U2's Songs of Ascent Lyrics

U2 songs that name drop real people

2011-12-27T03:18:00.000-08:00

U2 songs that name drop real people

Here's a few songs where Bono was named checked real people in his song lyrics. There's also a few songs where the lyrics a talking about a real person but they are not directly named.

Angel of Harlem

A song about singer Billie Holiday, Bono was trying to throw the kitchen sink at this song, referencing all kinds of musical figures including John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

One Tree Hill

Bono name dropped Victor Jara in this song that is really popular in NZ for some reason.....

"And in our world a heart of darknessA firezone where poets speak their hearts
Then bleed for it Jara sang his song a weapon
In the hands of love
You know his blood still cries from the ground"

This verse is referring to how Victor Jara was executed for his political disssent and thus became a symbol of the struggle for human rights.

Elvis Ate America

This is possibly the U2 lyric that refers to the most people Lisa Marie Presley Chuck D, Johnny Cash all feature with shout outs to Hitler, Nixon, Christ, Mishima, Markus and Micheal Jackson. Bono would later refer to Jackson in Pop's The Playboy Mansion as well.

God Part II

This song was intended as a sequel to John Lennon's song called God. Lennon's song refers to things he didn't believe in such as war and The Beatles - Bono's version also refers to things that he also doesn't believe in but also goes on to refer to how angry he was at the author Albert Goldman who wrote an unflattering biography of Lennon (and also a controversial biography of Elvis, and given U2's love of Elvis, I'm not surprised Bono made the reference).

Pride

"For the Reverend Martin Luther King, sing". Pride was inspired the the civil rights activist - that particular line comes from the live version of Pride on Rattle and Hum.

Stand Up Comedy

References the famous French soldier Napoleon and his wife Josephine...

Peace on Earth

Inspired by the Real IRA Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on 15 August 1998. The song lists the names of people killed in the bombing. Similarly, inspiration for the lyric, "She never got to say goodbye / To see the colour in his eye / Now he's in the dirt" comes from the funeral of Barker, another victim of the bombing. Other bomb victims named were Sean, Julia, Gareth, Anne, and Brenda.

Dirty Day

Whilst not directly referenced but the liner notes of Zooropa showed the song was dedicated to Charles Bukowski.

Who have I missed?

Get Your Cyber Love from U2!

2011-03-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

Rumours are swirling across the internet that U2′s new album is going to be called Cyber Love and it features songs written by an unknown musician / producer called Bellatron! Check out this story which suggests Bellatron has written 7 of the album’s 12 songs with Bono.

If this rumour is true, it’s a a pretty novel approach for U2 – sure they’ve colalborated with the likes of Brian Eno in the past but 7 song being co-written with Bellatron suggests a huge change in in the way U2 are writing their songs. Or does it suggest that Bono has had writer’s block or has been too focussed on the Spider Man musical?

Time will tell.

U2 Auckland Song List

2010-11-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

Auckland Song List U2 Night Two 2010

Friday 26 November

Last night's U2 set list meant for a pretty awesome U2 show, the lads backed up again with a full on night two set list. Highlights included the addition of Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me to the set, always a threatening song on the CD, live, it is a dangerous, sexual beast!

I think it was during GOYB that Bono though in some limes from Crowded House's Don't Dream Its Over.

U2 also again played One Tree Hill and dedicated it to the miners of the Pike Mine.

There was a classic bit during Mysterious Ways where The Edge's effects did not work properly at the sound. As I was seated behind him, I could see him hit a pedal but that didn't work, he then actually flipped his guitar up to have a look and then finally the guitar started proper - all the the while the band played on.

The I'll Go Crazy Remix grew on on me a little bit but it's still definitely a low point of the show.

Wifey and I were stoked Bono sang a wee bit of Unchained Melody as we danced to the U2 version at our Wedding.

