her ten solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Since converting to Islam in 2018 she has changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
In December 2019 she gave her first UK concert in five years at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
On 26 July 2023, O'Connor's family issued a statement that she had died at the age of 56, without indicating the date or cause.
In the statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The acclaimed Dublin performer released 10 studio albums, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
Jerusalem
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It got torn down
And the priest just said
It got burned
They give me five years five years
It's my turn
Ran down and the lady said it
And the priest just said
It got burned
They give me five years five years
It's my turn
Oh Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem
Getting tired of you doing this to me
I'm gonna hit you if you say that to me
One more time
I want to see you
And you're saying you're busy
I want to stop it
And you said it would be easy
It sure takes time
Hope your next time
Gonna be the last time
Hope you don't two-time
It'll be the best time
There won't be no next time
It's show time
I hope you do
What you said
When you swore
You'd make it better
Deliver all the letters
On time
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
The lyrics of Sinéad O'Connor's song Jerusalem reflect a deeply personal and spiritual journey towards the promise land of Jerusalem. The song is filled with heavy emotion as the singer recounts the devastation visited upon the land by war and destruction, with the Lady of Jerusalem saying it had gotten torn down and the priest revealing that it has been burned. The singer expresses a sense of personal responsibility in the rebuilding of the land, as illustrated by the phrase "they give me five years, five years, it's my turn".
The song also highlights the disappointment experienced in trying to find love and companionship and the frustration that comes with unfulfilled promises. The singer expresses a sense of exhaustion at constantly being let down, and the desire to see someone who claims to be busy. The repetition of the phrase "Jerusalem" acts as a bridge of connection between the physical land that needs rebuilding and spiritual resurrection of the singer's weary heart. The song is deeply personal, spiritual, and emotional, meant to express the pain and aspirations of not only the musician but also for the entire nation of Israel.
Line by Line Meaning
Ran down and the lady said it
Someone hurriedly came to the singer with the news
It got torn down
A certain place or thing was demolished, that was important to the singer.
And the priest just said
Upon hearing the news, a religious authority confirmed that a certain structure was destroyed.
It got burned
The same structure was burnt down by an unknown
They give me five years five years
The artist was given a period of five years to live or die.
It's my turn
The singer knows it is now their time to face something.
Oh Jerusalem
The main character adresses Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem
Commencing next verse
Getting tired of you doing this to me
The main character suggests that Jerusalem has repeatedly done something unpleasing to them.
I'm gonna hit you if you say that to me
The character responds to whatever it was that Jerusalem did.
One more time
The character is frustrated by the repetitive and inefficient apologies of Jerusalem.
I want to see you
The character yearns for a face to face interaction with Jerusalem.
And you're saying you're busy
Despite the singer's want to meet, Jerusalem is unavailable due to a schedule conflict.
I want to stop it
The main character wants to end this repetitive cycle of apologies and grievances.
And you said it would be easy
Jerusalem promised to make things better, but has not as of yet.
It sure takes time
The artist expresses the feeling that the waiting is taxing and time-consuming.
Hope your next time
The character is hopeful that the next meeting will go better.
Gonna be your last time
The main character will no longer stick around if they are let down again by Jerusalem.
Hope you don't two-time
The singer hopes that Jerusalem doesn't disappoint them twice in a row.
It'll be the best time
If everything goes according to plan, the next meeting can be the best one yet.
There won't be no next time
If this meeting goes poorly or as before, the artist will be done trying to resolve things with Jerusalem.
It's show time
The artist is all in for this last meeting.
I hope you do
The main character wants to feel better about the situation after the meeting.
What you said
Referring to a vague past promise made by Jerusalem.
When you swore
Jerusalem made a strong statement that can be interpreted as a threat or a promise.
You'd make it better
Jerusalem promised to improve the situation.
Deliver all the letters
Jerusalem needs to follow through on all submitted formal documentation.
On time
There cannot be any mistakes in the timing or execution of promised actions by Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
The artist calls upon Jerusalem one last time.
Jerusalem
Final verse
Jerusalem
The song ends with the main character calling out Jerusalem's name.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALPHA BLONDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K. Maczák
on Troy
The song is about her abusive mother, who locked her out of the house, and she sitting in the long grass in summer keeping warm , while her mother turned off the light inside the house , and she screamed . etc.