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
God Part 2
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up
Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don't believe in death row
Skid row or the gangs
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speed-ball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Do you hear what I said
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure
The rich stay healthy
While the sick stay poor
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's going to get him
If I don't get him first
Don't believe that rock 'n' roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
It spirals and turns
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in the 60's
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up
Heard a singer on the radio
late last night
He says he's gonna kick the darkness
'Til it bleeds daylight
I, I believe in love
Love
Love
Love
Love
I feel like I'm falling
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside of me
With a presence I can feel
I, I believe in love
Stop
The lyrics to U2's "God Part II" express a sense of questioning and skepticism towards various societal beliefs and institutions. The first few lines express a lack of belief in the devil and his teachings, but also acknowledge that the truth is not the same without the lies that he made up. This may imply that the devil's lies and deceit have a certain power and influence over people. The next few lines question the validity of seeking excess and riches as measures of success, and instead suggest that true success is found in giving and loving others.
The lyrics then touch on various controversial topics, such as forced entry, rape, gangs, and drug addiction. The singer expresses a lack of belief in these things, but also acknowledges that they exist and have an impact on society. The lines "I, I believe in love" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's belief in the power of love to overcome these societal issues.
The song also includes references to various musicians and figures, such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Allen Ginsberg. These references suggest that the singer is aware of the cultural and political influence of these figures, but also questions the idea that rock and roll or other forms of art can change the world. The song concludes with the repeated emphasis on love and the feeling of falling, suggesting a sense of vulnerability and surrender to the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't believe the devil
I do not believe in the concept of the devil.
I don't believe his book
I do not believe in the religious book associated with the devil.
But the truth is not the same
Without lies, the truth can be perceived in a different way.
Without the lies he made up
The lies created by the devil can influence our perception of truth.
Don't believe in excess
I do not believe in extreme behaviors or actions.
Success is to give
True success is in giving and contributing to others.
Don't believe in riches
I do not believe in the value of material wealth.
But you should see where I live
Despite not caring for riches, I still enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
I, I believe in love
My belief system revolves around the concept of love.
Don't believe in forced entry
I do not support the act of breaking into a place.
Don't believe in rape
I do not support sexual assault or abuse.
But every time she passes by
Despite not supporting rape, I still experience lustful thoughts about attractive women.
Wild thoughts escape
My thoughts of lust and desire are sometimes uncontrollable.
I don't believe in death row
I do not believe in the concept of capital punishment.
Skid row or the gangs
I do not condone the lifestyle of those who live in a state of poverty or are part of gangs.
Don't believe in the Uzi
I do not believe in the use of firearms for violence.
It just went off in my hand
Despite my belief, I still had an accident with a firearm.
Don't believe in cocaine
I do not support the use or abuse of drugs.
Got a speed-ball in my head
I am currently under the influence of a combination of drugs.
I could cut and crack you open
The effect of the drugs can cause me to have violent or aggressive thoughts.
Do you hear what I said
I am expressing these thoughts out loud.
Don't believe them when they tell me
I do not believe others who claim something with no proof or evidence.
There ain't no cure
I do not believe there is no solution to a problem.
The rich stay healthy
Those who have more resources tend to be healthier.
While the sick stay poor
Those without resources tend to suffer from sickness and lack proper healthcare.
Don't believe in Goldman
I do not believe in certain people or institutions associated with greed and corruption.
His type like a curse
The type of people like Goldman can be compared to a curse on society.
Instant karma's going to get him
The consequences of his actions will catch up to him eventually.
If I don't get him first
If necessary, I will take action against him before his karma catches up.
Don't believe that rock 'n' roll
I do not believe that music has the power to bring about significant change in the world.
Can really change the world
Music alone cannot bring about revolutionary change.
As it spins in revolution
Despite this, music can still play a role in inspiring and influencing people during periods of social or political revolution.
It spirals and turns
The impact of music during these periods is unpredictable and constantly changing.
Don't believe in the 60's
I do not believe that the 1960s was an exceptional time for music or culture.
The golden age of pop
Despite not believing in it, the 1960s era of pop music is often considered a 'golden age' by some.
You glorify the past
People often put too much emphasis on the past and view it through a rose-tinted lens.
When the future dries up
The future can seem bleak and uncertain when you focus too much on the past.
Heard a singer on the radio
I heard a musician performing on the radio.
late last night
It was late at night when I heard the musician perform.
He says he's gonna kick the darkness
The musician spoke about his intention to take action against negativity and darkness in the world.
'Til it bleeds daylight
He plans to fight and persevere until light and positivity prevail.
I feel like I'm falling
I feel like my life is spiraling out of control and I am losing my grip.
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
I feel trapped in a cycle of negative events or emotions.
It always stops beside of me
Despite feeling out of control, I am still able to somehow come to rest beside positivity and love.
With a presence I can feel
This presence of love and positivity is strong and makes me feel connected and grounded.
I, I believe in love
My ultimate belief is in the power and importance of love.
Stop
End of song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL 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