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
Hawkmoon 269
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a town needs a name
I need your love
Like a drifter needs a room
Hawkmoon
I need your love
I need your love
Like a rhythm unbroken
Like drums in the night
Like sweet soul music
Like sunlight
I need your love
Like coming home
And you don't know where you've been
Like black coffee
Like nicotine
I need your love (I need your love)
I need your love (I need your love)
I need your love (I need your love)
When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your love
I need your love
Like a Phoenix rising needs a holy tree
Like the sweet revenge of a bitter enemy
I need your love
Like the hot needs the sun
Like honey on her tongue
Like the muzzle of a gun
Like oxygen
I need your love (I need your love)
I need your love (I need your love)
I need your love (I need your love)
When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your love
I need your love
Whoa!
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
Like thunder needs rain
Like a preacher needs pain
Like tongues of flame
Like a sheet stained
I need your love
I need your love
Like a needle needs a vein
Like someone to blame
Like a thought unchained
Like a runaway train
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
I need your love
Like faith needs a doubt
Like a freeway out
I need your love
Like powder needs a spark
Like lies need the dark
I need your love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
In the heart of the heat of the love
The lyrics of U2's song "Hawkmoon 269" describe the singer's strong need for love. The song includes a series of similes that emphasize the depth of this need, comparing it to the essential relationships between different elements such as a desert and rain, a drifter and a room, or thunder and rain. Similarly, the singer asserts that they need their lover's love like a rhythm needs to be unbroken or like sweet soul music needs sunlight. The chorus repeats the phrase "I need your love" multiple times, emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the singer's need. Additionally, the song alludes to various other themes such as returning home after being lost, addiction (with comparisons to nicotine and honey on the tongue), and the juxtaposition of pain and pleasure.
Overall, "Hawkmoon 269" is a passionate and emotive song that conveys a deep sense of need and longing for love. The various similes used throughout the lyrics help to emphasize the intensity of this emotion, while also subtly touching on related themes such as addiction and the search for identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a desert needs rain
I am incomplete without your love, just like a desert needs rain to thrive and flourish
Like a town needs a name
Your love gives me identity just like a town needs a name to be recognized
I need your love
I am completely reliant on your love and cannot imagine living without it
Like a drifter needs a room
I feel lost without your love, just like a drifter needs a room to find shelter and comfort
Hawkmoon
This could be interpreted as a symbol for something that helps navigate life's journey, like the moon helps guide a hawk
Like a rhythm unbroken
Your love gives rhythm and stability to my life, just like an unbroken beat
Like drums in the night
Your love is loud and powerful, just like drums beating in the night
Like sweet soul music
Your love is soothing and fulfilling, just like the effect of sweet soul music
Like sunlight
Your love illuminates my life and gives me warmth, just like the sun's light
Like coming home and you don't know where you've been
Your love is the comfort of returning home, even if I have lost my way along life's journey
Like black coffee, like nicotine
I am addicted to your love, just like one can become dependent on black coffee or nicotine
When the night has no end and the day yet to begin
Your love is constant, bridging the gap between the end of one day and the beginning of the next
As the room spins around
In times of chaos and confusion, your love is the steady force keeping me grounded
Like a Phoenix rising needs a holy tree
Your love is the foundation upon which I can rebuild and rise again, just like a Phoenix needs a holy tree to start anew
Like the sweet revenge of a bitter enemy
Your love is the satisfaction of overcoming adversity and succeeding despite opposition, much like the feeling of sweet revenge toward a bitter enemy
Like the hot needs the sun
I can't exist without your love, just like the heat can't exist without the sun
Like honey on her tongue
Your love is sweet and desirable, like honey on someone's tongue
Like the muzzle of a gun
Your love silences the noise and chaos of the world, like a muzzle on a gun
Like oxygen
Your love is essential to my survival, like oxygen is to living beings
Like thunder needs rain
I am completed by your love, just like thunder needs rain to resound fully
Like a preacher needs pain
Your love gives me purpose and meaning, just like a preacher needs the pain of others to empathize and fulfill their duty
Like tongues of flame
Your love is passionate and intense, like tongues of flame in a fire
Like a sheet stained
Your love leaves a mark on me, just like a sheet stained with something indelible
Like a needle needs a vein
Your love is like a drug I cannot live without, just like a needle needs a vein
Like someone to blame
Your love is a source of comfort and support when things go wrong, like having someone to blame one's mistakes on
Like a thought unchained
Your love unleashes my thoughts and creativity, just like an unchained thought can lead to inspiration and innovation
Like a runaway train
Your love is unstoppable, just like a runaway train that cannot be halted
Like faith needs a doubt
Your love is strengthened by the obstacles we overcome together, just like faith needs doubt to be tested and proven
Like a freeway out
Your love provides a path forward and a means of escape, like a freeway offers freedom and mobility
Like powder needs a spark
Your love is explosive and powerful, like gunpowder waiting for a spark to ignite
Like lies need the dark
Your love thrives in secrecy and privacy, like lies need the darkness to be hidden from view
In the heart of the heat of the love
Your love is at the center of my being, radiating warmth and passion
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