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
Heaven
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't use it anymore
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
In U2's rendition of Bob Dylan's iconic song, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", Bono gives a hauntingly beautiful and emotional performance. The lyrics are simple, but deeply evocative. The song is about a person who has come to the end of their life, and feels as if they are knocking on heaven's door. The song begins with the singer pleading with their mother to take their badge off, indicating that they can no longer bear to carry the weight of their past. They are overwhelmed and feel like they're entering into something they are not prepared for. The darkness that surrounds them is a metaphor for their imminent end, and the singer is having a difficult time coming to terms with it.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their past and asks their mother to put their guns in the ground since they have no use for them anymore. The long black cloud that is coming down is a metaphor for death, and the singer realizes that their life is quickly coming to an end. They cannot continue to carry their burdens and are ready to let go.
The song's beauty lies in its simplicity and emotionally evocative nature. Bono's performance oozes with empathy and compassion, making it a powerful and touching piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama, take this badge off of me
I don't want to be associated with this badge or what it represents anymore.
I can't use it anymore
It's no longer of any use to me.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
Things are becoming increasingly difficult and unclear for me.
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
I feel like I'm close to death, the end of my life.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Repeated line emphasizing the artist's feeling of being close to death.
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I no longer wish to have any involvement with violence or aggression.
I can't shoot them anymore
I no longer have the desire or ability to use my guns.
That long black cloud is comin' down
A metaphor for death approaching.
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
Reiteration of the artist's feeling of being close to death.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Repetitive line emphasizing the artist's proximity to death.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlosmeikel2043
I just lost my son a few weeks ago... he was 19. He came to us from a troubled background, we did our best, and then some, to help him forget those times and find happiness, and for a while... he did. But, he always had these personal demons he was fighting and unfortunately... they won in the end. This song always reminded me of him and his search for happiness. He knew the world was his... he had so much talent in everything he did, but there was always some longing in him... something always gnawing at the back of his mind that wouldn't let him be satisfied. He never found what he was looking for in this life... I pray he finds it in the next. Daddio loves and misses you mi hito.
@TheJuarezG
God bless you my friend
@TheMomdad64
That breaks my heart ❤️. God bless you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
@koswifty
I'm so sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking x
@simoneb4352
All my concern for such a loss my friend!!!
@hadassaisabel1463
Im so sorry for your lost 😞 I wish you the biggest strength in the world ❤️
@DumpTruck0733
Many years ago this was my song until one day I met My Judy. We were together for 20 years then she passed 6 month ago, I DID find what I was looking for and now this song brings tears. She was the one great love we all looked for and I had her for a little time, I love you and miss you so MY JUDY
@frankieromano1429
Love It.
@michaelelphick2412
Beautiful mate… x
@melissacotter1412
Beautiful. She is with you always.