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
Volcano
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can hurt yourself tryin' to hold on
To what you used to be
I'm so glad the past is all gone
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
Your eyes were like landing lights
They used to be the clearest blue
Now you don't see so well
The future's gonna land on you
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Do you live here or is this a vacation
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
You're on a piece of ground above a volcano
You were alone
And now you're not alone
You were alone
But you are rock n' roll
You and I are rock n' roll
But you are rock n' roll
You and I are rock n' roll
Oh, volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
You're on a piece of ground above a volcano
The song 'Volcano' by U2 evokes powerful emotions with its lyrics, addressing the concept of change and how it can either break you apart or define you. The lyrics hint at how the past can restrict and hurt you if you continue to hold onto it. The chorus of the song talks about a bubbling volcano that's ready to blow, and it uses this analogy as a metaphor for the internal turmoil that people feel when they're faced with change. The lyrics suggest that the past may not always be worth holding onto, and instead of resisting the winds of change, one should learn to go with the flow.
The song talks about the self-destructive tendencies that one may have when they refuse to let go of the past. It mentions how one can hurt themselves trying to hold on, but it's more beneficial to let things change and grow. The lyrics also talk about being out of your mind, which implies that you're disconnected from reality - either because of trauma or extreme change. The chorus then shifts to talking about the volcano, suggesting that something in you wants to blow; you're on the brink of eruption. The song is alluding to the fact that sometimes these internal pressures build, and there's no way to stop them from exploding.
It seems like the song is a reminder to embrace the inevitable changes that life brings instead of clinging to the past. The chorus repeats this message with "you don't wanna know," implying that it's better to let go and move on rather than grappling with the pain of holding on. The final lines of the song suggest that even though we may feel like we're standing on shaky ground, we're still rock n' roll; we're strong enough to handle anything.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is spinning fast tonight
The world is rapidly changing and unpredictable, which may cause unease.
You can hurt yourself tryin' to hold on
Attempt to hold on to the past can lead to emotional pain and prevent growth.
To what you used to be
Holding onto past versions of oneself can hinder progress.
I'm so glad the past is all gone
The artist has moved on from the past and is happy to leave it behind.
Been out in the wild
The artist has experienced the world outside of their comfort zone.
Been out in the night
The singer has experienced the world in darkness, which can be unsettling.
Been out of your mind
The singer has experienced intense emotions or situations that challenge their mental state.
Do you live here or is this a vacation
The artist questions whether the listener is truly living and experiencing life or just going through the motions.
Volcano
A metaphor for intense, explosive emotions or situations.
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
The listener may be avoiding the truth or realities of their situation.
Something in you wants to blow
The listener may have a desire for a cathartic release of intense emotions or pent up frustration.
Your eyes were like landing lights
The listener was once clear and focused, but has since lost clarity or direction.
They used to be the clearest blue
The listener's eyes were once bright and clear, representing a sense of optimism or possibility.
Now you don't see so well
The listener has lost their way and is struggling to find their path.
The future's gonna land on you
The listener will have to face the consequences of their actions and choices in the future.
You're on a piece of ground above a volcano
The listener is in a precarious position, facing potentially explosive or dangerous circumstances.
You were alone
The listener was once isolated and disconnected.
And now you're not alone
The listener has found connection or purpose, which has alleviated their loneliness.
But you are rock n' roll
The listener embodies the spirit of rock and roll, representing rebellion, self-expression, or a free spirit.
You and I are rock n' roll
The artist and listener both embody the spirit of rock and roll, representing a shared sense of identity or values.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@damicafather
The world is spinning fast tonight
You can hurt yourself trying to hold on
To what you used to be
I’m so glad the past is all gone?
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Do you live here or is this a vacation
Volcano, you don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Your eyes were like landing lights
They used to be the clearest blue
Now you don’t see so well
The future’s gonna land on you
Been out in the wild
Been out in the night
Been out of your mind
Do you live here or is this a vacation
Volcano, you don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You’re on a piece of ground above a volcano
You were alone
Now you’re not alone
You were alone
But now
You are Rock'n'Roll
You and I are Rock'n'Roll
You are Rock'n'Roll
You and I are Rock'n'Roll
Volcano, you don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don’t wanna, you don’t wanna know.
You’re on a piece of ground above a volcano
El mundo está girando rápido
Puedes hacerte daño intentando aferrarte
A lo que solías ser
¿Estoy tant contento de que el pasado se haya ído?
He estado fuera en lo salvaje
He estado fuera en la noche
He estado fuera de tu cabeza
Vives aquí o esto son vacaciones
Volcán, no quieres, no quieres saber
Volcán
Algo en ti quiere explotar
Volcán
No quieres, no quieres saber
Tus ojos eran como luces de aterrizaje
Solían ser del azul más claro
Ahora no ves tan bien
El futuro va a atrerrizar sobre ti
He estado fuera en lo salvaje
He estado fuera en la noche
He estado fuera de tu cabeza
Vives aquí o esto son vacaciones
Volcán, no quieres, no quieres saber
Volcán
Algo en ti quiere explotar
Vocán
Eres en un trozo de terreno sobre un volcán
Estabas sola
Ahora no estás sola
Estabas sola
Pero ahora
Eres Rock'n'Roll
Tu y yo somos Rock'n'Roll
Eres Rock'n'Roll
Tu y yo somos Rock'n'Roll
Volcán, no quieres, no quieres saber
Volcán
Algo en ti quiere explotar
Volcán
No quieres, no quieres saber
Eres en un trozo de terreno sobre un volcán
@AdolfoSierra1381
That killer bass line!!
@elviagutierrez2694
Adolfo Natalie Dance party like laura Carlos Alex javie Ana Rosa Aron
@scottlovingfoss9859
Adolfo Sierra oh ya
@brandonmindemann3817
It kind of reminds me of the BBC F1 intro
@marcovalero8950
Best Song EVER.
@Lollol-cu7uw
Finding this song 5+ years ago on my uncle's iPhone while randomly strolling through iTunes the greatest thing to happen.
@quandariusquanglebangle9634
I have so much nostalgia for this song. I remember being at the skiing place listening to my ipod while eating a burger,
good times
@shaunbarnett2972
I've never known a band to be able to return to their original sound after so many years and recreate it in a way that is completely fresh and yet still so nostalgic at the same time. Hope that makes sense. Basically this song makes me feel like I"m listening to an old 80s album by U2 for the first time because it has just been released. Bizarre and brilliant!
@synifyyy
It’s January 2022, lets see how many legends are still listening to this masterpiece ❤️
@tabbhall3953
It’s July of 2023 now and I’m listening to it