Here is which persons are meant: "One man caught on a barbed wire fence" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer - as mentioned by Wardo and Stadt "One man he resist" - Mahatma Ghandi "One man washed on an empty beach" - Roger Casement - an Irish revolutionary who was betrayed by the Germans shortly before the Irish Eastern Rising of 1916. He was left on a beach, too sick to travel and was caught by the English who executed him after a controversial trial. "One man betrayed with a kiss" - Jesus betrayed by Judas " One man to overthrow" - Malcolm X
Casement betrayed by the Germans? They gave him a boatload of expensive arms and munitions to fight their enemy, makes perfect sense… in whatever galaxy you litter. Knob comment.
Are we all older, so we know these things, or are they not really making sure kids know actual history? I think most people now just know about the MLK holiday. Well, younger people. I was a baby when MLK and Bobby Kennedy were killed, but I know about it. I know James Brown was doing a concert in Boston, I believe, and the authorities had him tell his audience about King's assassination in order to keep them calm and not riot. Bobby Kennedy had to tell the people attending his rally, then he was assassinated four months later. It's a shame that everyone has the ability to access every thing you could possibly want to know on this earth, yet so many people choose to remain ignorant.
@@chrismorgan283 This. As someone who grew up using a library for information, having basically all human knowledge in my pocket at all times is mind blowing. And yet people seem more ignorant than they have been for a century or more.
The last verse is a tribute to MLK. “Early morning, April 4, a 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”.
IMO it is a shame young black people in America know so little about their OWN history at times. I am from Jamaica and as soon as I hear April 4th I know it's when Martin Luther King was assassinated and Memphis is the clincher, it is taught world wide. If I hear the lyrics 'Free At Last' of course it refers to his famous speech, Free at Last, Free At Last, thank God Almighty we are free at last.
I think it's younger Americans in general. They aren't as interested, focused in history, social studies, geography classes or it's not taught as well by the school system. I don't know. Just a guess. When I was in school ('80s and '90s), those subjects we were taught hard and we as students were a little more passionate about them. If I recall. I'm an American, too.
I see many comments saying part of the song is dedicated to MLK. I always thought the whole song was about him. It was his love in community and sense of resistance to oppression by non violent means (e.g., love) that's is being celebrated in the song.
Well yes, MLK is a very prominent part of this song, but others are also mentioned. For instance, Jesus Christ... "one man came to justify.... one man betrayed with a kiss".
One man betrayed with a kiss was a reference to Judas betraying Jesus. Early morning April 4 1968 Memphis was a reference to the day MLK was assassinated even though it happened around 6 pm. "Free at last" was a reference to MLK's famous speech in 1963. They took your life but could not take your pride... They're examples of tragic sacrifices in the name of love.
Trivia Fact: "Early Morning" was a misnomer when they were writing the song. He was assasinated in the evening. Now Bono sings the line "in the evening" instead of the original lyric. Bono only started singing the new version recently , though i think he must have caught the mistake much earlier on.
U2 performed this song in the 1980's in Arizona whilst a campaign was ongoing to make MLK's Day a federal holiday, which the leadership of the state resisted. The FBl informed the band of several death threats made that would happen if they played the song during concerts, including one from a guy who said he purchased a ticket to a show. The band played it anyway. MLK's widow invited the band to the MLK Center after she heard the song. The struggle against the MLK holiday in Arizona is the subject of the Public Enemy song "By The Time l Get To Arizona"
It's about people who act "In the Name of Love" ... for the greater good of mankind, but who are then punished or retaliated against because of their actions. As folks have pointed out, the first verse references Jesus, and the last verse references Martin Luther King Jr. During their ZooTv tour in the 90s, and occasionally in subsequent tours, after the third verse, they will play a audio/video excerpt of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech - very powerful and emotional ... not to mention, Bono's voice is significantly better in his later years compared to earlier on. Also, the band tends to let the crowd do the "Oh, oh oh, Oh" chant at the end of the song ... making it a very popular and cool "crowd participation" during a live verse of the song. While I like their studio versions, a lot of their songs are much much better live; especially versions from Sidney, Australia or Slane, Ireland ... as those tend to be in the later legs of the tour, and they've basically worked out an perfected a live version to play to the masses. Not to mention, live versions also allow the Edge to go nuts on his guitar. But, the live versions generally don't count out in lyrics on the screen form, so ...
The "one man betrayed with a kiss" is in reference to Jesus being betryaed by Judas.. The "Early morning on April 4, shots Ring out in the Memphis sky" references the MLK assassination
Even if they can't understand the entire song. How can they not get or at least question those two references. Especially the MLK references, Shots rang out, Memphis, "Free at last." I just don't get it.
@@rsw1227 Listening to their reaction to that last verse just had me thinking how much our school systems are failing us. It's so obvious if you know even just a little history.
This is a Belfast anthem - in 1987 I was in Belfast from North America - my friend was driving me into town, this song comes on the radio and my friend and I start singing this out loud because it is brilliant. We are screaming it on the highway - then I turned and looked out the window and everybody on the road at the time were screaming in their cars too - we were all singing this together as it blasted out of BBC4. I smiled and nodded my head at everyone that past us by. It was such a sublime moment. We were all there together - it was such a moment. We all had pride together.
Many many years ago there was a threat placed on the band specifically Bono that said if he performed this in concert he would be quote unquote taken out and he still wanted to perform the song he shut his eyes and sang the song when he opened his eyes edge was standing directly in front of him as if you were protecting him. They're a very close-knit group of guys who stand for what they believe in and I think that says a lot.
