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
Song for Someone
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have some scars from where I've been
You've got eyes that can see right through me
You're not afraid of anything they've seen
I was told that I would feel nothing the first time
I don't know how these cuts heal
But in you I found a rhyme
If there is a light you can't always see
And there is a world we can't always be
If there is a dark that we shouldn't doubt
And there is a light, don't let it go out
And this is a song, a song for someone
This is a song, a song for someone
You let me in to a conversation
A conversation only we could make
You break and enter my imagination
Whatever's in there, it's yours to take
I was told I'd feel nothing the first time
You were slow to heal
But this could be the night
If there is a light you can't always see
And there is a world we can't always be
If there is a dark within and without
And there is a light, don't let it go out
And this is a song, a song for someone
This is a song, this is a song for someone
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And I'm a long, long way from your hill of Calvary
And I'm a long way from where I was, where I need to be
If there is a light you can't always see
And there is a world we can't always be
If there is a kiss I stole from your mouth
And there is a light, don't let it go out
In U2's Song for Someone, Bono is singing to someone he admires deeply. He describes the person as having a unique face, not conventionally beautiful but with a story to tell. In contrast, he recognizes that he bears scars from where he has been. The person's eyes have the ability to see through him, and they are not afraid of what they may find. The lyrics imply that this person is an anchor for Bono as he has been told that he would feel nothing the first time, but this person has been slow to heal him. The chorus of the song is a plea for not letting the light go out. The light could represent hope, love, or inner strength, but it is something that must be guarded and nurtured.
The song's bridge takes on a religious tone as Bono refers to the hill of Calvary, a significant location in Christian history. He acknowledges that he is far from that place and not where he needs to be. The verse ends with a powerful line that suggests a stolen kiss from the person in question, indicating a deep connection beyond mere admiration.
Overall, "Song for Someone" is a love song that is less about a romantic infatuation and more about the love we develop for people we admire and cherish. The song speaks to the essential need to hold onto those relationships that bring us light and hope, especially when we're out of that space ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
You got a face not spoiled by beauty
Your face isn't conventionally beautiful, but that doesn't make it any less appealing to me.
I have some scars from where I've been
I have been through some tough times and carry the scars as a reminder.
You’ve got eyes that can see right through me
Your eyes can look past my flaws and see me for who I really am.
You’re not afraid of anything they've seen
You don't judge me based on what others may have said about me.
I was told that I would feel nothing the first time
I was warned that my first experience may not be as meaningful as I expected.
I don’t know how these cuts heal
I don't know how to recover from the emotional wounds I carry.
But in you I found a rhyme
But with you, everything seems to make sense and fall into place.
If there is a light
There is a glimmer of hope.
You can’t always see
You may not immediately recognize it.
And there is a world
The world can be dark and unforgiving.
We can’t always be
We can't always be where we want to be or with whom we want to be.
If there is a dark
If there is despair or hopelessness.
Now we shouldn't doubt
We shouldn't give up hope and should try to find the light.
And there is a light
There is always a glimmer of hope.
Don’t let it go out
Don't let that hope fade away.
And this is a song
This is a message.
A song for someone
A message for someone who needs to hear it.
You let me into a conversation
You allowed me into your life.
A conversation only we could make
We share a unique connection that no one else can understand.
You break and enter my imagination
You inspire me and help me realize my creative potential.
Whatever’s in there
Whatever I can imagine.
It’s yours to take
You have the power to harness my creativity.
You were slow to heal
You have also been through tough times and are still recovering.
But this could be the night
This could be the moment where we both move forward and find hope.
Within and without
The darkness can be both internal and external.
And I’m a long way
I still have a long journey ahead of me.
From your hill of Calvary
From the place where you faced your own struggles and suffering.
From where I was, where I need to be
From a place of pain and hardship to a place of hope and healing.
If there is a kiss
If there is a moment of tenderness and intimacy.
I stole from your mouth
I took a kiss from you, but it was out of desperation and need rather than selfishness.
And there is a light
And there is still hope.
Don’t let it go out
Don't let that hope fade away.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emarloujohncobero1861
"Song For Someone"
You've got a face not spoiled by beauty
I have some scars from where I've been
You've got eyes that can see right through me
You're not afraid of anything they've seen
I was told that I would feel
Nothing the first time
I don't know how these cuts heal
But in you I found a right
If there is a light
You can always see
And there is a world
We can always be
If there is a dark
That we shouldn't doubt
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
You let me into a conversation
A conversation only we could make
You're breaking into my imagination
Whatever's in there is yours to take
I was told I'd feel
Nothing the first time
You were slow to heal
But this could be the night
If there is a light
You can always see
And there is a world
We can always be
If there is a dark
Within and without
And there is a light
Don't let it go out
And this is a song
A song for someone
This is a song
A song for someone
And I'm a long way
From your hill on Calvary
And I'm a long way
From where I was, where I need to be
If there is a light
You can always see
And there is a world
We can always be
If there is a kiss
I stole from your mouth
And there is a light,
Don't let it go out
@fumz5662
I feel like I owe U2 a huge apology for not appreciating the gift they gave us in the Songs Of Innocence album...the more I listen to it over the years...the more it strikes me what a truly beautiful phenomenal album it is.
@maboleth
Tell me about it. I'm discovering this masterpiece GEM of an album in 2022! I was ignorant of everything U2 did post POP era, 15 years under the radar.
@rockinrocketman
I like U2 but it's still terrible to me, will keep listening though :D
@thegrenb2756
@Unreal Tours 🤓🤓🤓🤓
@stringerb8618
You owe apple an apology they made it happen they paid U2. U2 didn’t do it for free lol
@poisondalilah
And after 30 years... Bono's voice never get old.
@NikonFstopper
My brother just passed away two days ago with brain cancer. We saw U2 three times together, just some of the lifetime of memories together. I miss him so much, and dedicate this to him. His light will shine brightly for all eternity.
@joziangelus6932
😭❤🇧🇷
@alfa3485
Deeply sorry for your loss, brother. May his soul rest in peace.
@tranthuyduong
May he rest in peace!