"Heartland" originated from a trip that bassist Adam Clayton and lead singer Bono made.
Bono claimed the song is full of little bits of travelogue from his journal.
[2] However, the song did not make the cut for The Joshua Tree as it wasn't completed in time and it was considered "too laid-back" to play live, so they chose "Trip Through Your Wires" instead.
[3] It is the thirteenth track on their 1988 album Rattle and Hum, and was included in the film of the same name.
"Heartland" is the only track from the album not performed in concert on the Lovetown Tour, which began almost a year after Rattle and Hum's release.