"Membership in the family of God is neither inconsequential or something to be casually ignored. The church is God's agenda for the world. Jesus said, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The church is indestructable and will exist for eternity. It will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it."
- Rick Warren
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
This afternoon I took the familiar three-hour trek from Waco to Houston to join my family for New Year's Eve celebrations. On the way to Space City, I listened to a lot of music: worship, classical, 80s rock, and, of course, U2. Among other anthems, I enjoyed two versions of U2's quintessential track, "One." Since my with-child wife is fast asleep right now (it's 10 p.m.), I thought I'd take the opportunity to blog about my favorite song of all time.
I recall being in high school gym class in 1992 and being asked by a cohort of mine if I had heard the new U2 song, "One." I wasn't much of a U2 fan back then -- heck, I wasn't a U2 fan at all -- and I told him I hadn't heard it, and, frankly, I didn't care to listen to it (I didn't tell him that last part).
A few months later many of the popular kids showed up to school wearing U2 concert T-shirts, and a popular shirt had a big "ONE" printed down its back. Believe it or not, I wasn't one of the popular kids back in high school, and I didn't care to get into their fads, so I continued to shy away from U2.
Eventually I heard the song, and in time I would listen to the song more than any one piece of music ever. The song was my bridge to U2, and to what has been my enjoyment of, I believe, the best band in history.
Is it getting better, or do you feel the same ... The song starts out benign enough, and with its subtle, almost cryptic, lyrics it can't quite be pigeonholed into the love song genre, but it definitely has an almost romantic flavor to it. In an interview with Rolling Stone (circa 2004), Bono said that there's "a little of everything" in the song.
On a random message board about the song, one poster said, "Somehow this song defines the bitterness in me." I can almost agree. A large part of the song sounds austere: We're one, but we're not the same/We hurt each other, and we'll do it again, and I can't be holding on to what you got, when all you got is hurt ...
Thankfully, the mood of the song changes, and I believe the crescendo turns from pain to love: One love, one blood, one life/You got to do what you should/One life with each other/Sisters, brothers.
I've heard people pontificate about lost love, citing "One" as a crushing love song, and I've heard people talk about the song's motif revolving around a common thread of platonic affection for all humanity. I've even heard Vineyard worship leader, David Ruis, say that the song is a prophetic utterance to the church at large. I think they're all correct.
To be sure, the song encompasses a vast landscape of human emotion, and the lyrics paint an unembellished picture of human feeling. In the aforementioned interview with Rolling Stone, Bono recalled an invitation by the Dalai Lama to some sort of world peace/oneness gathering. Bono declined the invitation, scribbling a curt reply: "We're one, but we're not the same."
In just about all live performances of "One," Bono expands the lyrical canon of the song by singing out to God: Hear us coming, Lord/Hear us call/Hear us knocking, we're knocking at your door/Hear us coming, Lord/Hear us call/Hear us scratching/Did you make us crawl?. While the addendum may sound heretical to sensitive ears, I think it's the boldest speech to the Almighty this side of King David. If we're honest, I think we all wonder whether God makes us crawl at certain points in our lives. Indeed, I think He does.
When I saw U23D with my wife, Brandi, at an Austin IMAX theater a few months ago, I remember listening to the song, watching the band in 3D, with my heart beating like a drum. I could actually feel my heart rate increase as I listened to the song. When "One" was over, I turned to Brandi and said, simply, "I love that song." I do. I really do.
[Click here to read the lyrics to "One."]
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Comments on ""One life with each other ..."":
2. nhe
- 01/01/2009 8:02 am CST
Thanks for helping me appreciate this song Eric. I'm a huge U2 fan, but I probably wouldn't put this one in my U2 top 10......not because I don't like it, but because I've never really been able to get my arms around it......I will give it another listen with these things in mind. My favorite U2 - "Grace" - melts me.
3. Quaid
- 01/01/2009 8:35 am CST
U23D was absolutely incredible.
I don't know if it will ever be back on the IMAX, but if it does, I'm going again. That's the closest I've ever felt to being in a concert without being in a concert. The fact I was sitting in a theater seat makes it even more impressive.
While I really enjoy U2, I'm not as big a fan as you, but I certainly can appreciate their music and, of course, this song. I really like the quasi-spiritual affect that many of their songs take, but they're just good musically.
I remember watching a VH1 special talking about 80s bands and someone was speaking about Journey, how much he hated the band and their music, but how they had a knack for writing music that was so addictive, compelling, etc.
I mention this because I think U2's music is similar to Journey's in its compelling, addictive nature, but their songs go so much further in that they have incredible depth, meaning and definition. It's quite a testament that they've released quality album after quality album for nearly thirty years.
4. Bird
- 01/01/2009 10:23 am CST
Quaid, being on the front row (five feet or so from Edge) for the Vertigo show in Houston in 2005 was my all-time U2 high. But if I hadn't had that experience, I'd say U23D is about as good as it gets. Like you, I hope it returns to IMAX.
NHE, "Grace" is awesome. My favorite part is She carries a pearl, in perfect condition/What once was hurt/What once was friction/What left a mark, no longer stains. Great stuff.
5. Bill
- 01/01/2009 1:07 pm CST
I always end up being the naysayer . . .
This has nothing to do with U2 (they're terrific) or that song (it's awesome).
But seriously: "I think it's the boldest speech to the Almighty this side of King David"
The words of Bono in a song lyric are the boldest speech to the Almighty since King David's time? Eclipsing all the rest of the Bible, the words of Jesus, Paul, Luke, John, Peter, the prophets, Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, Habakkuk, Amos, etc?
