# U2

U2 is a rock band from Dublin, Ireland. Formed in 1976, U2 have consistently been one of the most popular acts in the world since the mid-1980s. The band has sold upwards of 170 million albums worldwide. The band consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar) and Larry Mullen (drums and percussion).

## Quotes

* When Aung San Suu Kyi was released, we punched the air. When she came to Dublin to thank Ireland and Amnesty International, we Irish could not have been more proud. When her party the NLD won a landslide in the elections and she stood her ground to become de-facto head of the country, an impossible journey seemed to be reaching its destination. We wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but instead held our breath. She had built her reputation on her refusal to compromise her beliefs (as well as on the personal sacrifice that entailed), but forming a government requires a certain amount of pragmatism. We feared the military's brutality would be quick to show itself again if she overstepped the mark, and while hopeful for progress, we wondered if we would find ourselves once again campaigning for her release. But what has happened this year, and in particular these past months – this, we never imagined. Who could have predicted that if more than 600,000 people were fleeing from a brutal army for fear of their lives, the woman who many of us believed would have the clearest and loudest voice on the crisis would go quiet. For these atrocities against the Rohingya people to be happening on her watch blows our minds and breaks our hearts. … the violence and terror being visited on the Rohingya people are appalling atrocities and must stop. Aung San Suu Kyi's silence is starting to look a lot like assent. As Martin Luther King said: "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." The time has long passed for her to stand up and speak out. We know that Aung San Suu Kyi has in front of her real complexities that the outside world cannot understand — but nor should we have to. The complexity of the situation in Myanmar she inherited from her father did not sway her to compromise her ideals back in 1998, nor should it now. At some point, a fragile balancing act becomes a Faustian pact. We also believe we can't direct our anger solely in her direction. That plays right into the hands of those who are carrying out the violence. Min Aung Hlaing is not a widely recognised name outside Myanmar — it should be. This man is the Commander General in Chief of the Defence Services who answers to no-one when a security threat is declared. While this in no way excuses her silence, Aung San Suu Kyi has no control, constitutional or otherwise, over his actions, and it is he who has authorised and overseen the terrorization of the Rohingya people under the guise of protecting Myanmar from terrorism. Condemning her and ignoring him is a mistake. If this horror of human rights abuses is to stop, and if the long-term conditions for resettlement of the Rohingya people are to ever occur, General Min Aung Hlaing and his military must be just as much the focus of international action and pressure as Aung San Suu Kyi and her civilian government.
** 'THIS, WE NEVER IMAGINED…' at U2.com (11 Nov 2017)
* The brave people of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom — and for ours — in the face of unspeakable violence and an unjust invasion. More than 4 million people, mostly women and children, have had to flee for their lives — a population nearly the size of Ireland. World leaders must stand up and stand by Ukranians now ... those who are fighting and those who have fled ... and stand with refugees everywhere who have been forced from their homes and their lands. #StandUpForUkraine
** Instagram post, as quoted in "U2, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and more share messages for 'Stand Up For Ukraine' campaign", NME (9 April 2022)

## Song lyrics

All lyrics written by Bono, except as noted

### Boy (1980)

* I was on the outside when you said You said you needed me. I was looking at myself. I was blind, I could not see.A boy tries hard to be a man His mother takes him by the hand If he stops to think, he starts to cry. Oh why?
** I Will Follow
* Monday morning, Eighteen years are dawning, I said "how long?"
** Out of Control
* Started a landslide in my ego Looked from the outside to the world I left behind. In the world I left behind Wipe their eyes and then let go In the world I left behind Shed a tear and let love go.
** A Day Without Me

### October (1981)

* I try to sing this song I, I try to stand up But I can't find my feet. I, I try to speak up But only in you I'm complete.
** Gloria
* I can't change the world But I can change the world in me I rejoice.
** Rejoice
* I watched the way it was The way it was when he was with us And I really don't mind Sleeping on the floor But I couldn't sleep after what I saw I wrote this letter to tell you The way I feel.
** Stranger in a Strange Land
* I wish you were here I wish you were here To see what I could see To hear And I wish you were here
** Stranger in a Strange Land

