One

Song meaning of One by U2

It is the third song from their seventh album, Achtung Baby, which was published in 1991. It was made available as the album's third single in 1992.

Conflict amongst the band members about the direction of U2's music and the calibre of their content arose during the album's recording sessions in Berlin.

The band was on the verge of disbanding when "One," an improvisational song composed by the band after being inspired by a chord pattern played by guitarist the Edge in the studio, provided a breakthrough.

Lead singer Bono drew inspiration for the lyrics from the band members' strained relationships as well as the unification of Germany. Although "disunity" is supposedly the subject of the lyrics, additional meanings have been ascribed to them.

When the Edge came up with two ideas for the bridge of another song, "Mysterious Ways," and Bono loved one of them so much that he composed a fresh set of lyrics, "One" was born.

Even though some people see it as a love song, the lyrics are laced with pain and ambiguity.

The Edge remarked, "People have told me they play it at their wedding." "And I ask myself, "Have you read the lyrics? It’s not that kind of a song.'”

The Edge described the recording of the song. "At the instant we were recording it, I got a very strong sense of its power. We were all playing together in the big recording room, a huge, eerie ballroom full of ghosts of the war, and everything fell into place. It was a reassuring moment, when everyone finally went, 'oh great, this album has started.' It's the reason you're in a band – when the spirit descends upon you and you create something truly affecting. 'One' is an incredibly moving piece. It hits straight into the heart."

The song was at the top of the charts for Irish Singles Charts, Canadian RPM Top Singles, US Billboard Album Rock Tracks, and Modern Rock Tracks. Additionally, it reached its peak at positions three in New Zealand, four in Australia, seven on the UK Singles Chart, and ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

One lyrics by U2

[Is it getting better

Or do you feel the same?

Will it make it easier on you, now

You got someone to blame?

You say one love, one life

When it's one need in the night

One love, we get to share it

Leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it

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's too 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

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

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

One

Ooh-ooh-ooh

Oh-ooh

May we, may we, may we get

Higher

Oh, higher

(Ay, yeah, go) higher

(Oh) Higher