The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency. Within four years, they signed with Island Records and released their debut album, Boy (1980). Subsequent work such as their first UK number-one album, War (1983), and the singles "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" helped establish U2's reputation as a politically and socially conscious group. By the mid-1980s, they had become renowned globally for their live act, highlighted by their performance at Live Aid in 1985. The group's fifth album, The Joshua Tree (1987), made them international superstars and was their greatest critical and commercial success. Topping music charts around the world, it produced their only number-one singles in the US, "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".
Facing creative stagnation and a backlash following their documentary/double album, Rattle and Hum (1988), U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image. Beginning with their acclaimed seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and the multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour, the band integrated influences from alternative rock, electronic dance music, and industrial music into their sound, and embraced a more ironic, flippant image. This experimentation continued through their ninth album, Pop (1997), and the PopMart Tour, which were mixed successes. U2 regained critical and commercial favour with the records All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), which established a more conventional, mainstream sound for the group. Their U2 360° Tour of 2009–2011 is the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history. The group's thirteenth album, Songs of Innocence (2014), was released at no cost through the iTunes Store, but received criticism for its automatic placement in users' music libraries.
U2 has released 14 studio albums and is one of the world's best-selling music artists in history, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Throughout their career, as a band and as individuals, they have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes, including Amnesty International, Jubilee 2000, the ONE/DATA campaigns, Product Red, War Child, and Music Rising.
Foundation: The band originally formed in 1976 when Larry Mullen posted a bulletin in his school asking for musicians to form a rock band. The band then consisted of the four current members plus three additional guitarists, including The Edge’s brother Dick Evans (later a member of Virgin Prunes), Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. According to legend, Bono originally auditioned as a guitarist but couldn’t play. He auditioned as lead vocals, but really couldn’t sing. He was, however, incredibly enthusiastic about the band, extremely charismatic, a great writer, and was strangely able to reach the audience when the band played, something he is known for still today. Bono will reach out into the crowd and dance or mess with someone in the crowd at every concert. He was kept as a member. The extra guitarists would soon leave the band and the group would go through the names “Feedback ” and “The Hype” before finally settling on U2.
The 70s & 80s: 1978 was a jumping point year for the band, finally finding their sound / voice. U2 won a talent contest in 1978: £500 and funds to make a record. Paul McGuinness became the band’s manager and U2 released an EP called Three and the single Another Day, the following year. U2 went on to release their first album, Boy and then more critically acclaimed albums incl.: October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, and The Unforgettable Fire (featuring the song PlayMLK dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr). Seen by many as a political band with more charisma than others, they were called “a different kind” of band. After a short break U2 returned with The Joshua Tree & the USA music inspired Rattle And Hum (also a movie of the same name, based on the tour).
The 90s: Promising ”to dream it all up again”, they added industrial and dance styles to their music. Trying to drop a goody two shoes image, they went to Berlin (Germany), supposedly to develop new self-expressions. From there they started to make fun of themselves and had a good time of it in albums like Achtung Baby (meaning ”watch out, baby”, artwork feat. make-up artist Nassim Khalifa) & Zooropa. Bono took on many stage personae such as “The Fly”, “Mirrorball Man” and “Mr. MacPhisto” for the gigantic ZOO TV Tour. Later they continued to make fun of Pop culture and all its extremes with the album Pop and consequent PopMart tour which was announced to be launched at a Kmart store and included a giant golden arch across the stage.
The 00s: At the end of the 90’s into 00’s U2 became less image and more reality. With the death of Bono’s good friend Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS, Bono wrote more songs from the heart surrounding ideas like life and death, children, hope, and the real world past all the pop culture and TV. Some say they’ve returned to a more band-centric sound with albums like All That You Can’t Leave Behind which features a song, Kite, dedicated to Bono’s father who passed away shortly after the album’s conception and 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
The 10s: U2 went on the U2 360° Tour in 2009 and 2010. This tour set records for the highest-grossing concert tour. The band worked with producer Danger Mouse for their thirteenth album Songs of Innocence, which was released on 9 September 2014 for free to all Apple iCloud users.
The Name: There are many theories as to the origin of the name U2. For example, U2 was an intelligence airplane that was in use by the United States during the Cold War. Other obvious candidates include “You too” and “You two”, etc. Nonetheless the official line on the name’s origins remains unknown. The band has been quoted as saying that they did think of the U2 spy plane, but remain hushed about other reasons… U2
/ Silver Lining
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see so many sides
I know each is through you gone
Take me, silver lining take me on my own
Save me, silver lining take me on my own
I play it in the hall, I can see you grow
So ever, always firezone
Take me, silver lining save me on my own
Soul the silver lining seeks your only zone
My song, sad song sad song, sad song
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
You hold back but I can see you crawling
We always horse-shoed the nail
I can't hold this on
Take me, silver lining take me on my own
Take me, silver lining and the garden grows
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
Call out my name call out today
Call out all same
The lyrics to U2's song "Silver Lining" are open to interpretation, but they seem to depict a sense of yearning for salvation or a guiding light in difficult times. The phrase "cold outside, can anybody call" suggests a feeling of isolation and longing for connection. The next line, "I see so many sides, I know each is through you gone," alludes to the multiple perspectives and experiences that have shaped the person they are addressing. It could imply that these various sides of the individual have disappeared, leaving them feeling lost.
