"Pride (In the Name of Love)" #MusicMonday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Source: Daily Journal Online

Most Mondays I write a post about music … either a song that inspires me or music that’s a part of a marketing campaign or a musical artist that is doing marketing. Anything along those lines.

Today being Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I wanted to honor him and honor his legacy and impact on all of us. So I searched for songs about him and was surprised to see how many artists have done tribute songs to the late Dr. King. Click here for the “top 10,” if you will.

One of my favorite songs of all time from U2 is on the list, and here I had no idea what the song was about. It’s U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love).

Who knew?!?

Early (evening), April four Shot rings out in the Memphis sky.

Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride.

Note that the word “evening” has since been substituted for the original lyric “morning” which was an error in the song writing because Dr. King’s assassination occurred at roughly 6:00pm in the evening.

Also noteworthy that Chrissy Hynde from The Pretenders sings background vocals, although it was before she was married so she’s credited as Chrissy Kerr.

The song met with mixed reviews when it was released in September 1984, but it went on to be one of the biggest selling songs of the 1980’s and many have since added it to their list of the best songs of all time. It’s on my list, that’s for sure. It was U2’s first top 40 hit on the Billboard charts. I actually saw U2 perform this song back in the day and it was memorizing. I just didn’t realize who it was dedicated to. I’m humbled.

The song has been covered by many an artist through the years, including John Legend who sang the song for The History Channel’s “King” which aired for the 40th Anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination in 2008. It’s beautiful.

Here’s to you, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all you sacrificed to make progress in our world. Progress we are sadly still working on but we will continue to use you as our inspiration.

Thank you. They could not take your pride, and never will.

What’s your experience? JIM