Auckland Night Two Set List - Night One Set List Here

Return of the Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Movin' On Up, One Tree Hill, Angel Of Harlem - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Relax - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix) - Two Tribes, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Encore(s): One, Unchained Melody - Where the Streets Have No Name

Set Encore 2: Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me (lyrics), With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Pike Mine Miners name's displayed during One Tree Hill

Source: U2 Auckland Set List

U2 Lyrics Mercy

2010-09-17T20:44:00.001-07:00

"Mercy" Lyrics U2

On the current 360 Degree tour U2, have been playing and road testing new songs such as North Star and Every Breaking Wave, at the Munich show, U2 debuted Mercy.

Originally a song left over from the recording sessions from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Mercy appears to be destined for U2's expected album, Songs of Ascent.

This live version of Mercy featured a set of revised lyrics from Bono:

Mercy Lyrics

I was drinking some wine

And it turned to blood

What’s the use of religion

If you’re only good

I know I’m weed killer, honey

And you’re sugar

If you’re the prosecution

I get away with murder

You’re gravity searching for the ground

I’m silence searching for a sound

Your heart is aching

Your heart is my home

It’s fascinating

I know I’ll never be alone

You’re gonna kill me and I wanna die

We were meant for each other, you and I

Souls allowed to love

And there’s nowhere else to turn

You’re not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

If you’re hunger, baby let me feed it

If your heart is full, baby let me bleed it

And happiness is for those who don’t really need it

You love me too much

You wanna kill me and I wanna die

We’re a perfect match, you and I

Slaves without the drug

And there’s no one else to trust

I’m not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

I’m gonna kill me and I wanna die

We were meant for each other, you and I

Souls allowed to trust

And there’s no one left to trust

I’m not sorry, you’re not gonna cry

You put the blue back in my eye

It’s just us

Because, because, because we can

We must

Because, because, because we can

We must

Because, because, because we can

We must

Check out the lyrics to another song U2 have tested out, Flower of Glastonbury.

Zurich Set List U2

2010-09-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

U2 Zurich Set List Switzerland

U2 played on the ignominious date of September 11, 2010 at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium. The show was notable for the inclusion in the set of new song, Every Breaking Wave which will possibly be included on the expected U2 album, Songs of Ascent. The song was debuted on this leg of the tour in Helsinki. Only four songs from No Line on the Horizon were played.

Set List:

Return of the Stingray Guitar, Magnificent, Beautiful Day, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Every Breaking Wave, Elevation, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On

Set Encore: One, Amazing Grace/Where The Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

Source: The Spaghetti Incident?

Helsinki Set List U2 Finland

2010-08-20T15:42:00.001-07:00

U2 Finland Set List 2010

August 20, 2010 at Helsinki, Finland at the Olympic Stadium.

The opening act for the show was Razorlight. Boring!

Set List: Return of the Stingray Guitar, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Until the End of the World, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, North Star (lyrics), Glastonbury (lyrics), In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix) - Discotheque, Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Set Encore: One, Amazing Grace - Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Sauce Check out the lyrics to Taylor Swift's Speak Now album

North Star U2 Lyrics

2010-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

North Star Lyrics U2

These are the lyrics to the new song U2 debuted at the Turin, Italy gig on March 6, 2010. No telling where the song will end up, maybe on Songs of Ascent. In which case the lyrics could be totally different by then.

North Star was apparently written during the How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb sessions and according to @U2, the song is a tribute to Johnny Cash.

U2 North Star Lyrics

Forty-five light years
From home
From where you are
Where I wanna be
Beside you

Looking for direction
Star to your affection
The space between you and me

I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For it
I can’t wait any longer
For your love

The birds still singing for them
As they fly above the firmament
It’s not a song of discontent
It’s not like that
Up in the sky

Here I am, a space guy
Caught between the love and logic
Out here in the universe
Hey hey

I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For it
I can’t wait any longer
For your love

And a day as it ends
And you watch as the sun goes down
Pray that the night
Will go quickly now
Your hope
Your prayer
And the clouds leave the sky alone
There’s only one light that can guide you
Guide you

I can’t wait any longer
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
I can’t wait
I can’t wait
I can’t wait any longer
For your love
For your love

It’s like the silence and shock
Of the lights up there shining
You want it
You got it
You want it

Also debuted during the night was the song, Glastonbury.