The chorus repeats the plea for a "silver lining" to take them on their own. This silver lining represents hope or a positive outcome in the midst of challenging circumstances. The repetition of "save me" emphasizes the desperation in their appeal.
The verses continue with the theme of growth and change. The line "I play it in the hall, I can see you grow" suggests that the singer is witnessing someone develop and evolve, perhaps in ways they had always wished for. And yet, there is a sense of distance or unattainability in this growth, indicated by the line "you were always wishing and aching."
The bridge of the song highlights the struggle to contain or control these emotions. The phrase "hold back but I can see you crawling" presents a contradiction – the person is trying to restrain themselves, but their vulnerability comes through regardless. The line "We always horse-shoed the nail" could mean that they have repeatedly walked a dangerous or painful path, unable to avoid it.
In conclusion, "Silver Lining" explores themes of longing, salvation, growth, and vulnerability. It conveys a desire for hope and resolution in the face of challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold outside, can anybody call
The atmosphere is cold and I wonder if anyone can reach out to me
I see so many sides
I observe different perspectives
I know each is through you gone
I understand that each of these perspectives is no longer influenced by you
Take me, silver lining take me on my own
Guide me towards a brighter aspect and let me navigate it independently
Save me, silver lining take me on my own
Rescue me and lead me towards a positive path on my own
I play it in the hall, I can see you grow
I perform my music publicly and witness your development
You were always wishing and aching
You constantly longed for something and felt emotional pain
So ever, always firezone
In this state of existence, there is always a passionate and intense environment
Take me, silver lining save me on my own
Allow me to find salvation and strength in the positive aspect by myself
Soul the silver lining seeks your only zone
The essence of the bright side searches for its own distinct territory
My song, sad song sad song, sad song
The music I create has a melancholic tone
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
Melancholy permeates the music I produce
You hold back but I can see you crawling
You restrain yourself, yet I perceive your struggle
We always horse-shoed the nail
We continuously avoided confronting the problem
I can't hold this on
I can no longer endure this situation
Take me, silver lining take me on my own
Lead me towards the positive aspect and give me the independence to navigate it
Take me, silver lining and the garden grows
Guide me towards the bright side and witness its growth
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
Melancholic music, a recurring motif
Sad song, sad song sad song, sad song
Melancholic music, resounding once again
Call out my name call out today
Summon me by my name, summon me into the present
Call out all same
Summon everyone without discrimination
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
christian piek
great version .never heard it before when they were at their best. the early days
Ian Wibberley
it's always good to hear alternative versions and rare stuff......nice post!!
Cristian Ilie
Huge Tune, this version should be Remastered and released on a rarities CD !!!!!
Chick Flick
Wow this is crazy that I've never heard this. The lyrics are completly different from out of control. I thought I heard all their early stuff. Love their earlier music, they were a different band back then for sure.
Robert Cummins
Bono did this all the time. He scat sings to get the feel and melody and the writes the lyrics after. Catches the song without over analysis, and so keeps the original feel. Like a dough, if you overwork it it’s never as good.
HarmonicsExplorer
Awesome! The most Core of U2.
rpwVideoInstruction
Can't mistake Edge's sound, even from those old days......
homerphil
Great upload. I still have my cassette recording of this gig at The Stadium in Dublin. They were celebrating the signing of their first recording contract and the begining of the magical journey(Larry) they are still on.
HarmonicsExplorer
Thing is, about this recording, is that someone cut out the intro. The intro had 11 repeats of the thick Dsharp string 'dundundundun', then went into the chordal dundundundun on the 12th. This was originally presented on a radio show with Irish music beginning, and a radio announcer talking over U2's intro of the song. In a 1979 rendition four harmonic up and downs opened the song before the dundundundun on the thick string. Combine them both, and it's magic.
ToolsnFire
When I first heard this song(cassette playing on a boombox) in 1994 I bowed to eat in awe. The character is full passion early U2 and the guitar structure and sonics are incredible. The lyrics also have some deep emotional of meaning. Full passion power pop,... Silver Lining. I play the song on guitar, well, and know all the lyrics. It's part of my youth.