Dr. Lemonseed said:
I'm very curious what happened between 1997 and 2000 to bring the boys back around. Allow me a brief explanation:
Ok, so Bono has ALWAYS written about the place he's in--transitioning to adulthood, searching for God, allowing himself worldly pleasures, etc...
For Pop, he had some SERIOUSLY dark lyrics--think MOFO, IGWSHA, Wake Up... It all sounds so lost and in dispair.
Now, compare that to ATYCLB--BD, Walk On, Stuck. Hope and joy returned.
You don't just arbitrarily change your style or lyrical content, especially from such polar extremes. Something had to have happened to him in that intervening time, but WHAT? I'd wager he had a serious spiritual experience. Any thoughts?
He says in the new Rolling Stone interview that he had a serious health scare around '96/'97 or so. He was sure it was throat cancer.
He doesn't end up saying in that article what it actually turned out to be, but it is known that he had some sort of surgery and was not able to sing for several months.
I have always found it very revealing that he chose to read out a portion of Psalm 116 before Streets during the Elevation tour.
Here is Peterson's version, the one Bono used, from The Message:
I love GOD because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy
He listened so intently
as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face,
hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn;
then I called out to GOD for help:
"Please, GOD!" I cried out.
"Save my life!"
GOD is gracious--it is he who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
GOD takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.
I said to myself, "Relax and rest.
GOD has showered you with blessings.
Soul, you've been rescued from death;
Eye, you've been rescued from tears;
And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."
I'm striding in the presence of GOD,
alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though bedeviled,
and despite a ton of bad luck,
Despite giving up on the human race,
saying, "They're all liars and cheats."
What can I give back to GOD
for the blessings he's poured out on me?
I'll lift high the cup of salvation--a toast to GOD!
I'll pray in the name of GOD;
I'll complete what I promised GOD I'd do,
and I'll do it together with his people.
When they arrive at the gates of death,
GOD welcomes those who love him.
Oh, GOD, here I am, your servant,
your faithful servant: set me free for your service!
I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice
and pray in the name of GOD.
I'll complete what I promised GOD I'd do,
and I'll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in GOD's house,
in Jerusalem, GOD's city.
Hallelujah!
I don't think it's reading too much into things to see why a really serious health scare could lead one to identify strongly with the beliefs expressed in this Psalm. It's interesting to note that Bono's activism for social justice also came back into full force after this important event in his life. Perhaps some promises were made which he is determined to keep. Remember, he has said several times that he has "pledged" his life to the cause of helping the poorest of the poor, a very significant choice of words, I think.
)