Want to learn more about U2? Check out the lyrics to:

U2 Turin, Italy Set List

2010-08-06T15:05:00.001-07:00

U2 is back baby, and with a new song! You might recall a few U2 gigs were cancelled or postponed after Bono required back surgery - well he's on the mend and ready for action, digging for traction - kind of like a mole digging in a hole I guess...

Here's the set list for U2's concert in Turin, Italy at the Olympic Stadium on 6 August, 2010.

Stingray Guitar Intro, Beautiful Day, Magnificent, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways - My Sweet Lord, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, North Star, Glastonbury, Elevation, In A Little While, Miss Sarajevo, Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Discotheque - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

Set Encore(s): One, Amazing Grace - Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Comments from u2tours.com : The show begins with the normal Space Oddity intro music, then U2 plays a rock riff called 'Stingray Guitar Intro' to start the show. Bono and Edge debut a new song called North Star, and the whole band goes into another new song that we think is called 'Glastonbury.' Bono sings a bit of Discotheque at the start of the Crazy remix. 'Hold Me' is played for the first time since March 21, 1998, at the last show of the PopMart Tour.

Under rated U2 songs

2010-05-20T02:47:00.000-07:00

Top underrated U2 songs that should be rated higher than a rates demand from the council or rather some of Jimmy’s fave songs by U2.

Please, from the album Popmart.

Popmart is probably Bono’s best effort lyrically. With word plays on Michael Jackson being history over Jackson’s own HIStory pun, the blind leading the blonde and the line from Please “Your Catholic blues, Your convent shoes” pretty much summing up Bono’s eternal search for his place and pace in the world this song was depressing yet uplifting at the same time. Edge’s solo (esp in live recordings) was up there with his best.

Dirty Day, Zooropa

“These days, days, days run away like horses over the hills” being sung over and over at the end always remind me that I never have enough time to do what ever it is I wanted do. This song did make me go see a documentary on the guy it was dedicated to, the author Charles Bukowski and read some of his books. So if anything this song taught me it sux to be a drink alcoholic author who used to work in a post office. In fact I think Charlie boy actually went postal before the term was applied to the fine people at the US Postal Service.

Van Dieman’s Land, Rattle and Hum.

It has the Edge singing and he actually means it but you believe it too even though its about Aussie bastards?! It has good chord changes. Hmm have I said this before? Also was there actually any humming on the album? Ok Edge, play the blues.

In to the Heart, Boy

I like this because of the outro from the prior song, An cat Dubh, becomes the into to this. Kind of a plodding but hypnotic bass riff with crisp Edge guitar playing.

MLK, The Unforgettable Fire.

While the fire is a reference to atomic bombs being dropped in Japan (an early portent of How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb maybe?) the album seemed dedicated to two Kings – Elvis and Martin Luther King. The song is sung like a lullaby, actually encouraging sleep. While Bono’s politic rants and beseeches and besmirches of The Man might put the more jaded and cynical amongst us to sleep you can’t complain that this song does the same in a nice under the covers on a rainy day kind of way.

Beat on the Brat, cover of The Ramones, from the We’re a Happy Family Ramones Tribute Album.

Beat on the brat with a baseball bat. Yeah punk. U2 started out playing Ramone’s covers trying to pass them off as their own. Which is pretty much the music industry down pat these days. What can you do?

SOA for end of year release?

2010-04-16T01:47:00.000-07:00

U2’s ever present Paul McGuinness has told Rolling Stone Magazine that there won’t be a new U2 album out before the U2 360 tour resumes in June, but that it’s “increasingly likely” a new album will be out before the end of the year. That’s the word from RS’ Associate Editor Brian Hiatt, who posted this earlier today on Twitter:

“No new U2 album by June, band manager Paul McGuinness tells me in the new RS: “However, before the end of the year is increasingly likely”

Not a surprise really….

Rose Bowl gig to be released on DVD

2010-04-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

U2360° At The Rose Bowl will be released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray by Mercury Records on June 7, and in the US on June 3, 2010.

