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
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out
[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Don't take your guns to town
He laughed and kissed his mom
And said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode away
[Chorus]
He sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again
[Chorus]
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers words
[Chorus]
Filled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered 'round
And wondered at his final words
[Chorus]
The song "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" by U2 tells the story of a young cowboy named Billy Joe who becomes restless with his life on the farm and yearns for adventure. He dresses up and leaves the comfort of his home, causing his mother to worry and cry. The chorus admonishes Billy Joe not to bring his guns to town, urging him to leave them behind. This can be seen as a cautionary statement against resorting to violence or recklessness.
Billy Joe, seemingly eager to prove himself as a man, boasts about his shooting skills but assures his mother that he wouldn't harm anyone without reason. However, his mother's concern continues to linger as he departs. This suggests that the lyrics focus on the tension between youthful recklessness and the influence of maternal guidance.
As Billy Joe rides into a cattle town, he exudes confidence and a sense of triumph. He enters a bar, laying his money on the counter, and seems to relish the experience. However, the lyrics allude to his internal struggle as he hears his mother's voice echoing in his mind, reminding him of her plea not to bring his guns to town. This highlights the conflict between his desire for adventure and the influence of his mother's wisdom.
Billy Joe's decision to have a drink at the bar exposes his vulnerability. He attempts to convince himself that he has become a mature man, but deep down, he is still grappling with the internal conflict. Another cowboy in the saloon ridicules Billy Joe, provoking him. In a moment of rage, Billy Joe reaches for his gun, but before he can even react, the stranger draws his own gun and shoots Billy Joe, causing him to fall to the ground. The song ends with the crowd gathering around Billy Joe, pondering his last words.
Overall, "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" showcases the themes of youthful rebellion, the influence of parental guidance, and the consequences of impulsive actions. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of resorting to violence and the importance of heeding the advice of loved ones. The lyrics also examine the internal struggle between one's desire for freedom and the responsibility of making wise choices.
Line by Line Meaning
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A restless boy named Billy Joe, who grew up on a farm, was yearning for adventure.
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
A curious boy with a thirst for new experiences, who had no intention of causing harm.
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
He dressed up and polished his boots, preparing for a new chapter of his life.
And combed his dark hair down
He neatly combed his dark hair, paying attention to his appearance.
And his mother cried as he walked out
His mother shed tears as he left, worried for his safety.
Don't take your guns to town son
Son, it's best if you leave your guns at home.
Leave your guns at home Bill
Bill, it's wiser not to carry your guns with you.
Don't take your guns to town
It's not necessary to bring your guns into town.
He laughed and kissed his mom
He chuckled and gave his mother a kiss, dismissing her concerns.
And said your Billy Joe's a man
He declared that he was now a grown man, capable of handling himself.
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
He boasted about his skills, claiming to be as fast and accurate as anyone else.
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
However, he emphasized that he wouldn't resort to violence without a justifiable reason.
I'd gun nobody down
He clarified that he had no intention of intentionally shooting anyone.
But she cried again as he rode away
Yet, his mother couldn't help but cry once more as he departed.
He sang a song as on he rode
While riding, he sang a song, expressing his joy and confidence.
His guns hung at his hips
His guns were visibly holstered and hanging at his hips.
He rode into a cattle town
He arrived at a town known for its cattle industry.
A smile upon his lips
He wore a smile, filled with optimism and excitement.
He stopped and walked into a bar
He made a halt and entered a bar, seeking some respite and entertainment.
And laid his money down
He placed his money on the counter, ready to enjoy himself.
But his mother's words echoed again
However, his mother's advice resurfaced in his mind.
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
In an attempt to steady his nerves, he consumed his first strong alcoholic drink.
And tried to tell himself he had become a man
He attempted to convince himself that he had transitioned into manhood.
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
A worn-out cowboy standing beside him started mocking and belittling him.
And he heard again his mothers words
In that moment, he once again heard his mother's words echoing in his ears.
Filled with rage then
Overwhelmed by anger at the ridicule he faced,
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
Billy Joe instinctively reached for his gun, intending to retaliate.
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
However, before Billy Joe could react, the stranger drew his own weapon and shot.
Before he even saw
Before Billy Joe could even register what was happening.
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
With Billy Joe collapsing to the ground, wounded or killed.
The crowd all gathered 'round
A crowd quickly formed, surrounding the scene.
And wondered at his final words
People were curious about the last words uttered by Billy Joe before the incident.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Donn Dwyer
This is great. It shows how Cash transcends all genres of music. A great tribute.
feejo
I am sure if they mix it, it can be #1. I tought some of their songs where crap but it touch #1. This is the best band in the R&D history what can I tell.
Wbfitness
Great version. I think they put a nice spin on it, done with total respect, you can tell.
Ian Todd
Absolutely magical cover version of the old Johnny cash classic
Ian Todd
Just love this cover of Johnny Cash, here Bono and Co own up to the fact that behind all the hype and historionics they just four guys who love to play music 🎶 together.
Sifo Dyas
I love the original song by Cash and any good traditional cover. Every once in a while I'll look for covers. This is the first time hearing this one--16 years after it was posted! At first I wasn't digging it. By the end of the song, it won me over, and now I'm playing it constantly.
thefly21
U2's. Best. Song. EVER.
jtt63
FREAKING AMAZING JOHNNY IS THE MAN AND U2 rock
Chris Curley
I love this version of this song.
EK280511
Great version!