The Edge comenta en Propaganda: No queríamos que Scars fuera en absoluto sentimental, por eso el arreglo es bastante duro, reminiscente de la música que nos inspiró a principios de los años 80: la era post-punk. Tiene un poco de Siouxsie and the Banshees. Adam y Larry la mantienen realmente aquí. Por esto me encanta estar en una banda. Nunca habría imaginado esta forma de tocar la canción.
La primera versión de Scars fue una canción en la que Bono y yo estábamos ayudando a Martin Garrix y su equipo. Es muy diferente, más en estilo EDM, y podría publicarse en el futuro.
La letra habla de autoaceptación. Las cicatrices son útiles, los errores son útiles… si se pueden asumir. Esa es la clave.
Cuando se ocultan o se niegan, eso es mala señal. Esa es la raíz del narcisismo, no el amor propio sino la perfección falsa. Bono lleva esta idea a otro lugar con una referencia a las heridas de Cristo, recordándonos que fueron infligidas por el Estado combinado con la autoridad religiosa. Iglesia y Estado es una combinación peligrosa.
Lyrics
You got lost love and you found trouble
When you went looking for your life
You got some scars and some others suffer
But you keep on reaching for the light
The doors of your heart were kicked open
But you're leaving history far behind
Can't break what's already been broken
And now it's time
I know, know, know
All that you've been through
So I know, know, know
Who you are, who you are
Let them show, show, show
It's your scars that give you beauty
You're a beauty
Don't cover your scars
Your scars
Don't cover your scars… they're your scars
Don't cover your scars… they're your scars
Don't cover yours scars
Your scars
You're looking up now
You're looking skyward
Your blackest night is turning blue
All the tyrants that you've defeated
The only one that's left is you
The doors of your heart were kicked open
But you're leaving history far behind
Can't break what's already been broken
But now it's time
I know, know, know
All that you've been through
I know, know, know
Who you are, who you are
Let 'em show, show, show
It's your scars that give you beauty
You're a beauty
Don't cover your scars
Don't cover your scars… they're your scars
Don't cover your scars… they're your scars
Don't cover yours scars… they're your scars
I'm the last of your loves
The loser the least
I'm the name on the form that demands your release
I'm the silence when you grieve
I'll keep you company
Even if you don't believe that it's me
Put your hands on my hand
Feel the nails of the state
Punching holes in the innocent
To fill them with hate
When the townhall cries
For someone to blame
Making laws out of lies
And legal robes out of shame
Put your hand in my side
Feel the contours of control
The silver spikes of friendship
Traded for a soul
The touch and the taste of me
Of vinegar sweet
You won't know who I am
The next time we meet
The next time we meet
