This same line-up also recorded the next release, the EP "Scanner part 1 & 2" in 1981. After this line-up changes were afoot, with Weber and Grosskopf leaving; leaving the duo of Hanten and Meskes - and this duo would be the only permanent mebers of this project further on. In 1982 they hit the studio again, to make their second full-length album. Former member Weber made a guest appearance on this venture along with Helmut Brüker; and the finalized result was issued in June 1983, named "Time Code". In December 1983 Hanten and Meskes hit the studio again; this time without guest musicians. Two months later their third album was completed, and was issued in the first half of 1984 as "Wonders From the Genetic Factory.
Late in 1985 You started recording what was to be their last album in this first phase of their existence. Featuring guest appearances from Jaime Zenamon and Klaus Gertken. "Laserscape" was made availble to the general public in April 1986.
Following this release Hanten and Meskes hooked up with former member Grosskopf to form the project "Central Europe Performance"; an outfit concentrating on live performances. In the just over 20 years this still existing project many musicians have been involved; with Hanten and Meskes as the core foundation of the outfit. 1995 saw a new addition to the discography of You, with the release of the multimedia production "00:1996:00", and the following year the 5 CD box compilation "Era" saw the light of day.
In 2000 You chose to change moniker, and opted for the use of Yourovion; and releases a fair number of albums of various kinds under that name. In April 2009 Hanten and Meskes announced that they would return to their former moniker You, and that they'll herald the 30th anniversary of their debut album with a limited edition CD package names "The Electric Box".
California
You Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
Barbara, Santa Barbara
California
Then we fell into the shiny sea
The weight that drags your heart down
Well, that's what took me
Where I need to be
Which is here, out on Zuma
Watching you cry like a baby
California, at the dawn
You thought would never come
But it did like it always does
All I know
And all I need to know
Is there is no
Yeah there is no end to love
I didn't call you
Words can scare a thought away
Everyone's a star in our town
It's just your light gets dimmer
If you have to stay
In your bedroom, in a mirror
Watching yourself cry like a baby
California, blood orange sunset
Brings you to your knees
I've seen for myself
There's no end to grief
That's how I know
That's how I know
And why I need to know
That there is no
Yeah, there is no end to love
All I know and all I need to know
Is there is no
Yeah, there is no end to love
Barbara, Barbara
There is no end to love
Oh oh-oh all I know and all I need to know
Is there is no
Yeah, there is no end to love, whoa oh oh oh
We come and go
But stolen days you don't give back
Stolen days are just enough
The song California by U2 revolves around the theme of infinite love and the inevitability of change. The lyrics depict the persona's experience of falling in love in Santa Barbara and then realizing that though love knows no end - grief, guilt, and change are just as powerful emotions. The song starts with the repetition of the name Santa Barbara, hinting at the emotional significance of the place for the persona. The line 'Then we fell into the shiny sea' could be symbolic of the profundity of falling in love or could just be a literal description of the events.
The lyrics 'The weight that drags your heart down, Well, that's what took me, where I need to be' suggests that the persona believes in the idea of being rescued by love. However, the following lines 'Watching you cry like a baby, California, at the dawn you thought would never come but it did like it always does' show how the persona's perfect world has already started to unravel. These lines show that change is inevitable, and no love can protect us from life's vagaries.
In the end, the song comes around full circle, with the repetition of the name Barbara. Still, this time the phrase 'there is no end to love' is also recurrent, and one can infer that the singer has learned that though love cannot offer eternal bliss, it still manages to make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
Repetition of Santa Barbara to emphasize its significance in the story.
California
Song is about the state of California.
Then we fell into the shiny sea
Narrator and someone else metaphorically fell into the ocean.
The weight that drags your heart down
The feeling of sadness weighing down on you.
Well, that's what took me
Sadness helped guide the artist to where they needed to go.
Where I need to be
Narrator is in the right place because of their sadness.
Which is here, out on Zuma
Narrator is in Zuma, California now.
Watching you cry like a baby
Watching someone else cry like a baby.
California, at the dawn
California, at the beginning of something new.
You thought would never come
Something you thought would never happen, happened.
But it did like it always does
Event happened as expected.
All I know
Narrator's current knowledge.
And all I need to know
Narrator only needs to understand one thing.
Is there is no
Negative statement.
Yeah there is no end to love
Love is infinite and endless.
I didn't call you
Narrator didn't contact someone.
Words can scare a thought away
Fear of expressing oneself can lead to missed opportunities.
Everyone's a star in our town
Everyone is important in narrator's town.
It's just your light gets dimmer
Self-doubt or negative emotions can dim one's light.
If you have to stay
If you have to be in a negative place or mindset.
In your bedroom, in a mirror
Negative self-talk/pity.
Watching yourself cry like a baby
Feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
California, blood orange sunset
Beautiful sunset in California.
Brings you to your knees
It's so beautiful it takes your breath away.
I've seen for myself
Narrator has experienced something.
There's no end to grief
Grief can feel never-ending.
That's how I know
Narrator's personal insight.
And why I need to know
Why the artist values their insight.
Barbara, Barbara
Repetition of Barbara again emphasizes its importance.
There is no end to love
Repeated statement that love never ends.
Oh oh-oh all I know and all I need to know
Narrator reiterates their focus on a singular idea.
We come and go
People come and go in life.
But stolen days you don't give back
Days that were taken away from you can never be returned.
Stolen days are just enough
Even though time was lost, it was enough to create a meaningful memory.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind