There was the story that the ‘voice’ is a gay son, dying of AIDS, talking to his estranged father who disapproved of the sons sexuality and life, hiding behind religion, and is now trying to make last minute amends at the death bed – and so the son, and song, swings between reconciliation and anger. I can’t remember whether that came from Bono, the band, someone close or around, or just someone’s translation, but that’s what I’ve always thought from waaay back when. Something I must have read at the time, not someone’s musings on the internet. The lyrics make perfect sense in that context. Some of it is very accusatory, some very much reaching for common ground. You say this, you say that, did you come here for this, did you come here for that, but put all that aside, because in the end we’re one.
I think the band breakup story is less about the true lyrical inspiration or meaning (I mean, apart from literally the “we’re one, but not the same, get to carry each other” lines, none of it works in that context) and more in hindsight, Bono and his divine intervention in the studio talk – a song about ‘uniting’ arriving at a time when the band needed to unite, turning around the Achtung recording in the process, bringing them back together etc (as opposed to Bono writing it with that in mind from the beginning).
Truth is, like most of their songs, there’s probably multiple threads running through his head as he was writing it, or multiple takes on different subjects jumbled together to work with a final product.
And of course then Mary J Blige tore it all to shreds.
Actually it's a shame they did the MJB version and that the live version has become such a dull, every night, almost just a drag. It's a brilliant song, one of their finest, and if they'd left it on the shelf more often than not, rather than just belting through it every single night, it wouldn't get anywhere near the contempt it often receives around here. The boredom and contempt is understood, but it didn't have to be that way. They've kind of buried it themselves.
Especially the last alinea. I feel the same way about the way the band kind of treated the song.I've heard this story too and I always listen to the song in that context.
Awesome post
I don't.
I don't think U2 "tear through the song" every night or treat it poorly. Having seen four U2 shows this tour, I can say that some were as inspirational as the ZOO TV days.
The MJB version was awful, IMO. She took this pleading, heart-wrenching song, that Bono purposely sang with a scratchy, broken voice to add more depth, into a song filled with vocal acrobatics and "diva-ness". It just didn't work. This is NOT a gospel song. She wants to belt out "I Still Haven't Found..." go for it. But not "One".
However, U2 haven't mistreated the song in that capacity.
The fans here - and this DOES include me - are a bit bored of the song the same way we are bored of "Pride" and other staples. We've heard the song again and again and again. It's a great song, and U2 have given it lots of meaning by associating it with charities, but most of us would rather hear another song at this point. U2 seemed to have dropped "Pride" for the most part this tour. It will be great if they also retired or at least semi-retired "One" - at least for a little while.
As for the meaning of the song...
I think originally it was inspired by U2's transition at the time (from JT to AB).
I also think it was inspired by the dissolution of Edge's marriage (as were many songs on AB).
Fans later gave the song the AIDS meaning, and Bono agreed. I definitely recalled reading this back in '92 and I think he even said it in some interview. However, this was not the original meaning, but one interpretation that Bono liked.
Larry has argued that one aspect he loves of Bono's lyrics is that they can have many interpretations. And for that reason, the band rarely talk about what a song is truly about, preferring to have fans have their own interpretations. That said, Bono has at times talked about what a song is concerning or inspired by (such as "New Year's Day"), but even then, his lyrics often take on other possibilities.
The multiple videos also suggest numerous interpretations. So I do not believe this song was about any single person or event, but a combination of items. That unversitality is what makes the song so powerful and one of Bono's best in terms of lyrics.
Still, I could do without a performance on every tour.
My cousin died of aids, and every time I hear the song one I think if him
