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
If God Send His Angels
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody else here, baby
No one else here to blame
No one to point the finger
It's just you and me and the rain
Nobody made you do it
No one put words in your mouth
When love took a train heading south
It's the blind leading the blind
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
Hey, if God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
Hey, if God will send his angels
Could they hurry here, tonight?
God's got his phone off the hook, babe
Would he even pick up if he could?
It's been a while since we saw that child
Hangin' 'round this neighborhood
We see his mother dealing in a doorway
See Father Christmas with a begging bowl
Jesus' sister's eyes are a blister
High Street never sunk so low
It's the blind leading the blind
It's the cops collecting for the cons
So where is the hope?
And where is the faith and the love?
What's that you say to me?
Does love light up your Christmas tree?
The next minute you're blowing a fuse
And the Cartoon Network turns into the news
If God will send his angels
And if God will send a sign
Well, if God will send his angels
Could they hurry here, tonight? (Where do we go?)
(Where do we go?)
Jesus never let me down
You know Jesus always shows me the score
Then they put Jesus in show business
Now it's hard to get in the door
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
But I guess it was something to go on
Hey, if God will send his angels
Then just get them here somehow
But if God can't send his angels
Could he come himself, right now?
The song "If God Will Send His Angels" by U2 is a complex commentary on the state of the world, the role of God and religion in society, and the hardships of love and faith. The opening verses paint a picture of a relationship in crisis, with no one to blame but the two people involved. The rain is a metaphor for the turmoil and emotions they feel. The lyrics then shift to a broader view of society, with references to poverty, addiction, and crime. The line "It's the blind leading the blond" suggests a loss of direction and guidance in the world. The chorus asks if God will intervene to bring about change or resolution. The singer's ambivalence towards religion is evident in lines like "God's got his phone off the hook, babe" and "Jesus never let me down, you know Jesus used to show me the score/ Then they put Jesus in show business, now it's hard to get in the door." The song ends on a melancholy note, with the singer yearning for connection and meaning but unsure if it's possible.
Overall, "If God Will Send His Angels" is a powerful meditation on the difficulties of love and faith in a troubled world. Its evocative lyrics and gentle melody make it a standout track on U2's album "Pop."
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody else here baby
There is no one else around.
No-one else here to blame
There is no one else to hold responsible.
No-one to point the finger
There is no one to accuse.
It's just you and me and the rain
We are alone together in the rain.
Nobody made you do it
No one forced you to do something.
No one put words in your mouth
No one influenced or dictated what you said.
Nobody here taking orders
There is no one giving orders.
When love took a train heading south
When love went away.
It's the blind leading the blond
It's a metaphor for a situation where people are blindly following others who are not necessarily more savvy or knowledgeable than they are.
It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs
It's a clichéd, overly dramatic scenario that would fit in a country music song.
Hey, if God will send his angels
If divine intervention occurs.
And if God will send a sign
If there is some kind of indication of divine presence or support.
God's got his phone off the hook, babe
It seems as if God is not answering.
Would he even pick up if he could?
He might choose not to help even if he was aware of the situation.
It's been a while since we saw that child
It's been a long time since we felt the presence of something pure and innocent.
Hanging round this neighbourhood
Existing in this environment.
See his mother dealing in a doorway
See the poverty and desperation of others around us.
See Father Christmas with a begging bowl
Even figures of joy and generosity are reduced to begging.
And Jesus' sister's eyes are a blister
The concept of familial love and relationships have been damaged or twisted.
The High Street never looked so low
The state of the world around us is bleak.
It's the cops collecting for the cons
Even law enforcement agents are part of a corrupt system.
So where is the hope and
What is going to give us hope.
Where is the faith and the love?
Where are the positive emotions that could drive us forward.
What's that you say to me
What are you trying to tell me?
Does love light up your Christmas tree?
Is your expression of love genuine, or only for show?
The next minute you're blowing a fuse
You can switch from expressing love to becoming angry or disenchanted very quickly.
And the cartoon network turns into the news
The world can seem cartoonish or surreal, but in reality, terrible things happen every day.
Jesus never let me down
The artist has faith in the teachings of Jesus.
You know Jesus used to show me the score
The artist used to feel confident and secure in their belief in Jesus.
Then they put Jesus in show business
The singer believes that Jesus' message and legacy have been commercialized and corrupted.
Now it's hard to get in the door
It is difficult to feel a genuine connection to Jesus or his teachings.
Well, if God will send his angels
If divine intervention occurs.
I sure could use them here right now
The artist is in a difficult situation and could use some help.
And I don't want to lie
The artist wants to be honest.
I don't wanna love I want to feel the song
The singer wants to experience life emotionally and authentically.
And I wanna feel the song
The artist wants to connect with their emotions and experience life authentically.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@QiBoy777
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
- James 4:8 -
"A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”
- Matthew 16:4 -
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
- Matthew 5:8 -
"Neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Romans 8:38,39 -
Just sayin'.
BEAUTIFUL VIDEO. LOVE THESE IRISH BOYS.
@2012WCIH
The older POP gets the better POP becomes
@JamesGore1547
It's aging fine like wine!
@yahialaouira3252
facts.
@albertoostinelli8946
Particularly compared with the latest two crappy records ...
And this Edge sound in this song woooowww
@nianfiedler9691
for so true. i have always loved it, but as i get older, it truly has become a masterpiece. it’s boldness, ruggedness, looseness, darkness, messiness, deepness just hits harder now.
@nianfiedler9691
@@albertoostinelli8946 ?!?! SOI is a great record and SOE is very good. SOI is their best since POP. Every Breaking Wave, Volcano, Iris, Raised by Wolves, Sleep like a Baby Tonight, and The Troubles are all fantastic.
I think as we get older we don’t give as much time and consideration to newer music and can get stuck in an “era” of U2. Like the post here says, POP grew greater over the the years. So far SOI has as well for me.
@rogelioriosr
I love this song, it's underrated.
@raquelmartiinez8454
Of course, it's means undercoments
@raquelmartiinez8454
Rogelio creo que hay que soñar y luchar y esta canción es solamente eso, y también eso
@chrisdee5032
This song needs a regular slot in U2's set list. Incredibly underrated song from a criminally underrated album.