U2Soar
War Child
A co-worker of mine is going through a very difficult time. And she really enjoys U2’s new album. Last week, I did something I’ve never done before. I was looking over the lyrics of U2’s album “Atomic Bomb” and I noticed how some lines here and there could be words of a prayer to God. On Tuesday, I went through all of them (including the b-sides) and selected lyrics that I thought could form a sort of a conversation between a person and God.
An Atomic Prayer
Soul to self: “Lights go down, it’s dark. The jungle is your head. Fear is taking over every thought. The night is full of holes. As bullets rip the sky. Of ink with gold. There's no one there behind their eyes. They're in the business, beautiful lies. And though your soul. It can’t be bought. Your mind can wander……
I was drinking some wine... and it turned to blood. What's the use of religion... if you're any good. I’m ‘round the corner from anything that’s real. I’m across the road from hope. I’m under a bridge in a rip tide. That’s taken everything I call my own. I’m on an island at a busy intersection. I can’t go forward, I can’t turn back. Can’t see the future. It’s getting away from me. I just watch the tail lights glowing.”
Soul: “God I need your help tonight. I know that we don’t talk. Don’t leave me here alone... I’m sick of it all. I don’t know if I can take it. I don’t know if I can make it. Where is the justice in this world? The wicked make so much noise. The righteous stay oddly still. And I wonder where is the love? Where is the love? I need some release, release, release. We need. Love and peace. Love and peace. I’m waiting on the crumbs from Your table. Hello, Hello. I’m at a place called Vertigo. It’s everything I wish I didn’t know. Except You give me something I can feel, feel. I can feel Your love teaching me how. Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel…”
God: “You're gravity... searching for the ground. You're silence... searching for a sound. Your heart is aching... your heart is my home. Listen to me now. I need to let you know. You don’t have to go it alone. Sometimes you can’t make it on your own. Little sister, I know that everything is not ok. Little sister, don’t you worry about a thing today. Take the heat from the Sun. Don't trade your dreams for some small change. Guard the Flame, or better, leave it naked. The only pain is to feel nothing at all. Baby slow down, Please stay a child somewhere in your heart. I’ll give you everything you want. Except the thing that you want. And you’ll never be alone. Don’t you worry about your mind. Don’t you worry about your mind. You should worry about the day. That the pain it goes away. Listen to me now. I need to let you know. You don’t have to go it alone. Sometimes you can’t make it on your own. There is no failure here sweetheart. Just when you quit. I am you and you are mine. Love makes nonsense of space. And time… will disappear. Love and logic keep us clear. Reason is on our side, love… Oh you look so beautiful tonight. In the city of blinding lights. The songs are in your eyes. I see them when you smile. I’ve seen you walk unafraid. Come on now show your soul. You’ve been keeping your love under control. Everywhere you go you shout it. You don’t have to be shy about it, no.”
Soul: “I... I can't escape myself. I hear you talk. I was rippin' the stitches. Two fists to rub. I'm in the ditches. You heard me in my tune. When I just heard confusion. Some people got high rises on their backs. I’m not broke but you can see the cracks. You can make me perfect again. I’m alive. I’m being born. I just arrived, I’m at the door. Of the place I started out from. All because of You. All because of You. I am! Getting out from under my bed, now. I'm going to say the things I should have said, now. Getting closer. Getter to close to what's true. Gonna find myself in You. Love has come again. Love's got to be with the weak. Only then love gets a chance to speak. Love is justice, not charity. Love brings with it a clarity. I fear nothing. Fear nothing. Love has come again. I'm alive again. Alive...I am alive, I'm born again and again.
Soul and God: “Beneath the noise. Below the din. I hear a voice. It’s whispering. "I was a stranger you took me in.”” ("Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:34-40)
Soul: “Take these shoes. Click clacking down some dead end street. Take these shoes. And make them fit. Take this shirt. Polyester white trash made in nowhere. Take this shirt. And make it clean, clean. Take this soul. Stranded in some skin and bones. Take this soul. And make it sing. Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. (“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:21-22) Yahweh, Yahweh. Still I’m waiting for the dawn. Take these hands. Teach them what to carry. Take these hands. Don’t make a fist. Take this mouth. So quick to criticize. Take this mouth. Give it a kiss. (“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song Of Solomon 1:2) Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. Yahweh, Yahweh. Still I’m waiting for the dawn. Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up. The sun is coming up on the ocean. This love is like a drop in the ocean. This love is like a drop in the ocean. Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. Yahweh, tell me now. Why the dark before the dawn? Take this city. A city should be shining on a hill. ("You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14) Take this city. If it be your will. What no man can own, no man can take. Take this heart. Take this heart. Take this heart. And make it break.”
