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
Lost on a Silent Planet
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Can you see me?)
Life on a distant planet another atmosphere
Life on a distant planet
So cold inside of here
You can see her but she can't see you
But she won't even hear you
In the morning of the day to the evening
D day and beyond
Lost on a silent planet
Two lone, rising stars
Locked on a silent planet
So close and yet so far
Children scream and shout
Their eyes torn out
Judith turns around and stumbles
To the ground
In the morning of the day the evening time
D day and beyond
Oh girl you fall out
Oh girl you come out to cry
Have you nothing to say
Girl you come out to cry
Have you nothing to say
In the morning on to the day time
To the evening d day and beyond
"Lost on a Silent Planet" by U2 is a song that explores the theme of feeling disconnected and isolated from a distant planet. The lyrics depict a sense of being alone and unable to communicate with someone who is physically present but emotionally distant. The opening lines, "Life on a distant planet, another atmosphere, Life on a distant planet, so cold inside of here," set the stage for a feeling of otherworldliness and emotional detachment.
The song describes a situation where one person can see and reach out to another, but their attempts to connect are met with indifference. The line, "You can see her but she can't see you, You can call her name, But she won't even hear you," highlights this lack of response and creates a sense of frustration and helplessness. The repetition of "Lost on a silent planet" emphasizes the theme of feeling lost and disconnected in this relationship.
The second verse introduces a jarring image of children screaming and their eyes torn out, possibly symbolizing the lack of innocence and empathy in this disconnected world. The mention of Judith stumbling to the ground suggests a fall from grace or a loss of stability.
The song's chorus, "Oh girl you fall out, Oh girl you come out to cry, Have you nothing to say, Girl you come out to cry, Have you nothing to say," reflects the inner turmoil and desperation of trying to communicate with someone who remains silent and unresponsive.
Overall, "Lost on a Silent Planet" speaks to the universal experience of feeling lost, disconnected, and unheard, even within the closest relationships. It captures the frustration and longing associated with trying to bridge emotional gaps and find genuine connection.
Line by Line Meaning
(Judith? Judith?, Can you hear me?)
Asking if Judith can hear and understand what is being said.
(Can you see me?)
Asking if Judith can see and perceive the singer's presence.
Life on a distant planet another atmosphere
Describing a different and unfamiliar life on a distant planet with its unique environment.
Life on a distant planet
So cold inside of here
Portraying the loneliness and emotional emptiness experienced in this foreign place.
You can see her but she can't see you
Expressing the one-sidedness of the connection, where the artist can see Judith, but she cannot see them.
You can call her name
But she won't even hear you
Revealing the futile attempt to communicate with Judith as she remains unaware and unresponsive.
In the morning of the day to the evening
D day and beyond
Referring to the passage of time, from morning to evening and beyond, symbolizing the continuous struggle to reach Judith.
Lost on a silent planet
Feeling lost and isolated on a planet devoid of communication and understanding.
Two lone, rising stars
Describing the artist and Judith as two individuals shining brightly but disconnected from each other.
Locked on a silent planet
So close and yet so far
Being trapped on this silent planet, with a sense of physical proximity but a vast emotional distance.
Children scream and shout
Their eyes torn out
Depicting the chaos and violence in this world, where innocent children suffer and lose their vision.
Judith turns around and stumbles
To the ground
Illustrating how Judith faces difficulties and falls down, both physically and metaphorically.
Oh girl you fall out
Oh girl you come out to cry
Expressing compassion towards Judith's pain and vulnerability as she experiences emotional breakdowns.
Have you nothing to say
Girl you come out to cry
Have you nothing to say
Questioning whether Judith has any thoughts or words to express other than her tears and sorrow.
In the morning on to the day time
To the evening d day and beyond
Reiterating the endless cycle of time, from morning to evening, and emphasizing the ongoing struggle to connect with Judith.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Lane
That bass part towards the end is beyond awesome. So totally different from any other sound U2 has ever done.
Cathy Overstreet
Thank you - this is GREAT!
u2htdaab
I'm not sure which is funnier, Bono wobbling around or Edge wriggling with his Explorer. I actually really like that song! Street Missions and The Fool just scares me...but that is very neat! And Bono's gloves are just priceless too :p
eddieg710
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!
Cristiano Dagostin
this is rock. is u2 baby.
dreamlandnightmare
For being at the cusp of the '80s, this is awfully '60s.
Carmen Selva
Baby U2 :)
blu
omg! xDD that is just too cute!!
mrAlmond1980
Loooollll....fantastic video and song...but let me say that Bono looks like Ringo Starr!!! ;-D
unmuffledceetje
edge wrote the lyrics to that song :D (i read it in U2by U2 :P)