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
Ultra Violet
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I feel like I don't know
Sometimes I feel like checkin' out
I want to get it wrong
Can't always be strong
And love it won't be long
Oh sugar, don't you cry
You know I need you to be strong
And the day is as dark as the night is long
Feel like trash, you make me feel clean
I'm in the black, can't see or be seen
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Alright now
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
You bury your treasure
Where it can't be found
But your love is like a secret
That's been passed around
There is a silence that comes to a house
Where no one can sleep
I guess it's the price of love
I know it's not cheap
Oh, come on
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Oh, come on
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Oh, ultraviolet (oh)
Ultraviolet (oh)
Ultraviolet (oh)
Ultraviolet
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
I remember
When we could sleep on stones
Now we lie together
In whispers and moans
When I was all messed up
And I had opera in my head
Your love was a light bulb
Hanging over my bed
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Oh, come on,
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Oh, ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
The lyrics to U2's Ultra Violet are a mix of abstract and personal emotions that the band members experienced at some point in their life. The opening lines are about feeling lost and confused, and questioning your own strength. The singer talks about wanting to make mistakes because he cannot always be strong. He then reassures someone that he needs them to be strong and not give up in difficult times.
The second verse contains some metaphors and poetic language. The "treasure" that is buried and passed around could refer to the singer's love for someone that they are unable to express or share with others. There is a feeling of loneliness and sadness in this verse, as the singer talks about the silence that comes to a house and the price of love.
The chorus that follows is a plea for someone to "light my way," to guide the singer out of the darkness that they are feeling. The repetition of "baby, baby, baby" emphasizes the urgency and desperation of this request.
The song's title, Ultra Violet, is a reference to the color of light that is invisible to the human eye. The lyrics seem to suggest that there are deeper, more subtle emotions that we cannot always see or express. Overall, Ultra Violet is a song about vulnerability, love, and the need for human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
The singer is acknowledging the complexity of the emotions that they are about to express.
Sometimes I feel like I don't know
The singer is expressing a sense of confusion or uncertainty about their life and their direction.
Sometimes I feel like checkin' out
The singer is feeling overwhelmed and may want to escape their current situation.
I want to get it wrong
The artist wants to make mistakes and learn from them to grow as a person.
Can't always be strong
The artist recognizes that they can't always be tough and need to allow themselves to be vulnerable sometimes.
And love it won't be long
The singer recognizes that love may be fleeting or difficult to find and maintain.
Oh sugar, don't you cry
The singer is trying to comfort someone who may be feeling upset or sad.
Oh child, wipe the tears from your eyes
The artist is addressing a young person and trying to help them feel better.
You know I need you to be strong
The artist is asking the other person to be resilient and not give up hope.
And the day is as dark as the night is long
The artist is describing a situation that feels hopeless and never-ending, using an extended metaphor.
Feel like trash, you make me feel clean
The singer is describing how the other person makes them feel loved and valuable despite feeling worthless themselves.
I'm in the black, can't see or be seen
The artist feels isolated and invisible, as if they are in complete darkness.
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
The singer is asking the other person to guide them and help them find their way.
Alright now
The singer is expressing approval and enthusiasm for the situation.
You bury your treasure
The singer is describing how someone hides their most valuable possessions or secrets.
Where it can't be found
The person is careful to keep their treasure hidden and secure.
But your love is like a secret
The artist is comparing the other person's love to a secret that has been passed around or shared by many.
That's been passed around
The singer is emphasizing that this love is not just a shallow emotion but something that has been experienced and appreciated by others as well.
There is a silence that comes to a house
The singer describes a stillness or quietness that can be unsettling in a home.
Where no one can sleep
The atmosphere is so tense or foreboding that it prevents anyone from resting.
I guess it's the price of love
The artist is suggesting that the difficulties and challenges of love are simply part of the experience and must be accepted.
I know it's not cheap
The artist acknowledges that love can be costly or difficult to maintain.
Oh, come on
The singer is urging the other person to take action or help them in some way.
Oh ultraviolet
The artist is referring to a bright, vivid color and using it as a metaphor for something brilliant or powerful.
Ultraviolet
Repetition of the metaphor to reinforce its significance.
Ultraviolet
Further reinforcement of the metaphor.
Ultraviolet
Final repetition of the metaphor.
Baby, baby, baby, light my way
The artist repeats the earlier line, calling upon the other person to guide them and show them the path forward.
I remember
The artist is recalling a past experience or memory.
When we could sleep on stones
The singer describes a time when they were able to rest even in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances.
Now we lie together
The singer is describing their current relationship with the other person.
In whispers and moans
The artist uses vivid language to describe the intimacy and intensity of their current situation.
When I was all messed up
The artist is acknowledging a time in the past when they were struggling or in a difficult place emotionally.
And I had opera in my head
The artist is using a metaphor to describe the emotional intensity or drama of their inner life at that time.
Your love was a light bulb
The singer describes how the other person's love illuminated and helped them through a dark period in their life.
Hanging over my bed
The artist is using imagery to reinforce the metaphor and emphasize how significant the other person's love was to them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patrickfreeland5798
I named my daughter Alayna Violet after this song. it is still my #1 favorite song of U2's ever....so many memories with it. Last week, at almost 5 years old, I had her listen to the song on AB, she had quite a smile on her face....i think it was pride....she's already a U2 fan. Hearing her sing "Ultraviolet liiiiiight!" is priceless!!!
@skwaaaaa
It's such a happy good vibe song no wonder she had a smile on her face lol. It's refreshing to hear you're getting her into some real music before she starts listening to niki Minaj and the likes :(
@JuanRamirez-vz4hb
Cool awesome song
@maggiereilley1500
+Patrick Freeland Beautiful name for your little girl!! :))
@patrickfreeland5798
+Maggie Reilley thank you!
@beteart
💟😘
@Lummers74
I lost my mother around the time Achtung Baby was released and the line in this song “There is a silence that comes to the house where no one can sleep” could not have been more true, as our home was no longer filled with the sound of her voice and laughter...only memories. This song helped me through one of the toughest times of my life and I can’t thank you enough. A true classic,
@wanderalmeida9584
Stay strong. Regards from Brazil. ❤️🙏
@enigmal
I'm pretty sure that Bono refers to his mother when he sings "When I was all messed up, and I had opera in my head (reference to his father) / Your love was a lightbulb hanging over my bed"
@Hash2009
Bless your family.