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
Numb (Mike Hedges mix previou
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't talk out of time
Don't think
Don't worry
Everything's just fine
Just fine
Don't grab
Don't hope for too much
Don't breathe
Don't achieve
Or grieve without leave
Don't check
Just balance on the fence
Don't answer
Don't ask
Don't try and make sense
Don't whisper
Don't talk
Don't run if you can walk
Don't cheat, compete
Don't miss the one beat
Don't travel by train
Don't eat
Don't spill
Don't piss in the drain
Don't make a will
Don't fill out any forms
Don't compensate
Don't cower
Don't crawl
Don't come around late
Don't hover at the gate
Don't take it on board
Don't fall on your sword
Just play another chord
If you feel you're getting bored
I feel numb
I feel numb
Too much is not enough
I feel numb
Don't change your brand
Don't listen to the band
Don't gape
Don't ape
Don't change your shape
Have another grape
Too much is not enough
I feel numb
I feel numb
Don't plead
Don't bridle
Don't shackle
Don't grind
Don't curve
Don't swerve
Lie, die, serve
Don't theorize, realize, polarize
Chance, dance,dismiss, apologize
Too much is not enough
I feel numb
Don't spy
Don't lie
Don't try
Imply
Detain
Explain
Start again
I feel numb
Don't triumph
Don't coax
Don't cling
Don't hoax
Don't freak
Peak
Don't leak
Don't speak
I feel numb
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
I feel numb
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
I feel numb
Don't struggle
Don't jerk
Don't collar
Don't work
Don't wish
Don't fish
Don't teach
Don't reach
Too much is not enough
Don't borrow
Don't break
Don't fence
Don't steal
Don't pass
Don't press
Don't try
Don't feel
I feel numb
Don't touch
Don't dive
Don't suffer
Don't rhyme
Don't fantasize
Don't rise
Don't lie
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
I feel numb
The lyrics of U2's Numb (Mike Hedges mix) present a list of instructions on how to feel numb or emotionally detached. The song's message can be seen as a critique of societal pressure to conform and hide one's true emotions to fit in. Throughout the song, the singer encourages the listener to suppress any emotional response, to not move or speak out of turn, and to give up on trying to make sense of anything. The refrain of "too much is not enough" suggests a sense of emptiness or lack of fulfillment despite seemingly having everything.
The song's repetition of commands and its monotone delivery mimic the feeling of emotional numbness, as if the singer is going through the motions without really experiencing anything. The list of commands ranges from mundane instructions like not spilling or pissing in the drain to more philosophical instructions like not theorizing or realizing. The song seems to suggest that by following these instructions and becoming numb, one can escape the pain of feeling too much and the pressures of society to perform and conform.
Overall, U2's Numb (Mike Hedges mix) presents a cynical view of society's expectations and encourages detachment from emotions as a coping mechanism. The repetition of instructions and the monotony of the delivery create a sense of numbness that the listener can almost feel themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't move
Stop moving
Don't talk out of time
Don't speak at the wrong time
Don't think
Stop thinking
Don't worry
Stop worrying
Everything's just fine
Everything is supposedly alright
Just fine
Still everything is only supposedly alright
Don't grab
Don't hold on too tightly
Don't clutch
Don't hold firmly
Don't hope for too much
Don't have high hopes
Don't breathe
Stop breathing
Don't achieve
Stop achieving anything
Or grieve without leave
Don't even have the right to grieve
Don't check
Don't verify
Just balance on the fence
Stay neutral and don't take sides
Don't answer
Don't respond
Don't ask
Don't inquire
Don't try and make sense
Don't attempt to understand
Don't whisper
Don't speak softly
Don't talk
Don't speak
Don't run if you can walk
Take it slow even if you can go faster
Don't cheat, compete
You should compete fairly
Don't miss the one beat
Do not miss important steps or events
Don't travel by train
Don't use public transportation
Don't eat
Refuse to eat
Don't spill
Don't let anything spill
Don't piss in the drain
Don't relieve yourself anywhere
Don't make a will
Don't plan for the future
Don't fill out any forms
Don't complete any paperwork
Don't compensate
Don't make up for something
Don't cower
Don't be afraid
Don't crawl
Don't move like a crawling insect
Don't come around late
Don't arrive late
Don't hover at the gate
Don't linger near an entrance
Don't take it on board
Don't accept or believe it
Don't fall on your sword
Don't sacrifice yourself
Just play another chord
Try something new
If you feel you're getting bored
When you start losing interest
I feel numb
I feel disconnected and apathetic
Too much is not enough
I need more to feel anything
Don't change your brand
Don't switch to a different brand
Don't listen to the band
Don't pay attention to the band's music
Don't gape
Don't stare with an open mouth
Don't ape
Don't mimic or copy others
Don't change your shape
Don't transform or alter yourself
Have another grape
Indulge in something that gives instant pleasure
Don't plead
Don't beg
Don't bridle
Don't show anger
Don't shackle
Don't restrain yourself
Don't grind
Don't work harder than necessary
Don't curve
Don't change direction
Don't swerve
Don't change direction abruptly
Lie, die, serve
Little meaning other than sounding like rhyming things
Don't theorize, realize, polarize
Don't try to understand, accept, or divide
Chance, dance, dismiss, apologize
Little meaning other than sounding like rhyming things
Don't spy
Don't secretly watch or investigate
Don't lie
Don't tell a falsehood
Don't try
Don't attempt
Imply
Suggest indirectly
Detain
Hold in custody against their will
Explain
Make something clear
Start again
Reset and try again
Don't triumph
Don't win
Don't coax
Don't persuade gently
Don't cling
Don't hold on too tightly
Don't hoax
Don't trick or deceive
Don't freak
Don't be scared or panic
Peak
The highest point
Don't leak
Don't release information or fluid
Don't speak
Don't say anything
Don't project
Don't put something out there
Don't connect
Don't build a relationship
Protect
Shield or defend
Don't expect
Don't anticipate or hope for something
Suggest
Propose or recommend
Don't struggle
Don't fight or resist
Don't jerk
Don't move abruptly
Don't collar
Don't grasp or seize something
Don't work
Don't labor or put in effort
Don't wish
Don't desire something
Don't fish
Don't try to catch fish
Don't teach
Don't instruct or educate
Don't reach
Don't extend or stretch out
Don't borrow
Don't loan
Don't break
Don't shatter or fracture
Don't fence
Don't put up a barrier
Don't steal
Don't take without permission
Don't pass
Don't go past something
Don't press
Don't apply pressure
Don't feel
Don't experience any emotion or sensation
Don't touch
Don't make physical contact
Don't dive
Don't jump into water headfirst
Don't suffer
Don't feel pain
Don't rhyme
Don't use words that sound the same
Don't fantasize
Don't imagine impossible things
Don't rise
Don't increase in height or level
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MIKE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@teresaharless5756
Awesome!
@romualdopezzati2233
Un geniooooo mi piace tantissimo
@BBRemixes
Thanks, will do a proper version someday :-)
@patriziabonini3324
Good Morning