Unforgettable Fire is such an underrated U2 album. It's up there with Joshua Tree and War for me. They were pure magic during that run. This is a classic single but not even close to the best song on the album.
The Unforgettable Fire album is epic. As much as I love War, TJT & AB albums-especially the undeniable songwriting on the last two-the soundscapes of TUF are my fav. And U2 are G.O.AT.S playing live.
Come ON Brad!! Damn man!! It's fine that Lex is on her own trip, but YOURE the one who just sits there reading lyrics. And there were no flowery poetic metaphors to trip you up here, these lyrics are VERY straightforward. Betrayed with a kiss, barbed wire fence, April 4 shot rings out Memphis. Jeez Louise, dude!!
Gosh, brings back so many memories...mid-eighties, as a teen talking walks through snowy winter landscape listening to U2 with the then pinnacle of technology, the walk-man...The Edge's etheric guitar fusing with the cold, crisp air...
I have seen U2 in concert a lot, but my favorite show was the Unforgettable Fire show in Atlanta in April 1985. The band had met with Martin Luther King Jr’s widow, Coretta, earlier that day.
Lex, great observation about him ending his singing phrases going up rather than falling down, to denote a positive feeling. That's cool. As others have said, the last verse is about Dr..King giving his life in the name of love, but they never could take his pride. In general it seems to be about people who endure suffering or give their lives in the name of love. And I don't know if the whole second verse was dedicated to Jesus or not, but he's definitely in there somewhere because one of the lines was about, one man betrayed by a kiss. That's clearly a reference to Christ because he was betrayed by Judas' kiss. At any rate, it's an inspirational and uplifting song for sure.
Yeah, "the Judas kiss" about Jesus and betrayal and yes also about Martin Luther King and others who have suffered because they spoke up, sacrificed and had courage, etc..
Really? Prison escape? Somebody being freed? I'm sorry you two totally blew it on this one. OMG EARLY MORNING APRIL 4th Memphis sky. One man betrayed with a kiss.
So seriously, what do they teach in schools now? How does anyone alive not know who this song was about? Possibly the greatest man in the history of the US? Come on Brad and Lex!
@@fletcherchristian2254 while you are correct the song is about more than MLK, it is about historical martyrdom of all sorts starting timeline with Jesus.
song is about MLK Jr. last line about his assassination in Memphis. His influence for non-violent protests were Jesus and Ghandi. Jesus reference - betrayed by a kiss from Judas. Ghandi reference - barbed wire fence. He marched to the salt mine for India's independence from Britain.
The Unforgettable Fire, was a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. The civil rights pioneer was assassinated on April 4, 1968. "Early evening, April four A shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride"
Actual lyrics say "early MORNING ..." even though it came in the evening in Memphis, after a speech MLK gave about the garbage men strike. But "morning" may not be wrong because when it happened it WAS morning in Ireland. The radio may have blared the news of King's asssasination in the AM there.
This one of those songs where a basic knowledge of history and Bible references is necessary.. Without that knowledge, the meaning of the song just went over your heads.
Written about Martin Luther King Jr., "Pride" received mixed critical reviews at the time, but it was a major commercial success for U2 and has since become one of their most popular songs.
U2 is a punky alternative band and usually political. Song has various meanings including Jesus and Martin Luther King (Civil Rights Activist) Good job, Lex and Brad. Yall are close. Great band, one of the best in history. Been around for a long time (late '70s) and in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Successful, popular, influential. They influenced a lot of alt rock bands in the future.
U2 is not alternative at all. They could've been that way, but they chose to suck after Joshua Tree. U2 became mainstream rock radio fodder. Who cares about the Hall of Fame. The whole concept of a Hall of Fame is so NOT rock. I do respect that they've stayed together so long. That's very impressive to stick together like that. Musically, they haven't really been an influence on anyone worth listening to unless you listen to Coldplay or something. There's not much music as dull as post-Joshua Tree U2.
I think alot of people that grew up as metal heads wouldn’t give these guys a chance always thought U2 was just way too soft but to give them credit they really did do some pretty good stuff.
I was that metal head, then I went to a Rory Gallagher gig in Punchestown in 1982 where U2 played support. In short, U2 stole the show and blew us all away. They're a fantastic live band.
It's not a top-10 U2 song for me. Even just from The Unforgettable fire, I'd place it behind "A Sort of Homecoming", "Bad", "The Unforgettable Fire" and "Promenade", but it's still a pretty good single.
There's another song on the album called MLK that is absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend. I love to play both songs every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a tribute.
5:27 overthinking over analyzing... The song is about Martin Luther King being assassinated so I said April 4 in the Memphis sky One More In The name of Love Kennedy Lincoln Martin Luther King etc etc One More murdered in the name of Love
This is a tribute to Martin luther king. I mean the lyrics "“Early morning, April 4, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life, they could not take your pride"
I always took this song to be about historical figures who promoted peace and were killed for their stance. The last verse is clearly about Martin Luther King Jr.
Why was the song Pride in the Name of Love written? Though initially written as a song condemning president Ronald Reagan and his pride in the military strength of the U.S., a visit to an MLK exhibit at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 along with a couple of books that Bono had been reading at the time, one on Martin Luther King and Malcom X, altered the lyrics.
What Flo BP said below! General knowledge in different areas of life will help you with many songs because there are many singers and bands that have 'something' to say about real life and what has happened or what they feel is happening!!!
U2 is awesome. 🎸 Alternative rock, post punk, early new wave. Very successful and long career. They influenced bands like Muse, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, The Killers, etc. You guys are both correct. U2 is usually very political in their songs. Song has multiple meanings. Overcoming adversity, Biblical references, Jesus, Martin Luther King tribute/Civil Rights Movement, etc. I think even about the Cold War at the time?