You might recall the show was broadcast live on Youtube. Here's the set list.
Order the 2 disk DVD or the ">Blue Ray at Amazon.
U2360° At The Rose Bowl was the penultimate gig of last year's U2360° Tour in support of their Grammy nominated album No Line on The Horizon. The Rose Bowl performance was the band's biggest show of 2009 and U2's biggest ever US show, with a live audience in excess of 97,000.
The show was also streamed across seven continents via YouTube. The first ever live streaming of a full-length stadium concert, U2360° at the Rose Bowl had over 10 million views on the channel in one week.
Shot entirely in HD, the concert was filmed with 27 cameras and directed by Tom Krueger who had previously worked on U23D, the first live action 3D concert movie taken from U2's Vertigo Tour.

Available in standard and 2-disc deluxe DVD formats (see below), U2360° At The Rose Bowl will also be U2's first concert available in Blu-ray. The deluxe formats and the Blu-ray will feature a new documentary called Squaring the Circle: Creating U2360° with new interviews from U2, Paul McGuinness and the team behind the touring production.
The track listing of U2360° At The Rose Bowl is as follows:
Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, No Line On The Horizon, Elevation, In A Little While, Unknown Caller, Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On, One, Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender.

June release for Songs of Ascent??

2009-12-27T23:16:00.000-08:00

This new article which was published in the Irish Independent on December 27, 2009 suggests that U2 are to release their new album in June 2010. I’m not gonna believe it until it’s on U2’s own website …. still, if they misquoted U2’s manager, I’m sure there would have been some kind of correction offered….

IRISH rockers U2 have delivered a late Christmas present to their loyal fans this weekend by promising to release a new album by June.

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Independent at Leopardstown Races yesterday, U2 frontman Bono revealed the band had been working hard on new material in the run-up to Christmas and are hoping to have a new chart-topping album on shelves before the summer.

Speaking about the upcoming release, Bono described how the band had been putting in the hard work in the studio in recent weeks: “We are working away and we have a couple of yearlings in the stables that could really turn out to be thoroughbreds in the future,” he said.

“As a band you are always trying to work on new material and we had some unfinished material from the last album.

“I would love to elaborate a bit more but unfortunately it is a democracy — and sure isn’t that the world that we live in?”

One person who had no problem elaborating, however, was U2 manager Paul McGuinness.

The legendary music mogul described how the world’s biggest rock group are confident of having the album released by June.

“I have heard some of the stuff the guys have played and, yeah, it is great. Bono is always an optimist but he seems confident of getting a new record out by the end of the next six months. They’re talking about June. By that time we will be ready to go back on tour and I think that will give it a different flavour.”

Mr McGuinness also described how sales of concert tickets “have been incredible” for the band — despite the current recession.

“Most of the shows left are either sold out or close to being sold out, which is terrific. We’re defying gravity at this stage — it’s incredible.”

Sauce: Songs of Ascent

U2 songs worthy of a second listen

2009-10-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

First Published on All U2 Songs Lyrics.

U2 is a band well known for its big singles. Songs like Where the Streets Have No Name, Beautiful Day and Desire all popular the world over. Some U2 songs sometimes get over looked by the casual fan. Here's a list of U2 songs that I think are worthy of a second listen.

Please, from the album Popmart.

Popmart is probably Bono’s best effort lyrically across an album. With wordplays on Michael Jackson being history over Jackson’s own HIStory pun, the blind leading the blonde and the line from Please, “Your Catholic blues, Your convent shoes” pretty much summing up Bono’s eternal search for his place and pace in the world - this song was depressing yet uplifting at the same time. Overall, it was a question being asked of Ireland's political leaders.

Dirty Day, Zooropa

“These days, days, days run away like horses over the hill” being sung over and over at the end always remind me that I never have enough time to do what ever it is I wanted do. This song did make me go see a documentary on the guy it was dedicated to, the author Charles Bukowski and read some of his books.

Van Dieman’s Land, from Rattle and Hum.

This song has The Edge singing about the life of the John Boyle O'Reilly, who was deported to Australia for writing bad poetry. The song's sentiments reflect the hard life that immigrants faced when they arrived in Van Dieman's Land.

