Readers Poll: The Best U2 Songs

U2's first single to hit the Hot 100 was "New Year's Day," from their 1983 LP War. The track began with Adam Clayton messing around with the bass part at a soundcheck, and then the Edge came up with the piano part – but it took Bono a little while to come up with lyrics. He eventually turned it into a love song for his wife Ali, set against the backdrop of the Polish Solidarity Movement. He must not have been happy with all of the lyrics, because in concert he never sings the "gold is the reason for the wars we wage" verse.