The part that mentions "one man betrayed with a kiss" is a reference to Jesus. (U2's music often have subtle religious references). The early morning April 4 is about Martin Luther King who was actually shot in the evening, but it was morning In Ireland. When they perform it not they correct it to evening.
These two are literally clueless . Even I, a 67yr old English guy, knows Martin Luther King Jnr was assassinated on the morning of April 4th (1968) in Memphis. She thinks the song is about a prison break. God help America!!!
"One man washed up on the beach". They sang about "wars" a lot. Lots of British bands did/do. Iron Maiden has books worth of info in their songs. U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is another that helped MTV -- the name of this album and the song with the same name are another example of how incredible they were with actual occurrences. The Joshua Tree always reminds me of traveling bands, the series Six Feet Under, and even the tree Forrest Gump found. Maybe even used in The Shawshank Redemption to find money
There are a lot of references dropped throughout the song. MLK and Jesus are the obvious ones, but others are more open to interpretation. Like "One man caught on a barbed-wire fence / One man he resist" makes me think of life in the GDR during the cold war. Why? Because I remember seeing video on the news of people getting stuck in the barbed wire fence between East and West Germany as they tried to escape to West Germany. Others stayed and resisted and were killed or jailed for it. So it seems like it's more a statement on the things that we do, but also the things that we fail to do, when faced with adversity. Just my take.
@@jonh.7661 could be. That's one knock against U2 songs (but one that I think that is a strength if your goal is to write relatable pop music) - their lyrics are too open to interpretation. so they don't really mean anything. I think that this is a BS take, though. Most good music is like this. Bring the listener in by letting him or her decide what the song's about. That's just me though.
Great song! It's about Martin Luther King Jr. "One man come in the name of love; one man come and go." Our Lord said the greatest act of love is to lay down one's life for his friends. MLK is an example of that. The song also references Gandhi (I think), and the betrayal of Christ in the garden. The last verse refers to the assassination of MLK and his epitaph: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!"
Y'all are entertaining. Good song choices too. But you may need to research some of the joints you react to. The MLK reference(He was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis...) in the last verse specifically...
OMG! Their songs in that U2 album are all about soul and idealistic stuff. This one was about Martin Luther King btw. So seeing your interpretation of them to be about breakup, waking up from getting drunk, prison escape is cracking me up! 🤣How could you even come up with these interpretations when the instrumental sounds so epic, giving goose bumps? Like, how?
...Though initially written as a song condemning president Ronald Reagan and his pride in the military strength of the U.S., a visit to an MLK exhibit at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 along with a couple of books that Bono had been reading at the time, one on Martin Luther King and Malcom X, altered the lyrics. He contrasts the approaches of the peaceful King with the more militant X: "One man come in the name of love / One man come and go / One man come, he to justify / One man to overthrow." The basic theme of martyrs, peace and love along with references to King (and Jesus Christ), paint pride as a universal concept of understanding, awareness and respect for humanity as opposed to using the word in an arrogant or boastful way...
I would love to get Couch Mama's reaction to you all not getting the Jesus/Dr King interplay. It was sooo very obvious to us when it came out. Like no one even had any other takes. It segues from Jesus to MLK as blessed but misbegotten leaders. Maybe it's because like, MLK Day wasn't even a thing for a long time, but now it's taken for granted. When this song was released Dr. King was still somewhat of a controversial figure.
It’s the great things, the self-sacrificial things, the important things that are done in the face of adversity and injustice, in the name of a greater cause and greater love than one person alone can achieve. That one person, however, can make a difference (even if we lose them to tragedy), inspiring others to also make a difference.
Each line refers to historic acts of civil disobedience or non-violence, evoking Jesus, Martin Luther King jr, Gandhi, East Berliners fleeing across the Berlin Wall, etc...
One man betrayed with a kiss was Christ being betrayed by Judas Iscariot. I always felt the man washed on an empty beach with the apostle Paul after being shipwrecked. Of course The last verse was about the assassination of Martin Luther King in Memphis... April 4, 1968.
Not prison escape, it’s speaking of MLK in reference to “shot rings out in the Memphis Sky,”and possibly Jesus when he was betrayed by a kiss from Judas, and other historical references. This band is VERY political and religious to a certain degree.
Pride (in the name of love) is THE U2 Song that (nearly) everybody knows. Maybe they know it by that second name in the name of love, but they know it. It is from their time before they got publicly very known (starting with the Joshua Tree album). They had epic songs also before the Joshua Tree like "Pride", "Sunday bloody Sunday", "New years day" "Gloria", "I will follow", etc.
OK - so this was released in 1984 on the 'Unforgettable Fire' a hugely under-appreciated LP probaby due to being followed by 'The Joshua Tree'. Suspect they are both less than 30 so early 1990's they start their musical upbringing and early 2000's onwards is probably their groove ... but, I still find it baffling that they dont get the POWER in the music and the lyrics but there again nothing like PRIDE has been released in their lifetime i suspect (I maybe wrong). How the get jailbreak from 'one man betrayed with a kiss' seems utterly weird and they completely dont get the final verse about Dr King's assassination at all and the band strips back so you just get Bono belting those great lyrics out!!! A little sad really.
