Peace on earth, U2





Not hopeless but hope-full.

Bono is many things. And one of those is the most hopeful man on the planet. Ever since he and three of his mates strutted their stuff across the world’s stage, he’s been determined to change it. Sure, not much seems to have changed. But you’ve got to hand it to him. The man has hope.

Yet as he opens this song, you wonder if he’s given up…

Sick of sorrow, I’m sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing, again and again
That there's gonna be peace on Earth

At times during the song it feels like Bono can’t hit the necessary notes. Whilst he’d admit that’s a daily occurrence, on this song it’s as if…

Jesus in the song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat

Can he keep declaring there will be peace on earth? Can he hang onto hope?

A younger Bono would’ve provided the answer. He would’ve stopped the show to tell us THE ANSWER whilst we all wished he’d just get on with the show. So, older and wiser he turns it over to us…

Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won’t rhyme
So what’s it worth?
This peace on earth…

That is, what's it worth to you? What are you going to do about peace on earth?

As the saying goes, “Let there be peace on earth. And may it start with me”.

Not long after September 11, u2 found themselves touring America. In the midst of despair Bono changed the opening slightly, yet greatly. You can see it in the video below...

Sick of sorrow, I’m sick of the pain I’m sick of hearing, again and again
That there’s never gonna be peace on Earth

You’ve got to hand it to him.

The man has hope.

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