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
Blow Your House Down
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She got my jokes
Sit why we win
Go by the sin
Get high, get quick
Get bopping on a stick
Hollywood
Shake by go
Get high with the folks
Get down in the swim
Don't you walk away
I want you baby
How does it feel
When you're meet her in your home
How does it feel
When you feel her, let it go
"Break."
"Turn that guitar up there."
Sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar
Sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar
Sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar
Ah, it ain't over child
Your racing car
Raised by the boldness
You know you are
Your lips like cherries
And they call to me
I wasn't in the bottle
Next to me
I'm down by the call
Maybe the sun
Where nobody feels
They gotta give it and go
She's gonna take her chances
Gonna take her chances
And you don't
Jump you're gonna be the tele'
Is there anybody calling
Is anybody home
Anybody home
'body home
Anybody home
"Just drums."
She likes it
Little bit of sky
Locked in the ocean
Bitty bitty sky
On a crutch rate
Country
Some scratch for it
Others snatch for it
Can't scrape for it
Can't escape for it
Check it out for it
Turn a sip for it
Some slip from it
Others strip for it
Any grip for it
What is it
What is it
What is it
Some preach for it
Even teach for it
Like a leash to it
Can't be teaching them
All crawl for it
Still stall for it
All fall for it
When you jump for it
Some slash for it
Others stash for it
Some cash into it
Others smash for it
Do lines for it
Break rhymes for it
Do crimes for it
Do time for it
Sugar cane, sugar cane
Sugar cane, sugar cane
Sugar cane, sugar cane
Sure...we're gonna take our chances
To turn and seek you
Couldn't go
"And again."
Sure we're without a reason
I'm calling out for love
Is there anybody home
"Nice."
Ray got caught
Her fingers in the till
Sent us home
Money came to Will
Frank came home
With a black and blue
Working at the station
Where he can't break through
Was working on the coin
On the union stand
With a digital aid
And a union band
Saw a moving statue
Saw the bullet train
And a sheltered city
Where clowns scream
Our move ruined it
Saw the money God
Brothers say by a ring
Others sat by the brim
Tonight high-q site
Want these innocent
Bing-bang
And the big bang
Big bang, big bang
Die like a butterfly
Die like a butterfly
Die like I'm gonna die
Die like a moon in charge
Die
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight
"Edge."
The lyrics of "Blow Your House Down" by U2 are quite enigmatic and don't really seem to have a clear structure or story. Instead, they consist of seemingly random phrases and images, some of which are repeated multiple times throughout the song. The verses are sung in a loose, stream-of-consciousness style and accompanied by sparse instrumentation, mostly just drums and guitar. The chorus is a simple, repetitive chant of "sugar sugar sugar" that doesn't really seem to relate to anything else in the song.
One possible interpretation of these lyrics is that they are a commentary on the excesses and superficiality of Hollywood culture. The verses are full of references to drugs, sex, and partying, as well as vague allusions to fame and fortune ("raised by the boldness," "working on the coin"). The repeated line "is anybody home" could be seen as a critique of the emptiness and shallowness of this lifestyle.
However, the chorus is a bit harder to pin down. It could be seen as a kind of ironic counterpoint to the verses, a reminder that all the sugar-coated pleasures of fame and fortune are ultimately empty and unsatisfying. On the other hand, it could simply be a meaningless phrase that the band came up with as a way to add some rhythmic texture to the song.
Overall, "Blow Your House Down" is a bit of an oddball in U2's catalog, both musically and lyrically. It's a relatively obscure track from their early days that doesn't seem to have had much lasting impact on their career, but it's still interesting to dig into and try to uncover some of the possible meanings behind it.
Line by Line Meaning
She did go
The girl left
She got my jokes
The girl laughed at my jokes
Sit why we win
Sit and enjoy the moment of victory
Go by the sin
Go and do wicked things
Get high, get quick
Get high on drugs quickly
Get bopping on a stick
Dance to music excitedly
Hollywood
Representation of the American movie industry
Shake by go
Move and dance to the beat of the music
Get barking in sin
Engage in evil or immoral activities
Get high with the folks
Get high with friends or others
Get down in the swim
Dance in the water
Don't you walk away
Stay and talk to me
I want you baby
I desire your company
How does it feel
What is the emotional experience like
When you're meet her in your home
When you see her in your own space
When you feel her, let it go
When you experience her presence, allow yourself to fully enjoy it
"Break."
