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
Southern Man
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
I saw cotton
and I saw black
Tall white mansions
and little shacks.
Southern man
when will you
pay them back?
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
Southern man
better keep your head
Don't forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man
Lily Belle,
your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man
comin' round
Swear by God
I'm gonna cut him down!
I heard screamin'
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
The U2 song "Southern Man" is a cover of the 1970 song by Neil Young, which addresses the oppression and violence against African Americans in the Southern United States. The lyrics in U2's version maintain the same sentiments and themes as the original song. The chorus urges Southern man to keep his head, remember what his good book says, and prepare for the change that is coming. The change referred to is the inevitable fall of the systems that have allowed for racism and brutality to flourish in the South, symbolized by the burning of crosses.
The verses are especially poignant as they describe the stark contrast of the rich, white landowners and their big mansions, versus the poor, black laborers living in shacks. The line "I saw cotton and I saw black" is particularly striking, as it highlights the connection between Southern cotton and the exploitation of African American labor. The next line "when will you pay them back?" is a call for justice and reparations to be made to the black community. The lyrics also reference the brutality of slavery, as the singer hears screaming and bullwhips cracking, asking "how long" will it continue?
Overall, U2's cover of "Southern Man" is a powerful message against the oppression of African Americans, a message that sadly still resonates with relevance in today's society.
Line by Line Meaning
Southern man
Addressing the Southern man with a sense of caution and warning.
better keep your head
Be careful and cautious, Southern man.
Don't forget
Remember and acknowledge.
what your good book said
Take heed of the teachings of the Bible and God's word.
Southern change
There is a change happening in the South.
gonna come at last
This change will happen eventually.
Now your crosses
The symbols of the South's racial past and present.
are burning fast
The South's issues with racial tension and conflict are rapidly reaching a boiling point.
Southern man
Addressing the caution again, as well as holding the man accountable for the region's problems.
I saw cotton
Observing the South's traditional economy and lifestyle.
and I saw black
Noticing the role of African Americans in Southern society.
Tall white mansions
The disparity between the wealthy and poverty-stricken in the region.
and little shacks.
The poverty and social inequality that was present.
Southern man
Addressing the man again, and questioning him.
when will you
Asking for accountability and action.
pay them back?
Asking for reparations and compensation for the wrongs done to African Americans.
I heard screamin'
Witnessing and acknowledging the pain and suffering of African Americans in the South.
and bullwhips cracking
A reference to the violence and brutality inflicted upon slaves and African Americans in the region.
How long? How long?
A plea for change and an end to the violence and oppression.
Southern man
Addressing the man once again.
better keep your head
Warning the man to stay alert and vigilant.
Don't forget
Reiterating the importance of remembering and acknowledging the situation in the South.
what your good book said
Urging the man to adhere to the teachings of the Bible and Christianity.
Southern change
Referencing the change happening in the region again.
gonna come at last
The change will come eventually.
Now your crosses
The symbols of Southern pride, heritage and oppression.
are burning fast
The world is changing and the South is being held accountable for its past.
Southern man
The man is once again addressed.
Lily Belle,
A reference to the Southern belle archetype.
your hair is golden brown
A description of the Southern belle's features.
I've seen your black man
Observing the relationship between the Southern whites and blacks.
comin' round
The presence of African Americans in Southern society.
Swear by God
Making an oath by God's name.
I'm gonna cut him down!
Threatening violence against African Americans in the region.
I heard screamin'
Referencing the sounds of violence and suffering once more.
and bullwhips cracking
Another reference to the brutality inflicted upon slaves and African Americans.
How long? How long?
Reiterating the plea for change and an end to the violence and oppression in the region.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@irtimed
what a mocery of the song, i looked at the coments before i watched it and i was like chill guys. now i completly agree
@Luis-mg5kc
Love it
@standarddefinition8195
Listened for four seconds
@lokdi
listen to Neil Young and forget this vid as soon as possible...
@corabainendean
These guys never fail to BRING IT!!!! Look at Bono's face. He LOVES being up there and just sucking the life out of the room.
@tallpaulrobertson
love it! Ha har ha. Who cares if its a bad cover u2 r rockin. its history, look at bono, now how entertaining is that!
@nippegmt
Props to Adam Clayton in this, Happy Birthday Man
@sisterrose13
They killed this song...
@m812mark4u
to an Irishman in Belfast, Southern Man means something different than in U.S. U2 is great, but even Neil needed Stephen Stills to "duel" with for this song. This ain't (southern word) even close.
@j9186
I like this different Cover. Love U2 and Love Neil Young