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
Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own / No Regrets
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight
Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
We fight, all the time
You and I, that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need, I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more
Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Say, say, say
I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can you hear me when I
Sing, you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me
We're here now
I've still got to let you know
A house doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
Best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
In U2's "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," the song explores the themes of dependency and love. The singer of the song is admitting that he needs someone to lean on; he acknowledges that he isn't always strong enough to face the world alone. He emphasizes that the person he needs is the same one who has caused friction in their relationship, and despite their differences, he needs them to be there to support him. The lyrics convey the message that it's okay to not always have it together and to rely on others for help and support.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it repeats the line "Sometimes you can't make it on your own." This repetition drives home the idea that everyone needs extra help sometimes, and it is okay to ask for it. The lines "It's you when I look in the mirror, and it's you when I don't pick up the phone" suggest that the person the singer needs is always there, even when they are physically absent. The final lines of the song "Sometimes you can't make it, best you can do is to fake it," suggest that sometimes pretending to be strong is the best we can do, but that's okay.
Overall, "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," is a powerful message about the importance of vulnerability and seeking help when we need it. The song encourages listeners to reach out and connect with others when they need support instead of trying to be strong and independent all the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You seem to be tough enough and you tell everyone about it
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight
You don't need to constantly argue or be right all the time, I can take some of the burden for you tonight
Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone
Pay attention, I have to tell you that you don't need to face your problems alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
I see you in myself and even when I'm avoiding you, sometimes we can't handle things by ourselves
We fight, all the time
You and I, that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need, I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more
We argue frequently and we're okay with it, because we have a connection that needs no justification
Say, say, say
No clear meaning, could be interpreted as an interlude
I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can you hear me when I
Sing, you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me
I know we don't communicate well, and I'm fed up of this situation. However, you inspire my music and my passions
We're here now
I've still got to let you know
A house doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone
We're together now, but I still have to tell you that a house does not make a home, and I don't want to be left alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
I see you in myself and it's difficult to move on from you, sometimes we can't handle things alone
Sometimes you can't make it
Best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't handle situations alone, and the only option left is to pretend
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gregorypower9385
This man has me some of the most powerful music you two always going to be my number one y'all have made some incredible music over the years
@giannagarcia4937
WOOWWWWW....AMAZING SONG, UNA CANCIÓN QUE LLEGA MUY PROFUNDO TOCANDO FIBRAS PORQUE NACIÓ DEL CORAZÓN, DEL SUFRIMIENTO, Y ASÍ LA CANTA SIEMPRE ....LARGA VIDA A BONO VIVA U2
@gastoncomeau6484
Thanks for posting...such a powerful song....one that we can all relate to..whether to a parent, friend, sibling...that's what makes U2's music timesless. As a rule I like their old stuff better, but this is a good song. U2 forever...
@emmaferlin2870
Thank you for this new version beautiful, but so very strong
@davidecapaldo1971
Wonderful
@MegaTrainspotter
It's amazing how songs that are written from the heart are the best? Check out,ONE,WITH OR WITHOUT YOU,THIS SONG and to many to mention from other great bands like u2..Wonderwall from oasis is another example..
@detjkimbell
just amazing. this song is something special
@missyA1958
Great Song! Fantastic Post! U2 4-ever and always!
@gregorypower9385
One thing also I like about you too it's still have the 4 original guys
@benoitvinel2234
So good !!!!!