The entire medical community of researchers, doctors, nurses, and patients are often an overlooked segment of society. So many people take their health for granted and don't consider the people who deal with sickness on a daily basis. Eidolon Bird, believe me, patients and their families are very appreciative of your work. And my prayers are with you clerks
Miracle Drug is so heartfelt and encouraging, it's like getting a hug from Bono every time you listen to it.
I posted my feelings about Miracle Drug and its meaning at another site, but I've copied it here so you guys could see it:
This is a truly amazing song. I own every U2 album, and "Miracle Drug" is my all-time favorite song by the band. To be able to say I like this song better than "One", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Bad", "Beautiful Day", etc. after 1 week of hearing it is remarkable in itself. Keep in mind that I'm not saying this should be a #1 hit or anything, I don't care if it's never even released as a single. This song was written from the heart. When someone says it's just another slick, commercialized pop tune, they are totally missing the point. They either do not have the heart or the life experiences needed to understand and appreciate this song.
While it seems that Christopher Nolan was a great influence on 'Miracle Drug', I would argue that 1) the death of Bono's father and 2) his recent travels through AIDS-torn Africa had a large impact as well. Many musicians lose touch with their audience (especially those as rich as U2), but in 1) and 2) above, Bono got alot of first-hand experience with real life struggles of the sick and poor. His father died from cancer in 2003 (his mother died when he was 14), so he has dealt with illness and grief in a personal way. If you read his op-ed piece in the New York Times (or Boston Globe?), then you know where his heart is concerning AIDS victims in Africa. He talked alot about the retroviral drugs that America can provide to help the situation, and I can't help but be reminded of those comments when hearing the lines "I’ve had enough/I’m not giving up/on a miracle drug". Also, if you saw any of the footage of Bono's time in Africa on MTV, then you know that he looked dying people in the face and promised their families and communities that help is on the way.
There is an overwhelming sense of compassion in 'Miracle Drug'. I think that Bono turns pop culture upside down with the line "I've had enough of romantic love". This song wasn't written for the pop charts (although it would probably do well there), because the pop charts are all about romantic love. Bono sings about things deeper than romantic love in 'Miracle Drug', like faith, life, and death. There are many beautiful lines in this song, such as "There is no failure here, sweetheart/Just when you quit", but the most awesome are:
"Beneath the noise
Below the din
I hear a voice
It’s whispering
In science and in medicine
'I was a stranger
You took me in' "
Here Bono quotes Jesus (Matthew 25:35) in a very powerful way. In this context, Jesus said "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 took 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 asked 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.' From these verses, we learn what we should be doing with our lives if we want to be about God's work. Bono links the mission of science and medicine with God's work (as described above). A person can truly appreciate these lines when he/she has been blessed by God through medical treatment.