Dang, thought "Apr 4" "shot rings out" and "Memphis" would have triggered the assassination of MLK Jr. 🤔 I didn't get it all my 1st time through either, but all references are to those fighting for freedom. U2, very active in all human rights, etc. Lex, take note of The Edge's style of play. 🎸 I've always found him to be fascinating!! 👍🏽
This is about the actions and sacrifices made by men, in the name of love. There are 2 individuals they reference in particular. #1) Jesus - 1st verse- He came in the name of love and he came to overthrow 2nd verse - One man betrayed with a kiss. #2) Dr. Martin Luther King - The entire third verse is about his death. They give you the date, April 4
I think MLK is one of the references made in this song, but I think it transcends a single person...I think the theme of it is more of a human condition to overcome adversity rather than a tribute to a single person....the 'betrayed with a kiss' isn't about MLK....the caught on a barbed-wire fence is not about MLK....those are about betrayal and escaping oppression. Also, I question the lyrics 'What more...what more...' but everywhere I searched, they say that's what it is...but honestly: i think bono is singing 'one more in the name of love...one more in the name of love'....because the first verse is 'one man comes...one man comes...one man comes...' as a recurring theme in the human history of oppression and adversity...so I really think it's just 'one more....' as a recurring theme ... not a question of 'what more in the name of love?'....I guess you could rationalize the 'what more' as a rehtorical question, but to me 'one more..one more...one more' gives more a feeling of inevitability of the past repeating itself then some rhetorical question about 'what is yet another one?'
I'm going to double down on the interpretation that is is in fact 'One more...'...check out this live performance and watch the Edge and Bono sing that line. even turn off the sound to see if you can determine if it is a 'AT' shape or a 'UN' shape: th-cam.com/video/5Aa2m1t9y-M/w-d-xo.html
This song is about things people do for love. One man betrayed with the kiss, abviously talking about what Jesus made for the humanity and the last one was the event ocurred the fourth of july when Marthin Lutherking was shot to dead. What he made for the rights of black people was for love.
You need to react to the original version of this song. Short version, which is what was played it takes away the entire meaning for this song, and the reason why U2 decided to become not only an other rock band, but rebels and used their music to stand with their protest and rights for all.
Everytime I hear this song it gives me chills and makes me sad. But it is a good reminder about the things people do "in the name of love". Love of god, Love of Country, etc. People do some horrible things in the name of love.
Martin Luther King Jr. "Free at last, free at last." B. January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia D. April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee "Early Morning, April 4 Shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride"
Surprised that they didn’t catch the April 4 free at last reference but then again the American education system is extremely successful in teaching kids to be useful idiots.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 89 | คู่เอก "ยอดไอคิว vs คิริลล์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3vYkHJ_5Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
Here is which persons are meant:
"One man caught on a barbed wire fence" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer - as mentioned by Wardo and Stadt
"One man he resist" - Mahatma Ghandi
"One man washed on an empty beach" - Roger Casement - an Irish revolutionary who was betrayed by the Germans shortly before the Irish Eastern Rising of 1916. He was left on a beach, too sick to travel and was caught by the English who executed him after a controversial trial.
"One man betrayed with a kiss" - Jesus betrayed by Judas
" One man to overthrow" - Malcolm X
Thank u explaining the references. I have wondered about some of them for years. Great to finally know. Awesome.
"Shot rings out in the Memphis Sky" - Martin Luther King Jr. assassination April 4th
Don't bother. Brad and Lex are publicly supporting the `Don't Say Gay Bill' and the right wing nutjob Desantis in Florida. Shame on them.
Love this break down of each line
Casement betrayed by the Germans? They gave him a boatload of expensive arms and munitions to fight their enemy, makes perfect sense… in whatever galaxy you litter. Knob comment.
"April 4, shots ring out in a Memphis sky" should have cleared everything up. Our History teachers are failing us...
Amen
Not to mention the "Free at last" immediately after.
They teach gender bullshit.
Are we all older, so we know these things, or are they not really making sure kids know actual history? I think most people now just know about the MLK holiday. Well, younger people. I was a baby when MLK and Bobby Kennedy were killed, but I know about it. I know James Brown was doing a concert in Boston, I believe, and the authorities had him tell his audience about King's assassination in order to keep them calm and not riot. Bobby Kennedy had to tell the people attending his rally, then he was assassinated four months later. It's a shame that everyone has the ability to access every thing you could possibly want to know on this earth, yet so many people choose to remain ignorant.
@@chrismorgan283 This. As someone who grew up using a library for information, having basically all human knowledge in my pocket at all times is mind blowing. And yet people seem more ignorant than they have been for a century or more.
The last verse is a tribute to MLK. “Early morning, April 4, a 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”.
MLK on this album is fantastic. Please guys listen to A Sort of Homecoming (The LIVE version).
Interestingly, MLK was shot in the evening. Ever since learning that, Bono changes the lyrics during live concerts to “early evening, April four…”
@@jeffcocco7123 the official video for the live version is missing an entire verse.
Unless they were talking about Irish time Martin Luther King was killed early in the evening of April 4th
@@jeffmazzoli9910 That would make it April five.
IMO it is a shame young black people in America know so little about their OWN history at times. I am from Jamaica and as soon as I hear April 4th I know it's when Martin Luther King was assassinated and Memphis is the clincher, it is taught world wide. If I hear the lyrics 'Free At Last' of course it refers to his famous speech, Free at Last, Free At Last, thank God Almighty we are free at last.
I think it's younger Americans in general. They aren't as interested, focused in history, social studies, geography classes or it's not taught as well by the school system. I don't know. Just a guess. When I was in school ('80s and '90s), those subjects we were taught hard and we as students were a little more passionate about them. If I recall. I'm an American, too.
I agree
I see many comments saying part of the song is dedicated to MLK. I always thought the whole song was about him. It was his love in community and sense of resistance to oppression by non violent means (e.g., love) that's is being celebrated in the song.
