U2Soar
War Child
I read this post yesterday on Wire by jeconnors3. I would be interested to read some Interferencers thoughts on what story is being told on Atomic Bomb (Michael Griffiths, Skeek, Spanisheyes, the more the merrier!)
We've been down this road before, a few years back, but for the
record, here's my argument against the notion that ATYCLB is not
cohesive. To me the album takes the listener on a very archetypical
journey, and one not unfamiliar in U2's work - the journey from the
joy that faith can bring to the despair that losing faith can cause.
At it's core the basic theme of the album is the eternal conflict
between faith and doubt, between the joy and bliss that faith
promises and the realities of the world that seem to counter that
promise. A quick walk through the album and how I see these themes
being played out:
BD – The pure joy of discovering a faith and the rapture of that
devotion to a higher power – but already hints of doubt are present,
like poppy seeds in a bagel.
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case
SIAM – Doubt starts to color faith more; protestations abound that a
feeling of despair is just temporary, a lull to get out of, but the
seed has been planted
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment, this time will pass
Elevation – Doubt is temporarily brushed off, and we revel in the
heights faith can bring you to.
You make me feel like I can fly so high
Elevation
Walk On – More ecstasy, but colored ecstasy, there's a feeling of
resignation and indignation here; the notion is that faith can heal,
but why does it have to, why is injustice allowed to flower in the
first place
And I know it aches and your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on
Kite – An uneasy truce is begun, between the ecstasy and the reality
of the real world, and questions are being asked
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't wanna see you cry
I know this is not goodbye
In a Little While – The yearning to leave this world behind for the
better one is expressed, but in a very bittersweet way, that
essential conflict is cemented now
In a little while surely you'll be mine
In a little while I'll be there
In a little while this hurt will hurt no more
I'll be home, love
Wild Honey – More on the separation between those who've moved on
and those still on earth
I'm still standing, I'm still standing where you left me
Are you still growing wild with everthing tame around you
Peace on Earth – The beginning of anger, a little flailing out at
the lost promises of faith
Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be peace on Earth
When I Look at the World – The doubt has colored to despair, despair
that we earthly bound people will never be able to understand the
true mysteries of faith
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
New York – An attempt to brush off the conflict, to find answers
where they can't be found
Living happily not like me and you
That's where I lost you
New York
Grace – Some peace has been found in the notion that we will never
know how to reconcile that eternal conflict, but that in Grace we
will find rest.
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
We've been down this road before, a few years back, but for the
record, here's my argument against the notion that ATYCLB is not
cohesive. To me the album takes the listener on a very archetypical
journey, and one not unfamiliar in U2's work - the journey from the
joy that faith can bring to the despair that losing faith can cause.
At it's core the basic theme of the album is the eternal conflict
between faith and doubt, between the joy and bliss that faith
promises and the realities of the world that seem to counter that
promise. A quick walk through the album and how I see these themes
being played out:
BD – The pure joy of discovering a faith and the rapture of that
devotion to a higher power – but already hints of doubt are present,
like poppy seeds in a bagel.
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case
SIAM – Doubt starts to color faith more; protestations abound that a
feeling of despair is just temporary, a lull to get out of, but the
seed has been planted
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment, this time will pass
Elevation – Doubt is temporarily brushed off, and we revel in the
heights faith can bring you to.
You make me feel like I can fly so high
Elevation
Walk On – More ecstasy, but colored ecstasy, there's a feeling of
resignation and indignation here; the notion is that faith can heal,
but why does it have to, why is injustice allowed to flower in the
first place
And I know it aches and your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on
Kite – An uneasy truce is begun, between the ecstasy and the reality
of the real world, and questions are being asked
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't wanna see you cry
I know this is not goodbye
In a Little While – The yearning to leave this world behind for the
better one is expressed, but in a very bittersweet way, that
essential conflict is cemented now
In a little while surely you'll be mine
In a little while I'll be there
In a little while this hurt will hurt no more
I'll be home, love
Wild Honey – More on the separation between those who've moved on
and those still on earth
I'm still standing, I'm still standing where you left me
Are you still growing wild with everthing tame around you
Peace on Earth – The beginning of anger, a little flailing out at
the lost promises of faith
Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be peace on Earth
When I Look at the World – The doubt has colored to despair, despair
that we earthly bound people will never be able to understand the
true mysteries of faith
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
New York – An attempt to brush off the conflict, to find answers
where they can't be found
Living happily not like me and you
That's where I lost you
New York
Grace – Some peace has been found in the notion that we will never
know how to reconcile that eternal conflict, but that in Grace we
will find rest.
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace finds goodness in everything