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
Like A Song
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sing it for you
Like the words I have to bring
I bring it for you
And in leather, lace and chains, we stake our claim
Revolution once again
No I won't, I won't wear it on my sleeve
Too old to be told, exactly who are you?
Tonight, tomorrow's too late
And we love to wear a badge, a uniform
And we love to fly a flag
But I won't let others live in hell
As we divide against each other
And we fight amongst ourselves
Too set in our ways to try to rearrange
Too right to be wrong, in this rebel song
Let the bells ring out
Let the bells ring out
Is there nothing left?
Is there, is there nothing?
Is there nothing left?
Is honesty what you want?
A generation without name, ripped and torn
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Nothing at all
And if you can't help yourself
Well take a look around you
When others need your time
You say it's time to go, it's your time
Angry words won't stop the fight
Two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need
Oh, God make it bleed
Is there nothing left?
"Like A Song" is a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the state of the world and the human condition. The lyrics speak of a revolution, with the singer singing for someone, bringing words for them, as in a protest or rally. The use of leather, lace, and chains is a nod to the rebelliousness and punk rock aesthetic of the time when the song was written. The singer refuses to wear his beliefs on his sleeve, able to see through the false expressions of others. He questions who others are to demand conformity, and the urgency of the song suggests that time is running out - "tonight, tomorrow's too late."
The second half of the song takes a more introspective tone, with the singer questioning the actions of those on his own side. He criticizes the love of badges, uniforms, and flags, commenting that division between people only leads to destruction. The chorus, with its repetition of "Is there nothing left?" is a haunting question that echoes the despair in the lines that come before it. The final lines plea for a new heart, one that bleeds, a symbol of the need for empathy, compassion, and humanity in an often-cruel world.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a song I have to sing
Just as a singer has to sing to be heard, I have something to say and I need to say it
I sing it for you
The message I have to convey is meant for you to hear and understand
Like the words I have to bring
Just like a messenger bringing important news, I have something important to say
I bring it for you
My message is specifically for you to hear
And in leather, lace and chains, we stake our claim
We're willing to fight for what we believe in, no matter how unconventional our methods may seem
Revolution once again
Society is in need of change, and we're ready to be part of that transformation
No I won't, I won't wear it on my sleeve
I won't display my beliefs publicly, but they're still deeply rooted inside of me
I can see through this expression and you know I don't believe
I'm not convinced by surface-level expressions of support for a cause, and neither should you
Too old to be told, exactly who are you?
I'm beyond the point in my life where I need someone else to define my identity
Tonight, tomorrow's too late
We need to take action now, because there's no time to waste
And we love to wear a badge, a uniform
We often identify with groups or causes by wearing a symbol or uniform that represents them
And we love to fly a flag
We take pride in representing our country or cause, but that doesn't mean we should blindly follow its leaders' decisions
But I won't let others live in hell
We can't be indifferent to the suffering of others, even if it doesn't affect us personally
As we divide against each other
We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves, but instead, focusing on working together towards a common goal
And we fight amongst ourselves
Our internal conflicts are counterproductive and we need to find a way to resolve them
Too set in our ways to try to rearrange
We're often resistant to change, even when it's necessary, because we're comfortable with the status quo
Too right to be wrong, in this rebel song
Even when others criticize us for standing up for what we believe in, we know in our hearts that we're doing the right thing
Let the bells ring out
We need a call to action, something that'll inspire us to take charge and make a difference
Is there nothing left?
Have we lost all hope? Have we given up on making the world a better place?
Is there, is there nothing?
We need to ask ourselves if we've truly done all we can, or if we've become too jaded to make a difference
Is honesty what you want?
Are we capable of being honest with ourselves, both about the state of the world and our role in shaping its future?
A generation without name, ripped and torn
Our society is dealing with a lot of problems, and it often feels like no one's in charge or knows what to do
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
We're at a crossroads where we can either choose to be cynical and give up, or find the courage to take action and make a difference
Nothing at all
Our current situation may seem hopeless, but that doesn't mean there's nothing we can do to improve it
And if you can't help yourself
If you struggle to find motivation or direction in life, don't give up - there are others who will be willing to help you out and support you along the way
Well take a look around you
It's important to keep your eyes open and be aware of what's going on in the world around you
When others need your time
Giving back to others in need is a worthwhile and fulfilling endeavor that can help you find purpose and meaning in life
You say it's time to go, it's your time
Don't wait until it's too late to make a difference or pursue your goals - every moment counts
Angry words won't stop the fight
We need to channel our frustration and anger into constructive action, rather than lashing out in unproductive ways
Two wrongs won't make it right
Just because someone has wronged us doesn't mean we should retaliate in kind - we need to find more positive and constructive ways to address conflicts and grievances
A new heart is what I need
Changing the world starts with a change in our own hearts and attitudes - we need to let go of our preconceptions and biases and be open to new perspectives and ideas
Oh, God make it bleed
We need to be willing to confront the challenges and problems in our world and not shy away from them, even if it's difficult or painful to do so
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@youngtheotrevino9048
Like a song I have to sing
I sing it for you
Like the words I have to bring
I bring it for you
And in leather, lace and chains, we stake our claim
Revolution once again
No I won't, I won't wear it on my sleeve
I can see through this expression and you know I don't believe
Too old to be told, exactly who are you?
Tonight, tomorrow's too late
And we love to wear a badge, a uniform
And we love to fly a flag
But I won't let others live in hell
As we divide against each other
And we fight amongst ourselves
Too set in our ways to try to rearrange
Too right to be wrong, in this rebel song
Let the bells ring out
Let the bells ring out
Is there nothing left?
Is there, is there nothing?
Is there nothing left?
Is honesty what you want?
A generation without name, ripped and torn
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Nothing at all
And if you can't help yourself
Well take a look around you
When others need your time
You say it's time to go, it's your time
Angry words won't stop the fight
Two wrongs won't make it right
A new heart is what I need
Oh, God make it bleed
Is there nothing left?
@lefthook9707
This song really feels like all of that late 70s/early 80s angst in Ireland is bubbling over. One of their best, and certainly most overlooked, songs.
@seanjo71
100% my opinion
@pytski4345
Absolutely raw. My favorite U2 song if I was forced to pick one. You can hear the urgency and emotion in all four tracks - hidden 💎!
@bobnieuwenhuis3103
Raw, unpolished, loaded with soul.Great drums, great guitar, great voice. Great everything.
@McWhorterJ
I am 14 years old right now and I think U2 saved my life. By far this is my favorite song by U2. This is great
@caterpurrler6356
Damn. How’s life as a 27 year old?☹️
@magneto44
@Caterpurrler · was just wondering that myself
@schwibz
@Caterpurrler · well, I'm 30 and some of my earlier memories were my pops playing the likes of U2.. in fact as in typing this, I'm sitting in my van in a gas station parking lot, eating my beef and rice meal, while my dad sent me the link to this and a couple other U2 songs 🤣 rock on! 🤘
@downtheblvd1481
I was 14 when I got heavy into U2, too! Zooropa was the album out then. I love that album so much, it's still in my regular rotation today, along with tons of other U2 tunes. They definitely saved my life! 🎶🌈
@maxwiegerink7120
God Bless You J 😎✌