Take a break from singing
"Turn that guitar up there."
Increase the volume of the guitar
Sugar sugar sugar sugar sugar
A repeated chant
Ah, it ain't over child
There's still more to come
Your racing car
A symbol of power and speed
Raised by the boldness
Raised by courageous or daring people
You know you are
You're aware of it
Your lips like cherries
A metaphor for desirable lips
And they call to me
They attract my attention
I wasn't in the bottle
I wasn't drunk
Next to me
Beside me
I'm down by the call
I'm present where I'm needed
Maybe the sun
Perhaps the sun
Where nobody feels
Where no one has any emotional connection
They gotta give it and go
They have to give it their all and move on to the next thing
She's gonna take her chances
She's going to take a risk
Gonna take her chances
She's definitely going to take a risk
And you don't
And you do not
Jump you're gonna be the tele'
If you jump, you're going to be amazing
Is there anybody calling
Is anyone trying to communicate
Is anybody home
Is anyone present
'body home
Nobody's home
Anybody home
Is anyone present
"Just drums."
Only drums are playing
She likes it
She enjoys it
Little bit of sky
A small patch of sky visible
Locked in the ocean
Trapped in the vastness of the ocean
Bitty bitty sky
A very small amount of sky showing
On a crutch rate
Just barely making it
Country
Rural areas
Some scratch for it
Some work hard for it
Others snatch for it
Others take it by force
Can't scrape for it
Can't get it by working hard
Can't escape for it
Can't avoid it
Check it out for it
Investigate it to get it
Turn a sip for it
Trade something in exchange for it
Some slip from it
Some obtain it through illegal means
Others strip for it
Others take off their clothes to obtain it
Any grip for it
Any way to hold on to it
What is it
What is this thing we're after
Some preach for it
Some promote it as something good or virtuous
Even teach for it
Even teach it to others
Like a leash to it
Like being bound to it
Can't be teaching them
Can't have others passing on misinformation
All crawl for it
All are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain it
Still stall for it
Still hesitate to go all-in for it
All fall for it
All are deceived and fall for it
When you jump for it
When you take a risk for it
Some slash for it
Some cut others off to get it
Others stash for it
Others hide it away for themselves
Some cash into it
Some invest their money into it
Others smash for it
Others break it apart to obtain it
Do lines for it
Use drugs in pursuit of it
Break rhymes for it
Compose rap lyrics about it
Do crimes for it
Commit illegal acts in pursuit of it
Do time for it
Serve jail time for it
Sugar cane, sugar cane
A repeated chant
Sure...we're gonna take our chances
We'll take a risk in the hope of success
To turn and seek you
To search for you
Couldn't go
Couldn't find a way forward
"And again."
Resume singing
Sure we're without a reason
We have no reason for what we're doing
I'm calling out for love
I'm seeking love
Is there anybody home
Is anyone present
"Nice."
Complimentary remark
Ray got caught
Ray was discovered and punished
Her fingers in the till
She was stealing from the cash register
Sent us home
We were fired from our job
Money came to Will
Will received good fortune
Frank came home
Frank returned home
With a black and blue
With bruises on his face and body
Working at the station
Working at a transportation hub
Where he can't break through
Where he is unable to make progress
Was working on the coin
Was earning money
On the union stand
Working for the union
With a digital aid
Using technology to help with work
And a union band
A group belonging to the union
Saw a moving statue
Saw a person who appeared to be motionless
Saw the bullet train
Witnessed the speed of modern transportation
And a sheltered city
A city that protects its citizens from outside elements
Where clowns scream
Where strange things happen
Our move ruined it
Our arrival caused trouble or disruption
Saw the money God
Witnessed people worshipping money as if it were a deity
Brothers say by a ring
Brothers fighting over a ring
Others sat by the brim
Others sat idly by
Tonight high-q site
Tonight we've found a place with high quality
Want these innocent
They desire people who are pure or innocent
Bing-bang
A sudden, explosive action
And the big bang
A reference to the creation of the universe
Big bang, big bang
A repeated chant
Die like a butterfly
Die gracefully
Die like I'm gonna die
Accept death as inevitable
Die like a moon in charge
Metaphor for dying in a powerful or influential position
Die
The end of life
Midnight is where the day begins
A new day begins at midnight
Midnight
The middle of the night
"Edge."
The edge of the song or performance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One