Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
by U2

Album: Achtung Baby (1991)
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Songfacts®:

  • In the band's 2005 autobiography, U2 by U2, Bono calls the song "a little disturbed." He explained: "'There's a silence that comes to a house when no one can sleep' is a great line, and I can say that with all modesty because I stole it from [fiction writer] Raymond Carver. My apologies. It is an epic U2 song but again the key of it left my voice in a conversational place and allowed a different kind of lyric writing. It has almost a Motown chorus: 'Baby, baby, baby, light my way.' This was the peak, the mountain top of babies. But it disguises very dark content: 'Your love is a secret that's been passed around.' Jealousy. Infidelity. Love rears its ugly head again."
  • "The Fly" evolved out of the recording sessions for this song.
  • On U2's Zoo TV tour (1992-1993), Bono sang part of Frank Sinatra's My Way along with this song. In 1993, Bono sang "I've Got You Under My Skin" on Sinatra's Duets album.
  • During recording, Larry Mullen dropped a drumstick midway through. After much debate, they decided to use the take to preserve it's spontaneity.

Comments: 14

  • Aj from IrelandThis amazing song is about the invisibility of God's love. I listen to it when I'm feeling down and for over 20 years it has inspired me to go on. When Bono says 'Baby' I think he means 'Jesus' and once you make that substitution you will start to understand this sublime song . A work of art hidden in seemingly meaningless rock lyric. That is the genius of U2. "I'm in the black, can't see or be seen" / "light my way".
  • Danleichty from Rochester, MnI love this song. It might sound like a love song but it is not. It is a song about bono's reltionship with god. He is only using romantic metaphors in this song. I think that this song has a very good meaning to it.
  • Brian from Boston, MaAwsome song from an An awsome underrated album.The best abum of 1991
  • Adam from Boyce, VaGreat Song.....Love its use in the movie "Click"
  • Marius from Lüneburg, GermanyI admire this song. You can turn it on anytime you feel confused, beated, sad, bright... It is so unique, a true gem of music itself.
    And it has the same, if not stronger, energy when U2 is playing it live.
    The song bribes by distinctive sound and beautiful heartrending lyrics - THANKS so much for recording it!
  • John from Boston, MaI second everything Grant says. This is one of U2's finest, most evocative songs.
  • Tisaya from Lodz, PolandLeon, I guess Larry drops the drumstick towards the end of the song. Check out 3:10 - 3:14. :)
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtCan someone tell me the exact moment where Larry drops the drumstick?
  • Rick from Humboldt, IaI love the achtung baby song "Acrobat" even more than this. The last few songs on Achtung baby are very dark sounding.
  • Real from Atlanta, GaNot a huge U2 fan because their 'sound' gets a bit old after a while and when they do change it up a bit, it just doesn't work for me. But Achtung Baby did work for me. The sound wasn't too repetitive, nor too conceptual. Just a collection of quality pop songs. Ultraviolet is a killer track, and I especially like the bass and how well it works with the emotional vocals.
  • Grant from Annandale, Va"I remember when we could sleep on stones / But now we lie together in whispers and moans" is one of the best things Bono's ever written. Underrated gem off an album that admittedly has a ton of other highlights. Has an intense "dark" sound about it, to me it completely reflects nighttime.
  • Amy Friel from Barrie, CanadaThis song is yet another of Bono's responses to "trying to be a Christian." The lyrics are absolutely beautiful. One of the most interesting lines in this song has to be "When I was all messed up and had opera in my head/ Your love was a lightbulb hangin' over my bed." The imagery is so powerful.
  • Ace from Thousand Oaks, CaI'd always heard it as ultraviolet light... hard to tell.
  • Ryan from Albion, NyIn the background,the edge starts singing ultraviolet LOVE...love is hard to hear,but u can just make it out
see more comments

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