This is one reason why I just don't "get" U2. They're a good band. But to their hardcore fans they approach something on the level of Scripture. I don't get that.
(Bird, next Moot we'll need to have a U2 smackdown. I have a bad feeling you'll win :-)
7. Bird
- 01/01/2009 1:30 pm CST
Ok ok ok. I was a bit hyperbolic. Don't go all Blo on me and get hacked.
I will say that I was referring to the fact that Bono -- like David in Psalms especially -- isn't afraid to ask God the tough questions: "Did you make me crawl?" That boldness is manifested in many other U2 songs (e.g. "Wake Up Dead Man").
But to their hardcore fans they approach something on the level of Scripture.
I feel the same way about It's a Wonderful Life fans.
8. Whitney
- 01/02/2009 3:15 pm CST
Will I be banned from Thinkling readership if I admit I cannot name a single U2 song? (other than the one you wrote about... :) )
9. Bill
- 01/02/2009 4:39 pm CST
Never! We are a grace-driven community here, Whitney. We accept all, no matter where they are in their U2 journey :-)
(actually, I can name a few songs, but don't own one U2 CD. We're not all U2ians)
13. Bill
- 01/02/2009 10:30 pm CST
Your iTunes says differently. :-)
Weren't those all yours though?
16. Les
- 01/03/2009 4:55 pm CST
Eric, I'm going to have to come down on your side with the comment about "bold speech to the Almighty." David wasn't writing "Scripture." He wrote as he was moved. Sometimes he was clearly moved by God. Other times he was just angry or hurt. What he expressed came from an honest and open heart, and anyone would be at best insensitive and at worst hypocritical to say that Bono's experience was any less (barring someone that may know him personally on an intimate basis).
Be that as it may, something in you resonated with that phrase, and in that resonance you found the "boldest speech to the Almighty this side of King David." Goodonya. I commend you highly for that sensitivity. To bring up whose words are holier, or what amounts to Scripture, is to miss a highly important point.
Now I realize that the "Thinklings" are a bit of a closed group who exchange ideas without fear of offending each other (as it should be among ALL Christians), so my tinkling contribution here is probably off-base, or too serious, or whatever. I don't intend it to be, so please accept my apologies in advance.
I was also moved by your expression of "God making us crawl", which He does, I think, when we start to get too full of ourselves and try to walk on our own steam. When I find myself crawling, it's usually because I need to find my correct posture before Him. I loved this post, and I love the continuing enigma of Bono and U2. But I'm sticking with Jethro Tull as the best band in rock history. ;0)
18. Bill
- 01/03/2009 11:02 pm CST
Les,
In my defense, I wasn't saying that what Bono said in his lyric wasn't heartfelt. I was saying that I have a hard time accepting that, in the 3,000 years or so (give or take, I'm not precisely sure) since David wrote his Psalms, this is the first case of something coming close to what he wrote.
I don't get it. But i don't get most of the hooplah and energy that people give to their favorite bands. 99% of the music we listen to today, including U2, will be forgotten in 100 years. But I find myself increasingly alone in my opinions about music. I have trouble expressing this, especially because there's a definite chance of offending dear friends like Bird (and I know Bird is not guilty of what I'm about to write). Music is a religion to a large number of people. It's an idol that has entered even the church. I've seen "devout" students hit college and discard Jesus like a used gum-wrapper, but they would rather die before giving up their music. It's the one idol that's right under our noses that hardly anyone ever notices for what it is. That sucks and if I seem a little bitter about it it's because I am. I've got a long post in me on this subject, but I don't think I could write it in a way that wouldn't offend a whole lot of people who don't deserve to be offended.. So I won't.
I like Jethro Tull. Have one of their albums (Aqualung). But I'll have to differ with you on your assessment there too. They're good. Best band in history? :-)
Then again, I believe art is completely subjective. So to you, they are the best. And that's a good thing.
Thanks for commenting.
19. Les
- 01/04/2009 8:47 am CST
Bill,
I can't fault a thing you said there. When I think about it, music has been a powerful tool for the enemy and he's wielded it well. I don't listen to much myself anymore.
Our whole society/culture has become completely subjective, as you say. Music has contributed to the moral relativism that permeates the modern mind set. It's part of the world view. The young, especially, are not discriminating (a word that USED TO have positive connotations).
As for Jethro Tull, Aqualung is not so great. Heavy Horses, on the other hand is powerful. The title song moves me to tears. I admire Tull because of their incorporation of original orchestration and counterpoint and the fact that the deeper you listen, the more you hear, but when I say "the best rock band in history," it is always with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
20. Bird
- 01/04/2009 12:27 pm CST
I've seen "devout" students hit college and discard Jesus like a used gum-wrapper, but they would rather die before giving up their music.
You're right on. The same can be said, I think, for many other idols including TV, games, the Internet, and entertainment in general. I don't think music has a special status as America's idol of choice.
21. Justin
- 01/05/2009 10:12 pm CST
The same can be said, I think, for many other idols including TV, games, the Internet, and entertainment in general. I don't think music has a special status as America's idol of choice.
Yes. Similar to an observation I have made more than once in the last several years. I think that perhaps the most prevalent and deeply rooted addiction (idol?) in America today is entertainment/diversion. We (including me - more than I care to admit) can't seem to go more than five minutes without some kind of video feed, text stream, or musical accompaniment. What might happen if we pulled the plug more often?
22. Bill
- 01/06/2009 6:51 am CST
I agree, Justin.
I think if more of us practiced silence more often, and got away from all the "streams", we'd find our spirits quieter and more peaceful, our minds more focused, and we'd be amazed at all the extra time we had :-)
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I agree. Completely.