Wow. What a show. What a great crowd. Behind the veil of the music and the political side of U2, there is something very profoundly insightful and culture redirecting continually going on in and through these guys.
What is it that enables a group of four men to stand together for over 30 years and keep climbing, keep elevating, keep withstanding cultural changes and the inevitable crush of being idolized by millions of people? You have to be a little crazy to make it through that. Could it be that Someone let them in the sound, so they can see from the quiet place inside the chaos that a long-term change of heart is something that you nudge forward, one lyric, one note, one fan, one concert, one album at a time?
With this new album No Line on the Horizon and with this 360 degree tour, there is a growing urgency to this powerful group of four men, and I think we should all take note of this.
What do I mean exactly? Later on that. For now, I’d say I am heeding Bono’s advice. Each of us may want to find our own quiet place in the chaos, and know precisely what within us would be right to release us to “stand up for your love,” to reboot, to go crazy in this crazy world. Bono is far from the only one who sees the line on horizon being slowly but systematically wiped away. Every change of heart–whether to a line or to no line (between right and wrong?)–takes time.
“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”
She’s a rainbow and she loves the peaceful life
Knows I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight
There’s a part of me in the chaos that’s quiet
And there’s a part of you that wants me to riotEverybody needs to cry or needs to spit
Every sweet tooth needs just a little hit
Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot
How can you stand next to the truth and not see it
Oh, a change of heart comes slowIt’s not a hill, it’s a mountain
As you start out the climb
Do you believe me or are you doubting
We’re gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonightEvery generation gets a chance to change the world
Pity the nation that won’t listen to your boys and girls
‘Cause the sweetest melody is the one we haven’t heard
Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear
The right to appear ridiculous is something I hold dear
Oh, but a change of heart comes slowIt’s not a hill, it’s a mountain
As you start out the climb
Listen for me, I’ll be shouting
We’re gonna make it all the way to the light
But you know I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonightBaby, baby, baby
I know I’m not alone
Baby, baby, baby
I know I’m not aloneOh oh oh
It’s not a hill, it’s a mountain
As you start out the climb
Listen for me, I’ll be shouting
Shouting to the darkness
Squeeze out sparks of lightYou know we’re gonna go crazy
You know we’ll go crazy
You know we’ll go crazy if we don’t go crazy tonightOh, slowly now
Oh, be slow
So I ask you in all sincerity, my friends, what I believe U2 has asked us:
Could you go crazy?
Could you let go entirely of the narrative of you given you by this world?
Do you have another basis, in a land “as white as snow,” upon which to place your roots?
From that other basis, could you shout to the darkness and squeeze out the sparks of light that are your unique identity–the one arising not in this crazy life, but in life itself–where the streets have no name?