Well yes, MLK is a very prominent part of this song, but others are also mentioned. For instance, Jesus Christ... "one man came to justify.... one man betrayed with a kiss".
It's about martyrdom in general,but uses specific references to Christ and MLK.
100 pct agree
@@wreckingKREW1 Very good, I had always connected those lyrics with him being a Preacher and the sense of betrayal with his murder.
Samson, Christ, John the Baptist, and others are also referenced. Only the one verse is about MLK.
One man betrayed with a kiss was a reference to Judas betraying Jesus.
Early morning April 4 1968 Memphis was a reference to the day MLK was assassinated even though it happened around 6 pm.
"Free at last" was a reference to MLK's famous speech in 1963. They took your life but could not take your pride...
They're examples of tragic sacrifices in the name of love.
Trivia Fact: "Early Morning" was a misnomer when they were writing the song. He was assasinated in the evening. Now Bono sings the line "in the evening" instead of the original lyric. Bono only started singing the new version recently , though i think he must have caught the mistake much earlier on.
U2 performed this song in the 1980's in Arizona whilst a campaign was ongoing to make MLK's Day a federal holiday, which the leadership of the state resisted. The FBl informed the band of several death threats made that would happen if they played the song during concerts, including one from a guy who said he purchased a ticket to a show. The band played it anyway.
MLK's widow invited the band to the MLK Center after she heard the song.
The struggle against the MLK holiday in Arizona is the subject of the Public Enemy song "By The Time l Get To Arizona"
Uh, do you like the reaction or not? Can we leave all this at home for once?
l didn't once mention crt 🤣
@@curtisthomas2670 fuck em, someone has to teach this shit!
@@curtisthomas2670 Otherwise known as history, but can't upset the fragile, white, sic, snowflakes?! ;-)
@@Lippett lol it all relates to the song. we need to discuss this stuff MORE.
It's about people who act "In the Name of Love" ... for the greater good of mankind, but who are then punished or retaliated against because of their actions. As folks have pointed out, the first verse references Jesus, and the last verse references Martin Luther King Jr.
During their ZooTv tour in the 90s, and occasionally in subsequent tours, after the third verse, they will play a audio/video excerpt of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech - very powerful and emotional ... not to mention, Bono's voice is significantly better in his later years compared to earlier on. Also, the band tends to let the crowd do the "Oh, oh oh, Oh" chant at the end of the song ... making it a very popular and cool "crowd participation" during a live verse of the song.
While I like their studio versions, a lot of their songs are much much better live; especially versions from Sidney, Australia or Slane, Ireland ... as those tend to be in the later legs of the tour, and they've basically worked out an perfected a live version to play to the masses. Not to mention, live versions also allow the Edge to go nuts on his guitar. But, the live versions generally don't count out in lyrics on the screen form, so ...
💯
The "one man betrayed with a kiss" is in reference to Jesus being betryaed by Judas..
The "Early morning on April 4, shots Ring out in the Memphis sky" references the MLK assassination
Even if they can't understand the entire song. How can they not get or at least question those two references. Especially the MLK references, Shots rang out, Memphis, "Free at last." I just don't get it.
@@rsw1227 Listening to their reaction to that last verse just had me thinking how much our school systems are failing us. It's so obvious if you know even just a little history.
It's a song about martyrs- those who strive to change things for the better but are met with persecution and assassination.
This is a Belfast anthem - in 1987 I was in Belfast from North America - my friend was driving me into town, this song comes on the radio and my friend and I start singing this out loud because it is brilliant. We are screaming it on the highway - then I turned and looked out the window and everybody on the road at the time were screaming in their cars too - we were all singing this together as it blasted out of BBC4. I smiled and nodded my head at everyone that past us by. It was such a sublime moment. We were all there together - it was such a moment. We all had pride together.
Many many years ago there was a threat placed on the band specifically Bono that said if he performed this in concert he would be quote unquote taken out and he still wanted to perform the song he shut his eyes and sang the song when he opened his eyes edge was standing directly in front of him as if you were protecting him. They're a very close-knit group of guys who stand for what they believe in and I think that says a lot.
Yep. Such a beautiful story and you told it well.
Unforgettable Fire is such an underrated U2 album. It's up there with Joshua Tree and War for me. They were pure magic during that run. This is a classic single but not even close to the best song on the album.
U.F. and Achtung Baby kick ALL kinds of ASS!
The unforgettable fire…… Beautiful ambient, mesmerizing!
Right in. Unforgettable fire is an outstanding album.
Unforgettable Fire is a masterpiece. One of my all time favorite albums.
The Unforgettable Fire album is epic. As much as I love War, TJT & AB albums-especially the undeniable songwriting on the last two-the soundscapes of TUF are my fav. And U2 are G.O.AT.S playing live.
Come ON Brad!! Damn man!! It's fine that Lex is on her own trip, but YOURE the one who just sits there reading lyrics. And there were no flowery poetic metaphors to trip you up here, these lyrics are VERY straightforward. Betrayed with a kiss, barbed wire fence, April 4 shot rings out Memphis. Jeez Louise, dude!!
🤣🤣🤣
I know right... lex gets it. Brads a du barse. I dunno no what she sees in him to be honest. Hahahah
Right! Like what would you think of if the lyric were shots rang on a Dallas day
Gosh, brings back so many memories...mid-eighties, as a teen talking walks through snowy winter landscape listening to U2 with the then pinnacle of technology, the walk-man...The Edge's etheric guitar fusing with the cold, crisp air...
