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
Wave Of Sorrow
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To wake up this morning is an act of will
Walk through the night to get here today
To bring your children, to give them away
Oh, oh, this cruel sun, is daylight never done?
Cruelty just begun to make a shadow of everyone
And if the rain came
Souls bent over without a breeze
Blankets on burning trees
I am sick without disease
Nobility on it's knees
And if the rain came
And if the rain came, now
Would it wash us all away on a wave of sorrow?
Wave, wave of sorrow
Where now the holy cities? Where are the ancient holy scrolls?
Where now Emperor Menelek and Queen of Sheba's gold?
You, my bride wear a crown, on your finger, precious stone
As every good thing now been sold
Son, of shepherd boy, now king
What wisdom can you bring?
What lyric could you sing?
Where is the music of the Seraphim?
And if the rain came
And if the rain came, now
Would it wash us all away, on a wave of sorrow?
Wave, on a wave of sorrow, wave
Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what's left of the earth
Blessed are the kings who have left their thrones
They are blessed in this valley of dry bones
Blessed all of you with an empty heart
For you have nothing from which you cannot part
Blessed is the ego if it's all we got this hour
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Blessed is the sex worker's body sold tonight
She works for what she's got to save her children's life
Blessed are the deaf who cannot hear a scream
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Blessed are the tin can, cardboard slums
And blessed is the spirit that overcomes
The lyrics of U2's "Wave of Sorrow" paint a picture of a desolate world, filled with cruelty, suffering, and loss. The opening lines set the scene: there is a heat haze rising over "hell's own hill" and waking up in the morning requires an act of willpower. The singer has walked through the night to get here today, to bring their children and give them away. The cruel sun beats down on everyone, making a shadow of them.
The lyrics then ask a series of questions. If the rain came, would it wash away the sorrow and suffering? The world is full of bent souls and burning trees, and the question is whether the rain could put things right.
The middle section of the song reflects on the state of the world. The holy cities are gone, and the ancient holy scrolls have disappeared. The singer wonders about the music of the Seraphim and what wisdom a shepherd boy turned king could bring. The lines "As every good thing now been sold" suggest that nothing valuable remains in the world.
The song ends with a series of blessings for those who are struggling in the world. The meek will inherit what's left of the earth, the kings who left their thrones are blessed, and those with empty hearts are blessed because they have nothing to hold onto. The voice that speaks truth to power is blessed, as is the sex worker's body sold tonight, for she works to save her children's lives. The song concludes with a final blessing for the spirit that overcomes.
Line by Line Meaning
Heat haze rising on hell's own hill
The scorching heat wave is getting worse on this barren landscape.
To wake up this morning is an act of will
Living another day requires a conscious effort amidst the oppressive conditions.
Walk through the night to get here today
To arrive here, it was necessary to travel through the darkness and danger of the night.
To bring your children, to give them away
The sacrifice of bringing one's children to this place, only to leave them behind.
Oh, oh, this cruel sun, is daylight never done?
Is there no end to the agony of this hot sun, which mercilessly beats down upon us?
Cruelty just begun to make a shadow of everyone
The oppression has only just started, casting a dark shadow over all of us.
And if the rain came
What if there was relief from the oppressive heat?
Souls bent over without a breeze
The lack of wind makes it unbearably difficult to stand upright.
Blankets on burning trees
The trees, once beautiful, now serve as fuel and offer no respite from the heat.
I am sick without disease
The environment is so hostile, it has negative effects on one's health despite not being ill.
Nobility on it's knees
Even the most powerful and respected individuals are subject to the current state of affairs.
Would it wash us all away on a wave of sorrow?
What if relief from this hardship came at a great cost to everything we know and love?
Where now the holy cities? Where are the ancient holy scrolls?
The places and traditions once considered sacred have been abandoned or destroyed.
Where now Emperor Menelek and Queen of Sheba's gold?
Even the wealth and treasures of history's greatest rulers have been lost or stolen.
You, my bride wear a crown, on your finger, precious stone
The symbols of happiness and wealth are fleeting and ultimately meaningless in the face of overwhelming hardship.
As every good thing now been sold
It seems as though every positive aspect of life has been taken away or corrupted.
Son, of shepherd boy, now king
Once a humble shepherd, now elevated to the status of royalty.
What wisdom can you bring?
What good is newfound power if it cannot bring any positive change or progress?
What lyric could you sing?
What inspiration or message could be shared through music to uplift and improve the lives of those suffering?
Where is the music of the Seraphim?
Is there any hope for divine intervention or guidance in our darkest hour?
Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
Those who persist in the face of adversity without complaint or entitlement will receive rewards.
For they shall inherit what's left of the earth
After everything is said and done, the humble and patient will survive and thrive.
Blessed are the kings who have left their thrones
Those who are willing to relinquish their position of power for the greater good will be rewarded.
They are blessed in this valley of dry bones
Amidst the desolate and hopeless landscape, those who lead by example and sacrifice will still find blessings.
Blessed all of you with an empty heart
Those who have lost everything and still have an open and hopeful heart will receive comfort.
For you have nothing from which you cannot part
When all material possessions are lost or useless, those who are truly blessed are those who have their inner strength and faith.
Blessed is the ego if it's all we got this hour
When there's nothing else left to hold onto, one's pride and sense of self-worth can still provide a sense of purpose.
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Even when speaking out against injustice can cause harm, it is noble and necessary to do so.
Blessed is the sex worker's body sold tonight
Despite being stigmatized and exploited, those who engage in sex work still have inherent worth and potential to be blessed.
She works for what she's got to save her children's life
Even in the most desperate circumstances, a mother's love and sacrifice knows no bounds.
Blessed are the deaf who cannot hear a scream
Those who are spared the trauma of experiencing pain or suffering firsthand can still find blessings in their own way.
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Even those who may lack intelligence or worldly knowledge can still have the beauty and power of imagination.
Blessed are the tin can, cardboard slums
Even the most modest and makeshift homes can be full of love, hope, and blessings.
And blessed is the spirit that overcomes
Ultimately, those who persevere and come out the other side of hardship can find great blessings and strength in their spirit.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A me
on eleven o' clock tick tock
And girls can make children but not like this one...so will just have to walk around with a painted face then...
LMewdowlark
on One
Baby, baby, baby, I know I'm not alone
Ha, ha, ha
Oh, it's not a hill it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
Let's shout into the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light
You know we're gonna go crazy, you know we'll go crazy
You know we'll go crazy, if we don't go crazy tonight
Oh, slowly
Oh
Hold me slow
Again, these are the wrong lyrics. They are not the lyrics for 'One' but a different song. I pasted the correct lyrics in my other comment.
LMewdowlark
on One
And there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet-tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?
Oh, change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting?
We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Every generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won't listen to you boys and girls
Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?
The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but change of heart comes slow
It's not a hill, it's a mountain
As you start out the climb
You see, for me, I've been shouting
But we're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame?
You say, one love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love, we get to share it
Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well, it's too late tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much? More than a lot
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, love a higher law
Love is a temple, love the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on to what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One
One