### War (1983)

* I can't believe the news today I can't close my eyes and make it go away. How long, how long must we sing this song? How long, how long? 'Cos tonight, We can be as one, tonight.
** Sunday Bloody Sunday
* Broken bottles under children's feet, Bodies strewn across the dead end street. But I won't heed the battle call. It puts my back up, Puts my back up against the wall.Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
** Sunday Bloody Sunday
* And the battle's just begun There's many lost, but tell me who has won? The trenches dug within our hearts And mothers, children, brothers, sisters Torn apart.
** Sunday Bloody Sunday
* Under a blood red sky A crowd has gathered in black and white, Arms entwined, the chosen few. The newspapers says, says Say it's true it's true... And we can break through. Though torn in two, We can be one.
** New Year's Day
* And so we are told this is the golden age And gold is the reason for the wars we wage Though I want to be with you, Be with you night and day. Nothing changes On New Year's Day.
** New Year's Day
* I don't know, I don't know which side I'm on. I don't know my right from left or my right from wrong. They say I'm a fool, they say I'm nothing But if I'm a fool for you oh, that's something.
** Two Hearts Beat as One

### The Unforgettable Fire (1984)

* And we live by the side of the road On the side of a hill As the valleys explode Dislocated, suffocated The land grows weary of its own.
** A Sort of Homecoming
* One man come in the name of love One man come and go. One man come, he to justify One man to overthrow.
** Pride (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. Once more in the name of love. In the name of love. Once more in the name of love.
** Pride (In The Name Of Love)
* If I could, you know I would. If I could, I would let it go. This desperation. Dislocation. Separation. Condemnation. Revelation. Temptation. Isolation. Desolation.Let it go, And so to fade away.
** Bad
* Sleep Sleep tonight And may your dreams Be realised.
** MLK

### Wide Awake in America (1986)

* Love don't need to find a way You find your own way I forget that I can't stay And so I say that All roads lead to where you are.
** Love Comes Tumbling

### The Joshua Tree (1987)

* I want to run. I want to hide. I want to tear down the walls That hold me inside. I want to reach out And touch the flame Where the streets have no name.
** Where the Streets Have No Name
* The city's aflood And our love turns to rust. We're beaten and blown by the wind, Trampled in dust. I'll show you a place High on a desert plain Where the streets have no name.
** Where the Streets Have No Name
* I have climbed highest mountain; I have run through the fields. Only to be with you; Only to be with you.I have run; I have crawled. I have scaled these city walls, These city walls. Only to be with you.
** I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
* You broke the bonds and you Loosed the chains, Carried the cross Of my shame. Of my shame. You know I believed it.But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.
** I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
* See the stone set in your eyes See the thorn twist in your side. I'll wait for you.Sleight of hand and twist of fate On a bed of nails she makes me wait And I wait – without you.With or without you, With or without you.
** With or Without You
* See across the field See the sky ripped open See the rain comin' through the gapin' wound Howlin' the women and children Who run into the arms Of America.
** Bullet the Blue Sky
* Sweet the sin, bitter the taste in my mouth. I see seven towers, but I only see one way out. You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking Scream without raising your voice.
** Running to Stand Still
* Sleep comes like a drug in God's country Sad eyes, crooked crosses, in God's country.
** In God's Country
* And in the world, a heart of darkness, a fire-zone Where poets speak their heart then bleed for it.
** One Tree Hill