I have seen U2 in concert a lot, but my favorite show was the Unforgettable Fire show in Atlanta in April 1985. The band had met with Martin Luther King Jr’s widow, Coretta, earlier that day.
The band U2 has said it is about Martian Luther King's struggles in the Freedom Movement.
Lex, great observation about him ending his singing phrases going up rather than falling down, to denote a positive feeling. That's cool. As others have said, the last verse is about Dr..King giving his life in the name of love, but they never could take his pride. In general it seems to be about people who endure suffering or give their lives in the name of love. And I don't know if the whole second verse was dedicated to Jesus or not, but he's definitely in there somewhere because one of the lines was about, one man betrayed by a kiss. That's clearly a reference to Christ because he was betrayed by Judas' kiss. At any rate, it's an inspirational and uplifting song for sure.
Yeah, "the Judas kiss" about Jesus and betrayal and yes also about Martin Luther King and others who have suffered because they spoke up, sacrificed and had courage, etc..
Really? Prison escape? Somebody being freed? I'm sorry you two totally blew it on this one. OMG EARLY MORNING APRIL 4th Memphis sky. One man betrayed with a kiss.
So seriously, what do they teach in schools now? How does anyone alive not know who this song was about? Possibly the greatest man in the history of the US? Come on Brad and Lex!
@@fletcherchristian2254 while you are correct the song is about more than MLK, it is about historical martyrdom of all sorts starting timeline with Jesus.
Well they're not teaching U2 Song Lyric Interpretation as far as I know, lol
song is about MLK Jr. last line about his assassination in Memphis. His influence for non-violent protests were Jesus and Ghandi. Jesus reference - betrayed by a kiss from Judas. Ghandi reference - barbed wire fence. He marched to the salt mine for India's independence from Britain.
The Unforgettable Fire, was a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. The civil rights pioneer was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
"Early evening, April four
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride"
Actual lyrics say "early MORNING ..." even though it came in the evening in Memphis, after a speech MLK gave about the garbage men strike. But "morning" may not be wrong because when it happened it WAS morning in Ireland. The radio may have blared the news of King's asssasination in the AM there.
You should never need an Irish guy or Irish band to give you a history lesson on the great MLK.
Right?
Do some research on MLK and you will find some Darkness.
@@jamesjohnson9827 somehow I think you might be missing the point...
@@michaelkelly339I think he is. He fails to realize that the “shot in the Memphis sky” was the shot heard around the world.
@@jayzrat 😉🙄
This one of those songs where a basic knowledge of history and Bible references is necessary.. Without that knowledge, the meaning of the song just went over your heads.
Nice burn. Yes, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss, for instance.
"pride" is a sin though. Pride has nothing to do with love. What does Jesus have to do with Memphis? unless it's a reference to a "King"
That "King" is Martin Luther King
Exactly. This is sad.
@@laurahenry1340 Oh dear..
Such a great tribute, U2 also had a tune on this album simply titled M.L.K. I used to sing it to my daughter at bed time. ✌️
You don't know the year and date of Martin Luther king's assassination. 😱
April 4 a shot rings out in the Memphis sky. I'm at a loss for words,that date and location does nothing for you.
A beautiful tribute to Dr King. Nothing else to be said....
Written about Martin Luther King Jr., "Pride" received mixed critical reviews at the time, but it was a major commercial success for U2 and has since become one of their most popular songs.
U2 is a punky alternative band and usually political. Song has various meanings including Jesus and Martin Luther King (Civil Rights Activist) Good job, Lex and Brad. Yall are close.
Great band, one of the best in history. Been around for a long time (late '70s) and in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Successful, popular, influential. They influenced a lot of alt rock bands in the future.
They stopped being that band a LONG TIME ago.
U2 are still that band. It’s in their DNA.
U2 is not alternative at all. They could've been that way, but they chose to suck after Joshua Tree. U2 became mainstream rock radio fodder. Who cares about the Hall of Fame. The whole concept of a Hall of Fame is so NOT rock. I do respect that they've stayed together so long. That's very impressive to stick together like that. Musically, they haven't really been an influence on anyone worth listening to unless you listen to Coldplay or something. There's not much music as dull as post-Joshua Tree U2.
@@alukuhito almost as dull as your post
The last verse is a tribute to Martin Luther king April 4th shots fired out in a Memphis sky
I think alot of people that grew up as metal heads wouldn’t give these guys a chance always thought U2 was just way too soft but to give them credit they really did do some pretty good stuff.
I was that metal head, then I went to a Rory Gallagher gig in Punchestown in 1982 where U2 played support. In short, U2 stole the show and blew us all away. They're a fantastic live band.
I cannot tell you how many times I have played this song in the car on road trips. It is the soundtrack of my youth.
It's not a top-10 U2 song for me. Even just from The Unforgettable fire, I'd place it behind "A Sort of Homecoming", "Bad", "The Unforgettable Fire" and "Promenade", but it's still a pretty good single.
There's another song on the album called MLK that is absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend. I love to play both songs every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a tribute.
What a song, what a time. I'm old. I miss good music.
This song is a tribute to Dr Martin Luther King , U2 also tributed a song to Nelson Mandela called " ordinary love " .
Love how Lex is like this reminds me of broccoli and thunder and you just sit back and be like "yea, me too"
the live version of this song from Rattle and hum is my favourite
When the lights flood over the crowd - BLAM
I like that Lexi used the word "overcome", so she got the connection on some level.
Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day were also U2 numbers around the same time (I believe). I also like Vertigo but that was later...
