| "MLK" | |
|---|---|
| Song byU2 | |
| from the albumThe Unforgettable Fire | |
| Released | 1 October 1984 |
| Genre | Ambient |
| Length | 2:32 |
| Label | Island |
| Composer | U2 |
| Lyricist | Bono |
| Producers | |
"MLK" is a song by Irishrock bandU2, and is the tenth and final track on their 1984 album,The Unforgettable Fire. Anelegy toMartin Luther King Jr., it is a short, pensive piece with simple lyrics (“Sleep/Sleep tonight/And mayyour dreams/Be realized/If the thundercloud/Passes rain/So let it rain/Rain down on he”[1]). It was because of this song and "Pride (In the Name of Love)", another tribute to King, that lead vocalistBono received the highest honor of theKing Center for Nonviolent Social Change, an organization founded byCoretta Scott King.
"MLK" originated from a melody and set of lyrics composed by lead vocalistBono while listening to the pitched hum of hisvacuum cleaner. According to guitaristthe Edge, the band "failed miserably" to find a musical arrangement that suited the melody and that the results "always sounded far too traditional". When the group decided to revisit the song, they started with just the vocal melody and a drone note to see which musical direction it would take them. The resulting arrangement sounded complete to them, convincing them not to refine it any further.[2]
Its live debut was on 18 October 1984, as an intro to "The Unforgettable Fire", and the two songs were performed together at almost allUnforgettable Fire Tour shows and mostJoshua Tree Tour shows. However, by the end of the Joshua Tree Tour, the band started to use "MLK" to precede other songs, especially "One Tree Hill", and it continued in this capacity on theLovetown Tour. It failed to appear on theZoo TV Tour but returned to the set list on thePopMart Tour, especially after the deaths ofDiana, Princess of Wales andMichael Hutchence. It went into another hiatus after PopMart, missing the entireElevation Tour, but was notably performed as the intro to "Where the Streets Have No Name" at U2's appearance during theSuper Bowl XXXVI halftime show in 2002. After the death ofRosa Parks, it made fiveVertigo Tour appearances; in all five instances, it was sung after "One" to conclude the main set. "MLK" was a part of the main set list for theU2 360° Tour, as the prelude to "Walk On". The song was dropped midway through the tour and was replaced with "Scarlet". It was not played live again untilThe Joshua Tree Tours 2017 and 2019, during which it was played on opening night before being replaced by "Bad" the following night.[3]
"MLK" was directorRichard Kelly's original choice for the soundtrack to the final sequence of the 2001 filmDonnie Darko. After difficulties licensing the song, it was decided to useGary Jules' rendition of theTears for Fears song "Mad World" instead.[4]
InStephen Chbosky's 1999 novelThe Perks of Being a Wallflower, "MLK" is mentioned as one of Charlie's favorite songs, along with "Blackbird".[5]
Bob Chilcott has arranged the song forSATB choir, and this has been recorded by groups includingThe King's Singers.[6][7] English musicianCosmo Sheldrake preformed an eight minute live inprovised version of the song in 2018. <ref>"Cosmo Sheldrake - MLK".