### Rattle and Hum (1988)

* She's the candle burnin' in my room Yeah, I'm like the needle The needle and spoon Over the counter, with a shotgun Pretty soon, everybody's got one I'm in a fever, when I'm beside her Desire Desire.
** Desire
* All I got is a red guitar Three chords and the Truth All I got is a red guitar The rest is up to you
** All Along the Watchtower, by Bob Dylan, these lyrics were added by Bono in verse 4
* Blinded, you lost your way In the side streets and the alleyways Like a star exploding in the night Filling up the city with broad daylight.
** Angel of Harlem
* Many strangers have I met On the road to my regret Many lost who seek to find themselves in me. They ask me to reveal The very thoughts they would conceal. Love, rescue me.
** Love Rescue Me, written with Bob Dylan
* I've conquered my past The future is here at last I stand at the entrance to a new world I can see. The ruins to the right of me Will soon have lost sight of me. Love, rescue me.
** Love Rescue Me
* I was there when they crucified my Lord I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword. I threw the dice when they pierced his side But I've seen love conquer the great divide.
** When Love Comes to Town
* When love comes to town I'm gonna jump that train When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame. Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down But I did what I did before love came to town.
** When Love Comes to Town
* Don't believe the devil I don't believe his book But the truth is not the same Without the lies he made up. Don't believe in excess Success is to give Don't believe in riches But you should see where I live. I, I believe in love.
** God Part II
* You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold You say you want your story to remain untold. All the promises we make From the cradle to the grave When all I want is you.
** All I Want Is You

### Achtung Baby (1991)

* Give me one more chance, and you'll be satisfied. Give me two more chances, you won't be denied. Well my heart is where it's always been My head is somewhere in between Give me one more chance, let me be your lover tonight.
** Even Better Than the Real Thing
* Did I disappoint you? Or leave a bad taste in your mouth? You act like you never had love And you want me to go without. Well it'sToo late Tonight To drag the past out into the light. We're one, but we're not the same. We get to Carry each other, Carry each other. One.
** One
* Have you come here for forgiveness? Have you come to raise the dead? Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head? Did I ask too much? More than a lot. You gave me nothing. Now it's all I got. We're one, But we're not the same. Well, we hurt each other, Then we do it again.
** One
* You say love is a temple, love a higher law Love is a temple, love the higher law. You ask me to enter, but then you make me crawl And I can't be holding on to what you got, when all you got is hurt.One love, one blood One life, you got to do what you should One life, with each other Sisters, brothers One life, but we're not the same We get to carry each other, carry each other
** One
* In my dream, I was drowning my sorrows But my sorrows they'd learned to swim Surrounding me, going down on me Spilling over the brim Waves of regret and waves of joy. I reached out for the one I tried to destroy. You, you said you'd wait till the end of the world.
** Until the End of the World
* Who's gonna ride your wild horses? Who's gonna drown in your blue sea?... Took a drive in the dirty rain To a place where the wind calls your name Under the trees, the river laughing at you and me Hallelujah, heaven's white rose The doors you open, I just can't close... Don't turn around Don't turn around again... Come on now love Don't you look back
** Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
* It's alright, it's alright, it's alright She moves in mysterious ways.
** Mysterious Ways
* Johnny, take a dive with your sister in the rain Let her talk about the things you can't explain To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel. On your knees, boy.
** Mysterious Ways
* How far you gonna go before you lose your way back home? You been tryin' to throw your arms around the world.
** Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
* And a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle When you're tryin' to throw your arms around the world.
** Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
* You bury your treasure where it can't be found But your love is a secret that's been passed around. There is a silence that comes to a house Where no-one can sleep. I guess it's the price of love; I know it's not cheap.
** Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

### Pop (1997)

* It's the blind leading the blond It's the cops collecting for the cons. So where is the hope and Where is the faith and the love? What's that you say to me Does love light up your Christmas tree? The next minute you're blowing a fuse And the cartoon network turns into the news.
** If God Will Send His Angels
* Jesus never let me down You know Jesus used to show me the score. Then they put Jesus in show business Now it's hard to get in the door.It's the stuff, it's the stuff of country songs But I guess it was something to go on. Hey, if God will send his angels I sure could use them here right now
** If God Will Send His Angels
* She feel the ground is giving way But she thinks we're better off that way. The more you take, the less you feel The less you know the more you believe The more you have, the more it takes today.
** Last Night on Earth

### Staring at the Sun (1997 EP)

* There was a badness that had its way Love was not lost, love will have its day
** "North and South of the River"

