U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name Lyrics

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About Where the Streets Have No Name

"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's third single in August 1987. The song's hook is a repeating guitar arpeggio using a delay effect, played during the song's introduction and again at the end. Lead vocalist Bono wrote the lyrics in response to the notion that it is possible to identify a person's religion and income based on the street on which they lived, particularly in Belfast. During the band's difficulties recording the song, producer Brian Eno considered erasing the song's tapes to have them start from scratch. "Where the Streets Have No Name" was praised by critics and became a commercial success, peaking at number thirteen in the US, number fourteen in Canada, number ten in the Netherlands, and number four in the United Kingdom. The song has remained a staple of their live act since the song debuted in 1987 on The Joshua Tree Tour. The song was performed on a Los Angeles rooftop for the filming of its music video, which won a Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video. more »

Year: 1987 5:37 1,484 Views Playlists: #1 I want to run I want to hide I want to tear down the walls That hold me inside I wanna reach out And touch the flame Where the streets have no name I want to feel, sunlight on my face I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace I wanna take shelter from the poison rain Where the streets have no name Where the streets have no name Where the streets have no name We're still building Then burning down love, burning down love And when I go there I go there with you It's all I can do The cities a flood And our love turns to rust We're beaten and blown by the wind Trampled into dust I'll show you a place High on the desert plain Where the streets have no name Where the streets have no name Where the streets have no name Still building Then burning down love Burning down love And when I go there I go there with you It's all I can do Our love turns to rust We're beaten and blown by the wind Blown by the wind Oh and I see love See our love turn to rust We're beaten and blown by the wind Blown by the wind Oh when I go there I go there with you It's all I can do

U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music. Throughout the group's musical pursuits, they have maintained a sound built on melodic instrumentals, highlighted by The Edge's timbrally varied guitar sounds and Bono's expressive vocals. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal themes and sociopolitical concerns. more »

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Genre » Rock

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Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

15 facts about this song

Song Origin "Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock band U2, released as the third single off their 1987 album, "The Joshua Tree".

Song Composition The song is known for its complex guitar riff created by guitarist The Edge. He reportedly struggled with the intro, leading producer Brian Eno to nearly erase the recorded tape to help Edge "start over".

Chart Performance The song reached number 13 on the UK Singles Charts and number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

Inspiration The song's lyrical inspiration came from a story that lead vocalist Bono heard about the streets of Belfast in Northern Ireland, where you can determine a person's religion and income based on the street they live on.

Album Influence The song opens "The Joshua Tree" album and sets the spiritual and geographical tone for the entire record.

Music Video Significance The music video was filmed on a rooftop in Los Angeles, echoing the Beatles' famous rooftop concert. The filming led to traffic jams and attracted thousands of spectators.

Live Performances "Where the Streets Have No Name" is frequently used by U2 as their opening song during concerts, due to its energizing effect on the audience.

Critical Acclaim The song has been universally acclaimed, with critics praising its instrumentation and inspirational, open-ended lyrics.

Grammy Awards The song won the Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video in 1988.

Cultural Impact The song has been covered by numerous artists and featured in various films and TV shows. It is also often played at events to pump up the crowd.

Charitable Uses During the 2005 Vertigo Tour, the song was used to highlight the plight of Africa, reflecting Bono's work with the ONE campaign.

Recognition by Rolling Stone Rolling Stone magazine listed the song as one of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time.

Song Duration The song is long by pop music standards, typically running over five minutes in length.

Bono's Perspective Bono has compared the song to an "ecstatic" hymn, further highlighting its spiritual undertones.

Use in Political Campaigns The song has been used in several political campaigns, including for Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, due to its uplifting and inspiring lyrics.

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Where the Streets Have No Name

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