The Sad Punk
Blue Crack Addict
One Tree Hill's performance is what takes it to the next level, but it always surprises me that it works as well as it does. The lyrics are pompous and overblown, repeatedly taking the scenic route to say something that could cut deeper when spoken frankly. Also, the song is melodically dull, running through the same two chord progressions over and over. Then they shine the fuck out of it with unnecessary, slightly dated electronic accoutrements.
Bono though, damn. He sells every word he spouts, flowery nonsense or otherwise, and the song builds in intensity, almost literally climaxing during the outro. And, as much as the studio production leaves me cold, it's a different beast live. Those Lovetown performances are about the closest Edge ever came to catching fire, and a lot of the polish is scraped off.
So, I guess I do sort of love the song, there are a number of great attributes here, but it's an example of U2 at their most self-important, trying their best to pay tribute to a fallen friend, but going WAY over the top to do so. It used to be one of my favorites, but it hasn't aged too well for me.
Jeez, this is pretty much exactly how I think, although I don't believe the song ends quite as well as you described, except maybe in the key Lovetown versions. If only Bono could hit that elusive rain note more often. Whatever that is.
I still like it, and indeed, pretty much all the lyrics on JT are overblown rain desert nonsense, so that's no reason to specifically hate on OTH.