An Atomic Prayer
Soul to self: “Lights go down, it’s dark. The jungle is your head. Fear is taking over every thought. The night is full of holes. As bullets rip the sky. Of ink with gold. There's no one there behind their eyes. They're in the business, beautiful lies. And though your soul. It can’t be bought. Your mind can wander……
I was drinking some wine... and it turned to blood. What's the use of religion... if you're any good. I’m ‘round the corner from anything that’s real. I’m across the road from hope. I’m under a bridge in a rip tide. That’s taken everything I call my own. I’m on an island at a busy intersection. I can’t go forward, I can’t turn back. Can’t see the future. It’s getting away from me. I just watch the tail lights glowing.”
Soul: “God I need your help tonight. I know that we don’t talk. Don’t leave me here alone... I’m sick of it all. I don’t know if I can take it. I don’t know if I can make it. Where is the justice in this world? The wicked make so much noise. The righteous stay oddly still. And I wonder where is the love? Where is the love? I need some release, release, release. We need. Love and peace. Love and peace. I’m waiting on the crumbs from Your table. Hello, Hello. I’m at a place called Vertigo. It’s everything I wish I didn’t know. Except You give me something I can feel, feel. I can feel Your love teaching me how. Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel…”
God: “You're gravity... searching for the ground. You're silence... searching for a sound. Your heart is aching... your heart is my home. Listen to me now. I need to let you know. You don’t have to go it alone. Sometimes you can’t make it on your own. Little sister, I know that everything is not ok. Little sister, don’t you worry about a thing today. Take the heat from the Sun. Don't trade your dreams for some small change. Guard the Flame, or better, leave it naked. The only pain is to feel nothing at all. Baby slow down, Please stay a child somewhere in your heart. I’ll give you everything you want. Except the thing that you want. And you’ll never be alone. Don’t you worry about your mind. Don’t you worry about your mind. You should worry about the day. That the pain it goes away. Listen to me now. I need to let you know. You don’t have to go it alone. Sometimes you can’t make it on your own. There is no failure here sweetheart. Just when you quit. I am you and you are mine. Love makes nonsense of space. And time… will disappear. Love and logic keep us clear. Reason is on our side, love… Oh you look so beautiful tonight. In the city of blinding lights. The songs are in your eyes. I see them when you smile. I’ve seen you walk unafraid. Come on now show your soul. You’ve been keeping your love under control. Everywhere you go you shout it. You don’t have to be shy about it, no.”
Soul: “I... I can't escape myself. I hear you talk. I was rippin' the stitches. Two fists to rub. I'm in the ditches. You heard me in my tune. When I just heard confusion. Some people got high rises on their backs. I’m not broke but you can see the cracks. You can make me perfect again. I’m alive. I’m being born. I just arrived, I’m at the door. Of the place I started out from. All because of You. All because of You. I am! Getting out from under my bed, now. I'm going to say the things I should have said, now. Getting closer. Getter to close to what's true. Gonna find myself in You. Love has come again. Love's got to be with the weak. Only then love gets a chance to speak. Love is justice, not charity. Love brings with it a clarity. I fear nothing. Fear nothing. Love has come again. I'm alive again. Alive...I am alive, I'm born again and again.
Soul and God: “Beneath the noise. Below the din. I hear a voice. It’s whispering. "I was a stranger you took me in.”” ("Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:34-40)
Soul: “Take these shoes. Click clacking down some dead end street. Take these shoes. And make them fit. Take this shirt. Polyester white trash made in nowhere. Take this shirt. And make it clean, clean. Take this soul. Stranded in some skin and bones. Take this soul. And make it sing. Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. (“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:21-22) Yahweh, Yahweh. Still I’m waiting for the dawn. Take these hands. Teach them what to carry. Take these hands. Don’t make a fist. Take this mouth. So quick to criticize. Take this mouth. Give it a kiss. (“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song Of Solomon 1:2) Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. Yahweh, Yahweh. Still I’m waiting for the dawn. Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up. The sun is coming up on the ocean. This love is like a drop in the ocean. This love is like a drop in the ocean. Yahweh, Yahweh. Always pain before a child is born. Yahweh, tell me now. Why the dark before the dawn? Take this city. A city should be shining on a hill. ("You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14) Take this city. If it be your will. What no man can own, no man can take. Take this heart. Take this heart. Take this heart. And make it break.”
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