5:27 overthinking over analyzing... The song is about Martin Luther King being assassinated so I said April 4 in the Memphis sky One More In The name of Love Kennedy Lincoln Martin Luther King etc etc One More murdered in the name of Love
This is a tribute to Martin luther king. I mean the lyrics "“Early morning, April 4, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life, they could not take your pride"
Jesus, and later, MLK. The song's about people whose lives were given "in the name of love".
I always took this song to be about historical figures who promoted peace and were killed for their stance. The last verse is clearly about Martin Luther King Jr.
U2 is probably the band that had the most influence on most bands in the 80's and 90's. Good Choice. They are references to Jesus, and Martin L. King,
Dr Martin Luther King is all you need to know, the reference to the time of the shooting is poetic licence.
"Free at last..." "Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last."
Why was the song Pride in the Name of Love written?
Though initially written as a song condemning president Ronald Reagan and his pride in the military strength of the U.S., a visit to an MLK exhibit at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 along with a couple of books that Bono had been reading at the time, one on Martin Luther King and Malcom X, altered the lyrics.
The date April 4, should be cemented in your head.
It was about Martin Luther King.
If there was ever a definitive 80's sound for me it was achieved in this song.
" One man Betrayed with a kiss " that's Jesus. The other is M.L.K. " a shoot rang out "
What Flo BP said below! General knowledge in different areas of life will help you with many songs because there are many singers and bands that have 'something' to say about real life and what has happened or what they feel is happening!!!
People that paid the ultimate price to do what they felt was right
U2 is awesome. 🎸 Alternative rock, post punk, early new wave. Very successful and long career. They influenced bands like Muse, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, The Killers, etc. You guys are both correct. U2 is usually very political in their songs. Song has multiple meanings. Overcoming adversity, Biblical references, Jesus, Martin Luther King tribute/Civil Rights Movement, etc. I think even about the Cold War at the time?
Guys, as black Americans you should have caught the MLK Reference. The "free at last" lyric taken from MLK's speech, early April morning in Memphis.
When he sings "early morning april 4". it was too late but they found out later he died at night. No google back then.
Fighting the battle for who you are, and what you believe...
Bono's passionate voice lifts this one well above what it otherwise would have been. Still think it's one of U2's best all these years later.
The part that mentions "one man betrayed with a kiss" is a reference to Jesus. (U2's music often have subtle religious references). The early morning April 4 is about Martin Luther King who was actually shot in the evening, but it was morning In Ireland. When they perform it not they correct it to evening.
These two are literally clueless . Even I, a 67yr old English guy, knows Martin Luther King Jnr was assassinated on the morning of April 4th (1968) in Memphis. She thinks the song is about a prison break. God help America!!!
"One man washed up on the beach". They sang about "wars" a lot. Lots of British bands did/do. Iron Maiden has books worth of info in their songs. U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is another that helped MTV -- the name of this album and the song with the same name are another example of how incredible they were with actual occurrences. The Joshua Tree always reminds me of traveling bands, the series Six Feet Under, and even the tree Forrest Gump found. Maybe even used in The Shawshank Redemption to find money
Thanks guys love from Ireland
Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis April 4th, 1968.
There are a lot of references dropped throughout the song. MLK and Jesus are the obvious ones, but others are more open to interpretation. Like "One man caught on a barbed-wire fence / One man he resist" makes me think of life in the GDR during the cold war. Why? Because I remember seeing video on the news of people getting stuck in the barbed wire fence between East and West Germany as they tried to escape to West Germany. Others stayed and resisted and were killed or jailed for it. So it seems like it's more a statement on the things that we do, but also the things that we fail to do, when faced with adversity. Just my take.
Maybe it's (the barbed wire fence) a reference to Nelson Mandela.
Yep, or it could be British soldiers getting machine gunned charging at the Germans & getting tangled.
@@jonh.7661 could be. That's one knock against U2 songs (but one that I think that is a strength if your goal is to write relatable pop music) - their lyrics are too open to interpretation. so they don't really mean anything. I think that this is a BS take, though. Most good music is like this. Bring the listener in by letting him or her decide what the song's about. That's just me though.
Great song! It's about Martin Luther King Jr. "One man come in the name of love; one man come and go." Our Lord said the greatest act of love is to lay down one's life for his friends. MLK is an example of that.
The song also references Gandhi (I think), and the betrayal of Christ in the garden.
The last verse refers to the assassination of MLK and his epitaph: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!"
Lex is getting a little into the psychology of music.
"Free at Last"....rip MLK
Dierks Bentley did a GREAT bluegrass cover of this song.
Bono’s voice in this song gives me goosebumps. My first ever “favorite song” as a little boy when it came out
Y'all are entertaining. Good song choices too. But you may need to research some of the joints you react to. The MLK reference(He was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis...) in the last verse specifically...
U2 Rattle and Hum!! Must watch. Get in the U2 rabbit hole
OMG! Their songs in that U2 album are all about soul and idealistic stuff. This one was about Martin Luther King btw. So seeing your interpretation of them to be about breakup, waking up from getting drunk, prison escape is cracking me up! 🤣How could you even come up with these interpretations when the instrumental sounds so epic, giving goose bumps? Like, how?
...Though initially written as a song condemning president Ronald Reagan and his pride in the military strength of the U.S., a visit to an MLK exhibit at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 along with a couple of books that Bono had been reading at the time, one on Martin Luther King and Malcom X, altered the lyrics.
He contrasts the approaches of the peaceful King with the more militant X: "One man come in the name of love / One man come and go / One man come, he to justify / One man to overthrow."
The basic theme of martyrs, peace and love along with references to King (and Jesus Christ), paint pride as a universal concept of understanding, awareness and respect for humanity as opposed to using the word in an arrogant or boastful way...
