The Hands That Built America
Encyclopedia
"The Hands That Built America" is a song by U2
, released on the soundtrack to the film Gangs of New York
. It was one of two new songs on their The Best of 1990-2000
compilation, with the other being "Electrical Storm". It was nominated for Best Original Song
at the 75th Academy Awards
, but lost to Eminem
's "Lose Yourself
."
. The first verse of the song makes reference to the Irish Potato Famine, and the resulting imigration of millions of Irish people to the United States
; a fact reflected in the demographics of New York City. The second verse relates to the American Dream
, and the ideals that hard work can bring a person prosperity. The 3rd verse is about Bill Clinton's successful mediation between Ireland
and United Kingdom
. The final verse is about September 11th
.
The song was considered for single release and was announced as such for a 2003 release. The songs "The Playboy Mansion" (2003 Version - originally from Pop) and "That's Life" (a cover song by Bono and released on The Good Thief Soundtrack) were announced as B-sides. The release was canceled, possibly because U2 didn't win the Oscar for best song for "The Hands That Built America". The 2003 version of "The Playboy Mansion" and the single itself never surfaced as CD's were probably not yet produced.
Produced by William Orbit
Engineered by Carl Glanville
Assisted by Chris Heaney
Mixed by William Orbit at The Leonard Hotel, London
Additional keyboards by William Orbit
Pro-Tools programming by Iain Roberton, Jake Davies and Rico Conning
String arrangement by The Edge
String conductor Daragh O'Toole
Strings by Katie O'Connor, Rosie Nic Athlaioch, Emer O'Grady, Una O'Kane
Recorded at HQ, Dublin and Nice, France
, who played the tin whistle
, and Sharon Corr
who played the violin.
The title of the song was inspired by Horslips
title track to their album "The Man Who Built America" with the full blessing of Horslips singer and bass player Barry Devlin
, who had also produced a number of U2 videos.
U2 have performed this song live in its entirety seven times, the first being at the premiere of Gangs of New York on December 9, 2002, and the last occurrence done solely by Bono
and The Edge
as an acoustic performance at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library
in Little Rock, Arkansas
on November 18, 2004
.
Although "The Hands That Built America" has not been played live since 2004, it was included at every concert on the Vertigo Tour
(2005–2006) as a snippet
during performances of "Bullet the Blue Sky
". This took place in conjunction with snippets of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home
" and sometimes "Please
".
The second video is composed solely of black and white footage of U2 playing the song. This video uses an acoustic version of the song, and is the version found on The Best of 1990-2000 DVD.
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, released on the soundtrack to the film Gangs of New York
Gangs of New York
Gangs of New York is a 2002 historical film set in the mid-19th century in the Five Points district of New York City. It was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan. The film was inspired by Herbert Asbury's 1928 nonfiction book, The Gangs of New...
. It was one of two new songs on their The Best of 1990-2000
The Best of 1990-2000
The Best of 1990–2000 is the second greatest hits compilation album by Irish rock band U2. The album was released on 5 November 2002 by Island Records, except in the United States where the album was released on the Interscope label as a single-disc CD compilation...
compilation, with the other being "Electrical Storm". It was nominated for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
at the 75th Academy Awards
75th Academy Awards
The 75th Academy Awards honored the best films of 2002, were held on March 23, 2003, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. It was produced by Gil Cates and hosted for the second time by Steve Martin....
, but lost to Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's "Lose Yourself
Lose Yourself
"Lose Yourself" is an Academy Award winning song by American hip-hop artist Eminem, released as the first single from the original soundtrack to the movie 8 Mile on October 22, 2002. It was written and produced by Eminem himself, along with longtime collaborator Jeff Bass, one half of the...
."
Composition
"The Hands That Built America" is a song about New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The first verse of the song makes reference to the Irish Potato Famine, and the resulting imigration of millions of Irish people to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; a fact reflected in the demographics of New York City. The second verse relates to the American Dream
American Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
, and the ideals that hard work can bring a person prosperity. The 3rd verse is about Bill Clinton's successful mediation between Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The final verse is about September 11th
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
The song was considered for single release and was announced as such for a 2003 release. The songs "The Playboy Mansion" (2003 Version - originally from Pop) and "That's Life" (a cover song by Bono and released on The Good Thief Soundtrack) were announced as B-sides. The release was canceled, possibly because U2 didn't win the Oscar for best song for "The Hands That Built America". The 2003 version of "The Playboy Mansion" and the single itself never surfaced as CD's were probably not yet produced.
Personnel
The Best of 1990-2000 version:Produced by William Orbit
Engineered by Carl Glanville
Assisted by Chris Heaney
Mixed by William Orbit at The Leonard Hotel, London
Additional keyboards by William Orbit
Pro-Tools programming by Iain Roberton, Jake Davies and Rico Conning
String arrangement by The Edge
String conductor Daragh O'Toole
Strings by Katie O'Connor, Rosie Nic Athlaioch, Emer O'Grady, Una O'Kane
Recorded at HQ, Dublin and Nice, France
Soundtrack and Inspiration
The soundtrack mix of the song features Andrea CorrAndrea Corr
Andrea Jane Corr is an Irish musician, songwriter and actress. Corr debuted in 1990 as the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock group The Corrs along with her three elder siblings Caroline, Sharon, and Jim...
, who played the tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
, and Sharon Corr
Sharon Corr
Sharon Helga Corr is a musician and member of the Irish pop-rock band The Corrs along with elder brother Jim and younger sisters Caroline and Andrea. She plays the violin, piano, and guitar, and sings backing vocals. She began learning the violin when she was six years old...
who played the violin.
The title of the song was inspired by Horslips
Horslips
Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. The group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts....
title track to their album "The Man Who Built America" with the full blessing of Horslips singer and bass player Barry Devlin
Barry Devlin
Barry Devlin is an Irish musician, screen writer and director.-Early life:Devlin is from Ardboe, Moortown, County Tyrone...
, who had also produced a number of U2 videos.
Live history
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
as an acoustic performance at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library
William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park
The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park is the presidential library of Bill Clinton. The center was established by Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, is located in Little Rock, Arkansas and includes the Clinton Presidential Library, the offices of the Clinton Foundation,...
in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
on November 18, 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
.
Although "The Hands That Built America" has not been played live since 2004, it was included at every concert on the Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour
The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006. The Vertigo Tour consisted of five legs that alternated between indoor arena shows in...
(2005–2006) as a snippet
Snippet
A snippet is defined as a small piece of something, it may in more specific contexts refer to:* Sampling , the use of a short phrase of a recording as an element in a new piece of music...
during performances of "Bullet the Blue Sky
Bullet the Blue Sky
"Bullet the Blue Sky" is the fourth track from U2's 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. The song is one of the band's most overtly politically toned songs, with live performances often being heavily critical of political conflicts and violence....
". This took place in conjunction with snippets of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is a popular song of the American Civil War that expressed people's longing for the return of their friends and relatives who were fighting in the war.-Origins:...
" and sometimes "Please
Please (U2 song)
"Please" is the eleventh song from U2's 1997 album, Pop. It was released as the album's fourth single on 20 October 1997.As with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the song is about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The single cover for this song features the pictures of four Northern Irish politicians —...
".
Music videos
Two different music videos were created for "The Hands That Built America". The first uses a combination of black and white footage of the band playing the song, and scenes from Gangs of New York. This video uses the version of the song found on The Best of 1990-2000 CD.The second video is composed solely of black and white footage of U2 playing the song. This video uses an acoustic version of the song, and is the version found on The Best of 1990-2000 DVD.