bloggedy blog

:: Saturday, October 19, 2002 ::

My first U2 post. Back in college, a couple of roommates turned me on to this little known Irish group called U2, and I've been hooked ever since. It's hard to believe I haven't blogged about U2 before, because the group has influenced my spiritual development as much as any so-called Christian musician and more so than many so-called Christian books.


U2 was a group of kids back in my college days. They were barely out of their teens (or perhaps even still in their teens), and I was impressed that peole so young could be so accomplished and deep. Boy and October were there only releases. I think it was Edge's minimalist guitar on those albums that first drew me in. I was experimenting more broadly with guitar in those days, but thought that lead guitar needed to be intricate and complex, layered and rich, to be effective. Then I heard Edge's chops on "I Will Follow", and my entire perspective on guitar changed.


But it was more than the guitar. The lyrics resounded with me, too. As did Bono's voice, full of passion. But the lyrics struck a spiritual chord. They still do.


Today, as I blog, I'm listening to "Acrobat," from Achtung Baby, one of my three favorite U2 LPs. When I'm full of my own hypocrisy, I can take solace in the words of this song. I must be an acrobat/to talk like this, and act like that. Here's a snippet of the wonderful lyrics (courtesy of U2 Wanderer):

No, nothing makes sense
Nothing seems to fit
I know you'd hit out
If you only knew who to hit
And I'd join the movement
If there was one I could believe in
Yeah I'd break bread and wine
If there was a church I could receive in
'cause I need it now
To take the cup
To fill it up
To drink it slow
I can't let you go
I must be an acrobat
To talk like this
And act like that
And you can dream
So dream out loud
And don't let the bastards grind you down

:: Andrew 10:46 + ::
...

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