I would love to get Couch Mama's reaction to you all not getting the Jesus/Dr King interplay. It was sooo very obvious to us when it came out. Like no one even had any other takes. It segues from Jesus to MLK as blessed but misbegotten leaders. Maybe it's because like, MLK Day wasn't even a thing for a long time, but now it's taken for granted. When this song was released Dr. King was still somewhat of a controversial figure.
Gosh, I loved The Edge's guitar playing during this era... and the lyrics are just brilliant.
It’s the great things, the self-sacrificial things, the important things that are done in the face of adversity and injustice, in the name of a greater cause and greater love than one person alone can achieve. That one person, however, can make a difference (even if we lose them to tragedy), inspiring others to also make a difference.
Watch the video and you'll see the MLK reference.
Each line refers to historic acts of civil disobedience or non-violence, evoking Jesus, Martin Luther King jr, Gandhi, East Berliners fleeing across the Berlin Wall, etc...
One man betrayed with a kiss was Christ being betrayed by Judas Iscariot. I always felt the man washed on an empty beach with the apostle Paul after being shipwrecked. Of course The last verse was about the assassination of Martin Luther King in Memphis... April 4, 1968.
Not prison escape, it’s speaking of MLK in reference to “shot rings out in the Memphis Sky,”and possibly Jesus when he was betrayed by a kiss from Judas, and other historical references. This band is VERY political and religious to a certain degree.
What a song. Great Irish / Anglo band. (The edge and adam clayton were born in England).
Pride (in the name of love) is THE U2 Song that (nearly) everybody knows. Maybe they know it by that second name in the name of love, but they know it. It is from their time before they got publicly very known (starting with the Joshua Tree album). They had epic songs also before the Joshua Tree like "Pride", "Sunday bloody Sunday", "New years day" "Gloria", "I will follow", etc.
OK - so this was released in 1984 on the 'Unforgettable Fire' a hugely under-appreciated LP probaby due to being followed by 'The Joshua Tree'.
Suspect they are both less than 30 so early 1990's they start their musical upbringing and early 2000's onwards is probably their groove ... but, I still find it baffling that they dont get the POWER in the music and the lyrics but there again nothing like PRIDE has been released in their lifetime i suspect (I maybe wrong). How the get jailbreak from 'one man betrayed with a kiss' seems utterly weird and they completely dont get the final verse about Dr King's assassination at all and the band strips back so you just get Bono belting those great lyrics out!!!
A little sad really.
Dang, thought "Apr 4" "shot rings out" and "Memphis" would have triggered the assassination of MLK Jr. 🤔
I didn't get it all my 1st time through either, but all references are to those fighting for freedom.
U2, very active in all human rights, etc.
Lex, take note of The Edge's style of play. 🎸 I've always found him to be fascinating!! 👍🏽
This is about the actions and sacrifices made by men, in the name of love. There are 2 individuals they reference in particular.
#1) Jesus - 1st verse- He came in the name of love and he came to overthrow 2nd verse - One man betrayed with a kiss.
#2) Dr. Martin Luther King - The entire third verse is about his death. They give you the date, April 4
I think MLK is one of the references made in this song, but I think it transcends a single person...I think the theme of it is more of a human condition to overcome adversity rather than a tribute to a single person....the 'betrayed with a kiss' isn't about MLK....the caught on a barbed-wire fence is not about MLK....those are about betrayal and escaping oppression.
Also, I question the lyrics 'What more...what more...' but everywhere I searched, they say that's what it is...but honestly: i think bono is singing 'one more in the name of love...one more in the name of love'....because the first verse is 'one man comes...one man comes...one man comes...' as a recurring theme in the human history of oppression and adversity...so I really think it's just 'one more....' as a recurring theme ... not a question of 'what more in the name of love?'....I guess you could rationalize the 'what more' as a rehtorical question, but to me 'one more..one more...one more' gives more a feeling of inevitability of the past repeating itself then some rhetorical question about 'what is yet another one?'
I'm going to double down on the interpretation that is is in fact 'One more...'...check out this live performance and watch the Edge and Bono sing that line. even turn off the sound to see if you can determine if it is a 'AT' shape or a 'UN' shape: th-cam.com/video/5Aa2m1t9y-M/w-d-xo.html
When you realize the significance of April 4 is now just a very dim light…😔
My head hurt watching you interpret this one
This song is about things people do for love. One man betrayed with the kiss, abviously talking about what Jesus made for the humanity and the last one was the event ocurred the fourth of july when Marthin Lutherking was shot to dead. What he made for the rights of black people was for love.
You got to do U2 Until the End of the World its alot darker and more of a heavier rock song and it has an epic guitar solo
You need to react to the original version of this song.
Short version, which is what was played it takes away the entire meaning for this song, and the reason why U2 decided to become not only an other rock band, but rebels and used their music to stand with their protest and rights for all.
Everytime I hear this song it gives me chills and makes me sad. But it is a good reminder about the things people do "in the name of love". Love of god, Love of Country, etc. People do some horrible things in the name of love.
It’s about Martin Luther King. “Early April 4th. Shot rang out in the Memphis SkyR I kidding me Brother
Not a U2 fan but this song is amazing... Love the references.
Dying with Pride in the name of love…
Martin Luther King Jr.
"Free at last, free at last."
B. January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia
D. April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee
"Early Morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride"
MLK. “Early morning, April 4…”
Surprised that they didn’t catch the April 4 free at last reference but then again the American education system is extremely successful in teaching kids to be useful idiots.
Need someones help. " One man on a barbed wire fence " is that the Berlin Wall or is that North Korea or is it both?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer anti Nazi German theologian