Unchained Melody

Clearly not an original U2 song but when you hear Bono sing it, it has the emotion that all their big hits have. Released as a B-side to With Or Without You, it has been a favourite amongst the U2 hardcore for years.

MLK, The Unforgettable Fire album.

While the fire is a reference to atomic bombs being dropped in Japan (an early portent of How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb maybe?) the album seemed dedicated to two Kings – Elvis and Martin Luther King. MLK is sung like a lullaby. While Bono’s politic rants and beseeches and besmirches of The Man might put the more jaded and cynical amongst us to sleep, you can’t complain that this song does the same in a nice under the covers on a rainy day kind of way.

Beat on the Brat, cover of The Ramones, from the We’re a Happy Family Ramones Tribute Album.

Beat on the brat with a baseball bat. Yeah punk. U2 started out playing Ramone’s covers trying to pass them off as their own. Which is pretty much the music industry down pat these days. What can you do?

Original of the Species.

Coming from their popular How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb album, Original of the Species is almost like a classic father to daughter message, 'Don't Grow Up Too Fast, Baby'.

What are your favourite U2 songs you think are worthy of a second listen?

U2 Show Set List from Texas

2009-10-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

U2 Houston, Texas Set List

14th October 2009

U2 played their gig at the Reliant Stadium.

U2's Set List Breathe, Get On Your Boots, , Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day - Here Comes the Sun, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment (lyrics), No Line On The Horizon, Elevation, Your Blue Room (lyrics), Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On - You'll Never Walk Alone

U2 Encore: One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You (lyrics), Moment of Surrender

More U2 Set lists from the 360 Tour. Here's the Dallas Show song list. And the Anaheim Set List

Will U2 play Every Breaking Wave this tour? I'd put money on it they won't...

U2 Song List Atlanta Georgia

2009-10-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

U2’s Song List came to us by way of their concert at the Georgia Dome, in Atlanta, Georgia.

6th October 2009

U2's Song List, Georgia:

Breathe, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment, No Line On The Horizon, Magnificent, Elevation, Until the End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (rework), Sunday Bloody Sunday - People Get Ready snippet, MLK, Walk On

U2 Song Encore: One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender

Originally published on The Spaghetti Incident? for U2 Set Lists

Every Breaking Wave Lyrics by U2

2009-10-07T02:41:00.000-07:00

Every Breaking Wave Lyrics by U2

Every Breaking Wave is the well discussed but as yet unpublished song left over from the U2's recording sessions of the album, No Line on the Horizon.

While talk is very cheap, U2 have talked about and talked up Every Break Wave since NLOTH was released, perhaps more than other songs from the same album! U2 Fans are guessing that the song will eventually be released when U2 get on their boots and finish the keenly anticipated album, Songs of Ascent.

Bono and Larry et al have talked about how they will record the the follow up album in the near future. I'm not holding my breath. U2 are booked to tour till NLOTH till at least the end of 2010. Maybe they will do a Zooropa on us and record in between concert dates. Again, please no breath holding as Bono and the Edge are also trying to lock down the now delayed Spider Man musical, Turn Off the Dark.

So what actually happened? U2 debuted Every Breaking Wave during a gig in Helsinki. Here's the lyrics from that night.

Every breaking wave
On the shore
Til the next one there’ll be one more

Every gambler knows
That to lose
Is what you’re really there for

Somewhere else, fearlessness
Now I’m speaking to an answer phone
Every falling leaf
On the breeze
Winter wouldn’t leave her alone

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
To be somebody
To need someone

Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
Every shipwrecked soul
Knows what it is
To live without intimacy
I thought I heard the master’s voice
It’s hard to listen while you preach

Like every broken wave
On the shore
This is as far as I can reach

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
Got to be somebody
To need someone

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

You know
That my heart
Is the same place yours has been

We know
Here with
The end before it begins

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

You know
That my heart
Is the same place yours has been

We know
Here with
The end before it begins

Check out the lyrics to some other recently performed U2 songs, Glastonbury and North Star.