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
PRIDE
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
One man caught on a barbed-wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
Early morning, April four
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love
What more in the name of love?
The lyrics of U2's song "Pride" are a reflection on power dynamics, justice, and the transformative impact of love. The first verse acknowledges the role of a single individual ("One man") who has come to fulfill a certain purpose - be it to justify, overthrow or simply pass through. The second verse reflects on the various trials and tribulations that such individuals might face as they seek to make their mark in society. These include being caught on a barbed-wire fence, resisting and washing up on empty beaches, being betrayed by those close to them. Essentially, these verses are a meditation on the struggles of those who seek to make a difference, and the price they often have to pay.
However, the song is not intended to be a statement of despair. Throughout the chorus, the band asks the same question, "In the name of love, what more?" This refrain is a tribute to the transformative power of love and justice in society - a reminder of the ultimate purpose that drives humanity forward. The final verse makes this message explicit with a reference to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. The lyrics suggest that King's death was a tragedy, but it could not take away the progress that had been achieved in the name of love and justice. In essence, "Pride" is a call to arms for making the world a better place, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
One man come in the name of love
A single individual came with pure, selfless intentions.
One man come and go
Individuals come and go, but their impact can last forever.
One man come he to justify
A person came to set things right and make things fair.
One man to overthrow
One person capable of ending a reign of tyranny.
In the name of love
The love that drives people to act selflessly and with purpose.
What more in the name of love?
What greater motivator exists than love?
One man caught on a barbed-wire fence
A person caught in an impossible situation, with no clear path forward.
One man he resist
A person who refuses to be held down or oppressed.
One man washed on an empty beach
A person left alone, abandoned and isolated.
One man betrayed with a kiss
A person who suffered a great harm after being misled by a trusted individual.
Early morning, April four
A specific and significant moment in history.
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
A tragic event that forever changed the course of history.
Free at last, they took your life
A person who sacrificed their life for a greater cause, and who is now at peace.
They could not take your pride
Despite the ultimate sacrifice, the individual's spirit and sense of self-worth remains unbroken.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adamtmactiu7001
"Pride (In The Name Of Love)"
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come, he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
(nobody like you...)
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...
@1505harbor
King and U2
On May 26, 2017, David Evan’s guitar pick made contact with the thin metal string on his black Stratocaster guitar, reverberating through a packed house at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. That one note was the opening to U2′s “Pride (In the name of Love).” A deafening roar of approval followed.
“Pride” was released by U2 in 1984 as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., a man who lived in a time when it was very dangerous for a Black man to show pride.
On April 4, 1968, an assassin with what I am sure was a hate for that very pride would end King’s life.
As I stood with my brother and friend, moved beyond words, U2′s singer Paul Hewson (Bono) drove home the band’s message nearing the end with the lyrics, “Early morning, April four, Shot rings out in the Memphis sky, Free at last, they took your life, They could not take your pride.”
Once again a deafening roar arose from U2′s fans in the stadium. A roar I would like to think was one of respect for a great man and one of hope for the great dream that King envisioned.
King spoke of a day when Black men and women could be “free” of fear of losing their life due to simply being Black. There is still much work to be done, and I am certain he would want us to work diligently toward a goal of truly being the land of the free for all Americans. No exceptions.
Sadly, King never experienced true freedom. It was only after his last breath would he be “Free at last.”
Glen Blankenship, Ingleside
@glace5620
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life.
@user-dr1fc8dv5w
Классная песня
@rafaelcamino446
A mí me produce una tristeza y melancolía q cási puedo soportar !!!
Llora el alma desgarradora...😢😢😢
@tarstarkusz
It's propaganda.
@user-ce7dh9rz9m
"Free at last...
They took your life they
could not take your pride"
Gets me everytime
@jfournerat1274
What makes it interesting is that the line was referencing Martin Luther King Jr.
@Iris-gy2mi
Yes! “Early morning, April 4, shots rang out in the Memphis sky.”
@PhattyMcBoomBoom
"Early morning, April four,
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky,
Free at last. They took your life,
They could not take your pride."
This song's almost 40 years old and I hear it random times throughout each one mostly on the radio but those lyrics still get me every single time.
And likely always will.
@jfournerat1274
Is it because it reminds you of Martin Luther King Jr.
@marswmnwhoever2188
My child was born on that day and I can only hope that he will embody everything that Martin Luther King Jr and those that advocated for a world based on equality did. ❤