U2MoL

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Original Of The Species

  1. An early version of Original of the Species is heard during a segment of 60 Minutes II's story on Bono, broadcast February 2002, while he and Correspondent Vicki Mabrey are driving in his Mercedes en route to the band's Dublin recording studio. Ms. Mabrey asks Bono what he listens to in his car, he responds by pressing a button on the stereo control that brings up part of the chorus, to which he sings along: Everywhere you go you shout it, you don't have to be shy about it Ms. Mabrey, in voice-over, describes the song as: a work in progress, a song he wrote for his two daughters Bono elaborates a little bit further, offering the following: It's a beautiful...it's a song about...I guess just about being yourself which is the hardest thing to do

    Jeffrey Libby gorramit@gmail.com (20:th of December 2004)

  2. The Edge in some unknown interview: The last time I cried was listening to that song. It was a song Bono started on the last record about my daughter Holly. He's her godfather. The lyric became more universal. About being young and full of doubt about yourself. He probably won't agree, but I think it has connotations for Bono, looking back to when he was 20.

    Jonas Steverud (Maintainer of U2MoL) (28:th of December 2004)

  3. www.u2tour.de has published an interview with U2, it is unknown if it's u2tour.de that made the interview or if they have some other source, and Bono made the following comments about the song.

    it's about seeing some people who are ashamed of their bodies, in particular teenagers with eating disorders, not feeling comfortable with themselves and their sexuality. I'm just saying to them, you are one of a kind, you are the first one of your kind, you're an original of the species..."You feel like no one before, you steal right under my door, I kneel 'cause I want you some more, I want the lot of what you've got, and I want nothing that you're not, everywhere you go you shout it, you don't have to be shy about it". So it's a "be who you are", and I can't wait to play it live. Edge plays some extraordinary piano which got the complexity to the verses, to balance that anthem.

    Sara L. Bechtel slbechtel@adelphia.net (28:th of March 2005)