Rap lyrics in concerts at end of MOS

[ltcf]

What are the words?
What do they mean?
Why is Bono doing it?

I've googled around and I think I have the answer to #1 but not even close to #2 or #3.

 

[digitize]

Here is my best transcription of the SNL version:

Like this song, life is short
It's the longest thing you'll ever do
The worse the curse is that your dreams came true
God is a mirror in which each man sees himself
Hell is a place where you don't need anyone's help
When I first met you, your face was like snow
Wherever I went you wanted to go
Your face, your grace, your can of mace in a case
Did you put your case down?
Age-/A-/8-17 (can't tell) on the ground
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me alone in this song

As for two and three, I have a few theories, but I need to go, so I'll post them later.

Also, I love the rap.

 

[U2girl]

Why is Bono doing it?

Good question. MOS is fine without the rap.

 

[ltcf]

Good question. MOS is fine without the rap.

I'm not sure if I like it or not. I'm undecided. If I knew why he was doing it, I might understand and like it better.

 

[BVS]

What do you mean if you knew "why"?

 

[LemonMelon]

Because Bono can't keep his mouth shut for two minutes at a stretch. Pretty simple.

Also, the rap is wonderful, but I'd rather it not become a fixture.

 

[U2BROTHR]

Why is Bono doing it?

Because he wants show black folks he's been hanging with Jay-Z

 

[Bonogirl777]

I'm actually unsure of weather I like it or not. Doesn't really matter though, I guess, because Bono will probably keep doing it.

 

[domo-kun]

I like it, it kind of seems to fit in the song IMO

 

[Gabi_Clayton]

I like the rap ..

 

[The_Edge89]

I don't know if the above suggestion was for the SNL performance or the Rose Bowl DVD, but here's a slight amendment for the latter:

Like this song, life is short
It's the longest thing you'll ever do
The worst, the curse is that your dreams came true

God is a mirror in which each man sees himself
Hell is a place if you don't need any help
When I first met you, your face was like snow
Wherever I went y-you wanted to go
Your face, your grace, your lipstick case
Your case, did you put it down?
8:17 on the ground
Your faith in the clown (cloud?)
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now

Alone in this song
Don't leave me now
Alone in this song

 

[last unicorn]

I like it. Bono has been doing it since the SNL performance. I think it has something to do with a lot of people leaving during the song at the shows - "Don't leave me now alone in this song" - which is kind of sad.

 

[gvox]

Dear Bono:

Please stop rapping during MOS. Also, never speak during Edge's solo. Ever. Again.

KTHXBAI.

 

[corianderstem]

I must be losing my mind - I've been to two post-SNL concerts, and I don't think I've ever heard Bono doing a rap at the end of MOS.

 

[digitize]

I must be losing my mind - I've been to two post-SNL concerts, and I don't think I've ever heard Bono doing a rap at the end of MOS.

Yeah, he didn't do the rap in Houston.

 

[The_Edge89]

Also, never speak during Edge's solo. Ever. Again.

So true!
Sure he gets in the mood and I suppose that's how he's used to do it when doing scat singing for writing a song's lyrics, but come on, this is finished material! "I change the lyrics on a nightly basis" I think he said one time. Also, he adresses this very issue in the HBO talk show with Dave Stewart in 2006 whatever that was called (Off The Record, I think?)

 

[digitize]

For the record, the rap lyrics were streaming across the teleprompters in front of Larry and Bono in Los Angeles, so it's not just something that Bono made up on the spot... the band have obviously thought about it. I'm trying to get some readable screenshots; this is all I have so far:

This is Larry's teleprompter reflecting off of his bass drum, obviously flipped around so we can read it.

 

[Earl-Of-IMDb]

still good with or with out it..