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
16 with or without you
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the thorn twist in your side
I'll wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails, she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
Through the storm, we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you, ah, ah
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
With or without you
With or without you, oh
I can't live
With or without you
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
With or without you
With or without you, oh
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you
The lyrics of U2's song With or Without You tell the story of a tumultuous relationship where one person is waiting on the other person to make a decision about their commitment to the relationship. The opening lines "See the stone set in your eyes, see the thorn twist in your side" describe the pain and conflict that the person is experiencing as they wait for their partner to make a choice. They are stuck, as if on a bed of nails, unable to move forward without the other person.
The chorus "With or without you" is a plea for the other person to make a decision. The person is torn between wanting to be with their partner and not being able to live with the uncertainty and pain that comes along with waiting. The lines "And you give yourself away, and you give yourself away, and you give, and you give, and you give yourself away" indicate that the person is willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the relationship, but they need some indication from their partner that they are committed.
The bridge of the song "My hands are tied, my body bruised, she got me with, nothing to win and nothing left to lose" further emphasizes the desperation of the situation. The person is trapped, with no clear way forward, and both physically and emotionally worn down by the waiting and uncertainty. Ultimately, the song expresses the difficulty of making a decision about a relationship and the anguish that comes with being in limbo.
Line by Line Meaning
See the stone set in your eyes
I can see the hard, unyielding look in your eyes, which suggests that you are going through something difficult.
See the thorn twist in your side
I can see that you are in pain or discomfort, which is causing you to feel tense and irritable.
I'll wait for you
I am willing to be patient and wait for you to work through your issues, offering whatever support or comfort that I can in the meanwhile.
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
Your situation seems like it has been caused by a series of unpredictable events, which have conspired to make your life more difficult and unpredictable.
On a bed of nails, she makes me wait
Although your situation is painful and difficult, I am still here, offering whatever comfort or support I can until things improve.
And I wait without you
Even though you might not be available or present to help me, I am still willing to wait for you and show you my love and support.
With or without you
Regardless of whether you are here with me or not, I will always continue to love you and support you through your struggles.
Through the storm, we reach the shore
Even though there may be difficult or tumultuous times ahead of us, we will persevere and reach our destination, together.
You give it all but I want more
I appreciate everything that you do for me and give to our relationship, but I still desire and hope for more from our interaction or partnership.
And I'm waiting for you
I am still willing to be patient and wait for you, even though it might be difficult or frustrating at times.
I can't live
With or without you
My feelings run so deep and strong that I cannot bear to be without you, but our relationship is also so complicated and challenging that I struggle to reconcile these feelings.
And you give yourself away
I can see how invested you are in our relationship or in trying to help me, giving of yourself even when it might not be the easiest or most comfortable thing to do.
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose
I am feeling helpless and exhausted, trapped in a difficult situation that leaves me feeling like I cannot win or turn things around for the better.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LaVidaLocaHomie
The Black Telephone
Those of us old enough to remember when the phone was wired to the wall, usually in the kitchen, can relate to this story. I loved this read.
When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box.. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.
My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.
The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information."
"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience..
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question
"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked
"No, "I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.
I said I could.
"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.
She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
"Information," said in the now familiar voice.
"How do I spell fix?" I asked
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."
I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"
"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle .
A different voice answered, "Information."
I asked for Sally.
"Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."
Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "
"Yes." I answered.
Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?
@testtest2609
🎯 Remember the media's astroturfed backlash against them for having a song on an ipod? 🙄 U2 didn't deserve that manufactured backlash...Bono got the IMF debt forgiven for 3rd world countries for chrissakes.
The economist Michael Hudson calls the US the loan shark of the world using IMF/World Bank to strip nations of their assets. Long live Bono's debt cancellation jubilee!
The real jubilee is debt jubilee & land re-distribution.
The original Summarian bible said: debt forgiveness and land re-distribution ie debt jubilee, Leviticus 25, prior to the Greek translation. Western civilization is the first civilization to eschew this (Michael Hudson).
"Civilization is madness." - Freud
"Can't see the right road when the roads are paved." - Bob Marley
from Concrete Jungle, African Herbman
@everythingaccount9619
For the 17k dislikers, this song will still be one of the greatest with or without you! Haha
@magsonsinvestmentsltdmil8910
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🏿♂️
@johnmockingyou7547
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 👊🏻👍🏻
@ccrisadidas
Kkkkk
@suruunconditionalluv3360
It's 18k... Haha
Must be Kids... Aspiring Rappers 😂
@surazkhadka2454
Yes sir😘😁😁😁🤣🤣
@theocurrent382
My mom loved this song, today she passed away because of the current situation, I can’t believe she is gone and I can’t accept it yet I know she won’t come back to hug me or my brother or my father, I hope this video remains more years so each nine of June I come back here and remember her more than ever
Edit: Thanks a lot for the support, I know I’m not the only one who has gone through these and I’m sure those people would be happy to receive any sort of encouraging messages, at least I am, once again thanks to everyone both those who have supported me through a like and those with a comment both are equally important and heartwarming
@tristantilley3778
Stay strong music is a healer
@christopherrq4842
If she loved this song then I'm sure she had a pleasant life!
May she rest in love, stay strong.
@fastkatfaye
Aww, so sorry to read this. Sending deepest condolences and love and hope that music will help you