Lancemc
Blue Crack Addict
Here's the deal with The Wanderer. I think bringing in Johnny Cash to record the vocals for this song was the best and worst decision U2 made for this track.
On one hand, Cash's vocal style is utterly perfect for this song. the lyrics are classic Man in Black material, and far surpass the majority of Bono's lyrics up until this point in their career. The haunting aura of this song in no small part is due to Cash's contribution.
On the other hand, had Bono recorded the vocals for the album version of this song, I'm almost possitive it would be a classic today. It seems to me that a lot of fans were put off by Cash's performance or just plain surprised by them and never gave the song a second chance.
Overall, I'm glad Cash got to work with U2 on this track. It's a personal favorite of mine, and I think it would be fitting for U2 to perform it some time on the Vertigo Tour. Bono's vocals would be beautiful I'm sure, but even he would admit he can't compete with the original Man in Black.
Also, given the circumstances of Johnny Cashed recent passing, I think the lyrics would take on an even more powerful tone if performed now, which is the foremost reason it should be.
Here's The Wanderer.
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I went out walking through streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones, saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn and the rain it burns
Like the tears when I said goodbye.
Yeah, I went with nothing, nothing but the thought of you.
I went wandering.
I went drifting through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in.
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit.
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it.
I went out riding down that old eight-lane
I passed a thousand signs looking for my own name.
I went with nothing but the thought you'd be there too,
Looking for you.
I went out there in search of experience
To taste and to touch and to feel as much
As a man can before he repents.
I went out searching, looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his father's right hand.
I went out walking with a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one.
Now Jesus, don't you wait up, Jesus I'll be home soon.
Yeah, I went out for the papers, told her I'd be back by noon.
Yeah, I left with nothing but the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you.
Yeah, I went with nothing, nothing but the thought of you.
I went wandering.
On one hand, Cash's vocal style is utterly perfect for this song. the lyrics are classic Man in Black material, and far surpass the majority of Bono's lyrics up until this point in their career. The haunting aura of this song in no small part is due to Cash's contribution.
On the other hand, had Bono recorded the vocals for the album version of this song, I'm almost possitive it would be a classic today. It seems to me that a lot of fans were put off by Cash's performance or just plain surprised by them and never gave the song a second chance.
Overall, I'm glad Cash got to work with U2 on this track. It's a personal favorite of mine, and I think it would be fitting for U2 to perform it some time on the Vertigo Tour. Bono's vocals would be beautiful I'm sure, but even he would admit he can't compete with the original Man in Black.
Also, given the circumstances of Johnny Cashed recent passing, I think the lyrics would take on an even more powerful tone if performed now, which is the foremost reason it should be.
Here's The Wanderer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I went out walking through streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones, saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn and the rain it burns
Like the tears when I said goodbye.
Yeah, I went with nothing, nothing but the thought of you.
I went wandering.
I went drifting through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in.
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit.
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it.
I went out riding down that old eight-lane
I passed a thousand signs looking for my own name.
I went with nothing but the thought you'd be there too,
Looking for you.
I went out there in search of experience
To taste and to touch and to feel as much
As a man can before he repents.
I went out searching, looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his father's right hand.
I went out walking with a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one.
Now Jesus, don't you wait up, Jesus I'll be home soon.
Yeah, I went out for the papers, told her I'd be back by noon.
Yeah, I left with nothing but the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you.
Yeah, I went with nothing, nothing but the thought of you.
I went wandering.
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