U2 is an Irish alternative rock band from Dublin formed in 1976. The group… Read Full Bio ↴U2 is an Irish alternative rock band from Dublin formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion). Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic sound built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's effects-based guitar textures. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group has staged several ambitious and elaborate tours over their career.

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

Whiskey in the Jar
U2 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o

There's whiskey in the jar-o

I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she'd love me, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman for you know she treat me easy

Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' my money with me and I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels

Now some men like the fishin' and some men like the fowlin'
And some men like ta hear a cannon ball a roarin'

Me I like sleepin' specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain yeah

Overall Meaning

U2's rendition of the traditional Irish folk song Whiskey in the Jar tells the story of a man traveling through the Cork and Kerry mountains who comes across Captain Farrell counting his money. The singer then draws his pistol and sword and threatens the captain to stand and deliver. This leads to the man taking all of the captain's money and bringing it home to Molly, who he has given his heart to.

However, Molly ends up betraying him, and the man finds himself in jail with a ball and chain. The lyrics are reflective of the typical themes present in Irish folk music of love, betrayal, and loss. The use of colloquial Irish expressions like "Musha ring dum a doo dum a da" and "Whack for my daddy-o" further display the song's authenticity and Irish roots.

Interestingly, Whiskey in the Jar has gone through many iterations and variations throughout the years. It is believed to have originated in the 17th century and has been played by numerous artists ever since, including Thin Lizzy, Metallica, and Grateful Dead, among others. It has become a staple tune in traditional Irish music and is often performed at Irish weddings, pubs, and festivals.

Line by Line Meaning

As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains
While traveling through the Cork and Kerry mountains

I saw Captain Farrell and his money he was countin'
I spotted Captain Farrell counting his wealth

I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I drew my gun and then my sword

I said stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya
I warned him to give up his money or risk being harmed

Musha ring dum a doo dum a da
Phrase with no specific meaning

Whack for my daddy-o
Cheering for his father

There's whiskey in the jar-o
Notable information of whiskey being present

I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I stole all of the captain's money, and it was worth a lot

I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly
I brought the stolen money back to my lover, Molly

She swore that she'd love me, never would she leave me
Molly promised to always love and never abandon me

But the devil take that woman for you know she treat me easy
But she ended up betraying me, and I blame her for my troubles

Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber
In a state of drunkenness and exhaustion, I went to Molly's room

Takin' my money with me and I never knew the danger
I brought the stolen money with me and was unaware of the danger I was in

For about six or maybe seven in walked Captain Farrell
Suddenly, Captain Farrell walked into the room after some time had passed

I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels
In a panic, I quickly fired both of my pistols and shot him

Now some men like the fishin' and some men like the fowlin'
Some men enjoy fishing, while others enjoy hunting birds

And some men like ta hear a cannon ball a roarin'
Some men like the sound of a cannonball roaring

Me I like sleepin' specially in my Molly's chamber
Personally, I enjoy sleeping in Molly's room

But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain yeah
But now I find myself imprisoned and restrained

Writer(s): Brian Michael Downey, Eric Bell, Philip Parris Lynott Copyright: Pippin The Friendly Ranger Mus. Co. Ltd.

Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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