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
Raised by Wolves
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a man in the corner
In a pool of misery
I'm in white van
As a red sea covers the ground
Metal crash
I can't tell what it is
And now I'm sorry I did
5:30 on a Friday night
Thirty three good people cut down
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Face down on a pillow of shame
There are some girls with a needle
Tryin' to spell my name
My body's not a canvas
My body's now a toilet wall
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear
Running wild
Running wild
Boy sees his father
Crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate
Blue mink Ford
I'm gonna detonate in your den
Blood in the house
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear
Running wild
In U2's song "Raised By Wolves," the lyrics delve into the horror of a terrorist attack. The scene being described is chaotic, with a man in a pool of misery on a broken street and the singer in a white van witnessing a red sea covering the ground. The metal crash draws the singer's attention, and upon investigation, they see the aftermath of thirty-three people being killed. The second verse introduces a different atmosphere, with the singer seemingly in a drug-induced stupor. They describe girls with a needle trying to spell their name on their body - which has become akin to a toilet wall.
Throughout the song, the chorus is a chant of "Raised by wolves, stronger than fear." What's compelling about this line is that it can be interpreted in a few different ways. Initially, one might assume the singer is suggesting that they were raised in the literal sense by wolves - a tribe of self-sufficient, hearty creatures who taught them the importance of strength in the face of adversity. But it's also possible that "raised by wolves" is referring to the idea of being born into a world of chaos, where one must adapt quickly and learn to survive, and drawing a comparison to the strength and resilience of the wolf.
The track's bridge - "Boy sees his father crushed under the weight of a cross in a passion where the passion is hate" - is a direct reference to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which were a series of co-ordinated attacks carried out by Ulster loyalists. The singer describes a desire to "detonate in your den," possibly indicating a desire to strike back against those who have committed this act of violence, and by extension, all terrorist groups.
Line by Line Meaning
Face down on a broken street
Starting off in despair or defeat
There's a man in the corner
Someone else's suffering in sight
In a pool of misery
A person drowning in his own sorrows
I'm in white van
The artist is watching from a distance, in a position of safety
As a red sea covers the ground
Blood everywhere, an apocalyptic scene
Metal crash
A sudden, jarring noise
I can't tell what it is
Uncertainty, confusion
But I take a look
The artist can't resist investigating
And now I'm sorry I did
Regret over what the artist is seeing
5:30 on a Friday night
After work or after study, leisure activities commence at night
Thirty three good people cut down
The tragedy of innocent people being killed
I don't believe anymore
The artist has lost faith in humanity, possibly after seeing the horrible things people are capable of
Face down on a pillow of shame
Shame for the actions that led to feeling despair
There are some girls with a needle
Drug use
Tryin' to spell my name
Lack of self-control over addiction
My body's not a canvas
The artist believes that tattoos or piercings would not be a suitable way to enhance one's appearance
My body's now a toilet wall
The artist's life seems meaningless, symbolized by the vulgar imagery of a toilet wall
Raised by wolves
The singer has been hardened and made resilient by a difficult upbringing or life experience
Stronger than fear
Despite past trauma or negative experiences, the singer is not afraid of whatever comes next
If I open my eyes
Uncertainty of what will be seen
You disappear
Breaking of connection or relationship
Running wild
Living on instincts out of free will against the norms or order of life to fit in.
Boy sees his father
A young person witnessing loss of their parental figure
Crushed under the weight
Death caused by heavy burdens of life.
Of a cross in a passion
Symbolism of Christ’s death and suffering
Where the passion is hate
People’s beliefs fuel hate
Blue mink Ford
Symbolism of luxury and indulgence
I'm gonna detonate in your den
The artist is going to put an end to someone's luxury/sentimental indulgence
Blood in the house
Violence occurring even at a private place like home
Blood on the street
Violence happening even in a public area
The worst things in the world
The overarching gloom of the actions taking place
Are justified by belief
People believe their actions no matter how harmful are right.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elviscastillo8588
CRIADOS POR LOBOS
Con la cabeza baja en una calle rota
Hay un hombre en la esquina en un charco de miseria.
Estoy en una furgoneta blanca mientras un mar rojo cubre el suelo
Choque de metal que no puedo decir lo que es
Pero echo un vistazo y ahora siento haberlo hecho
5:30 del viernes noche 33 buenas personas liquidadas
Ya no creo más
ya no creo más
Con la cabeza baja en una almohada de vergüenza
Hay algunas chicas con una aguja intentando escribir mi nombre
Mi cuerpo no es un lienzo
Mi cuerpo no es la pared de un retrete
Ya no creo más
ya no creo más
Criados por lobos
Más fuertes que el miedo
Criados por lobos
Fuimos criados por lobos
Criados por lobos
más fuertes que el miedo
Si abro los ojos,
desapareces
El chico ve a su padre machacado bajo el peso
de una cruz en una pasión donde la pasión es el odio.
Ford visón azul, te voy a detonar y estás muerto
sangre en la casa
sangre en la calle
las peores cosas en el mundo están justificadas por la fe
registro 1385-WZ
Ya no creo más
ya no creo más
Criados por lobos
Más fuertes que el miedo
Criados por lobos
Fuimos criados por lobos
Criados por lobos
más fuertes que el miedo
Si abro los ojos,
desapareces
@4.n.k.i.t
Overview
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Face down on a broken street
There's a man in the corner
In a pool of misery
I'm in white van
As a red sea covers the ground
Metal crash
I can't tell what it is
But I take a look
And now I'm sorry I did
5:30 on a Friday night
Thirty three good people cut down
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Face down on a pillow of shame
There are some girls with a needle
Tryin' to spell my name
My body's not a canvas
My body's now a toilet wall
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear
Running wild
Running wild
Boy sees his father
Crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion
Where the passion is hate
Blue mink Ford
I'm gonna detonate in your den
Blood in the house
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world
Are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ
I don't believe anymore
I don't believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes
You disappear
Running wild
@zelalnazkulaz8912
Face down on a broken street
There’s a man in the corner in a pool of misery
I’m in a white van as a red sea covers the ground
Metal crash I can’t tell what it is
But I take a look and now I’m sorry I did.
5:30 on a Friday night 33 good people cut down
I don’t believe anymore
I don’t believe anymore
Face down on a pillow of shame
There are some girls with a needle trying to spell my name
My body’s not a canvas
My body’s now a toilet wall
I don’t believe anymore
I don’t believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes,
You disappear
Boy sees his father crushed under the weight
Of a cross in a passion where the passion is hate.
Blue mink Ford, I’m gonna detonate and you’re dead
Blood in the house,
Blood on the street
The worst things in the world are justified by belief
Registration 1385-WZ
I don’t believe anymore
I don’t believe anymore
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
Raised by wolves
We were raised by wolves
Raised by wolves
Stronger than fear
If I open my eyes,
You disappear
@Eli-fch
I remember when apple put the u2 album on my phone, I listened to this song constantly😍
@svendkarlkarlson2071
Same
@stephaniecorbin6447
I love that whole album
@marcusmanibog5117
I still have it to this day
@deeptisinha4709
Amen
@mutedwoodlands
Bro same!
@garfield5179
This takes me back to 5th grade when Apple dropped this album on everyone’s phone and I would listen to this on my iPod touch 4th generation on repeat on my way to school 🥰
@midgethater2238
Same
@Cython_
Bro what lmao was this everyone too
@raulramirez566
Same