### All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)

* It's a beautiful day. Don't let it get away.
** Beautiful Day
* You're on the road, But you've got no destination. You're in the mud, In the maze of her imagination.You love this town, Even if it doesn't ring true. You've been all over And it's been all over you.
** Beautiful Day
* What you don't have you don't need it now, What you don't know you can feel it somehow.
** Beautiful Day
* I'm not afraid of anything in this world There's nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard I'm just trying to find a decent melody A song that I can sing in my own company
** Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
* You've got to get yourself together You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it. Don't say that later will be better now, You're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it.
** Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
* High, higher than the sun You shoot me from a gun I need you to elevate me here, At the corner of your lips As the orbit of your hips Eclipse, you elevate my soul.
** Elevation
* And love is not the easy thing... The only baggage you can bring Is all that you can't leave behind.
** Walk On
* Walk on, walk on What you got they can't steal it No they can't even feel it Walk on, walk on... Stay safe tonight.
** Walk On
* Leave it behind You've got to leave it behind: All that you fashion All that you make All that you build All that you break All that you measure All that you steal All this you can leave behind All that you reason All that you sense All that you speak All you dress up All that you scheme.
** Walk On

### How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)

* Lights go down, it's dark The jungle is your head Can't rule your heart A feeling is so much stronger than A thought Your eyes are wide And though your soul It can't be bought Your mind can wander.Hello hello I'm at a place called Vertigo It's everything I wish I didn't know Except you give me something I can feel, feel.
** Vertigo
* The songs are in your eyes I see them when you smile I've had enough I'm not giving up On a miracle drug.Of science and the human heart There is no limit There is no failure here sweetheart Just when you quit.
** Miracle Drug
* Tough, you think you've got the stuff You're telling me and anyone You're hard enough.You don't have to put up a fight You don't have to always be right Let me take some of the punches For you tonight.
** Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
* Sometimes you can't make it on your own Sometimes you can't make it The best you can do is to fake it Sometimes you can't make it on your own.
** Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
* The more you see the less you know The less you find out as you go I knew much more then than I do nowNeon heart dayglo eyes A city lit by fireflies They're advertising in the skies For people like us.
** City of Blinding Lights
* I like the sound of my own voice I didn't give anyone else a choice An intellectual tortoise Racing with your bullet train.Some people get squashed crossing the tracks Some people got high rises on their backs I'm not broke, but you can see the cracks You can make me perfect again.
** All Because of You
* True love never can be rent But only true love can keep beauty innocent.
** A Man and a Woman
* I could never take a chance Of losing love to find romance In the mysterious distance Between a man and a woman.
** A Man and a Woman
* Would you deny for others What you demand for yourself?
** Crumbs from Your Table
* You speak of signs and wonders But I need something other I would believe if I was able But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table.
** Crumbs from Your Table
* Where you live should not decide Whether you live or whether you die.
** Crumbs from Your Table
* Well the heart that hurts Is a heart that beats.
** One Step Closer
* Take these shoes Click clacking down some dead end street Take these shoes And make them fit.
** Yahweh
* Take these hands Teach them what to carry. Take these hands Don't make a fist. Take this mouth So quick to criticize Take this mouth Give it a kiss.
** Yahweh

### U218 Singles (2006)

* Love makes strange enemies Makes love where love may please The soul and its striptease Hate brought to its knees The sky over our head We can reach it from our bed You let me in your heart And out of my head, head.Oh can't you see what love has done? Oh can't you see what love has done? Oh can't you see what love has done? What it's done to me?
** Window in the Skies

### No Line on the Horizon (2009)

* I was born I was born to sing for you  I didn't have a choice but to lift you up And sing whatever song you wanted me to. I give you back my voice From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise.
** Magnificent, written with The Edge
* I tied myself with wire To let the horses roam free Playing with the fire Until the fire played with me.
** Moment of Surrender
* This shitty world sometimes produces a rose The scent of it lingers and then it just goes
** Cedars Of Lebanon
* Choose your enemies carefully ‘cos they will define you Make them interesting ‘cos in some ways they will mind you They’re not there in the beginning but when your story ends Gonna last with you longer than your friend
** Cedars Of Lebanon

## External links

* Official band website
* U2 on Verboo