Friday, November 16, 2007

Joshua Tree - Wave of Sorrow


It was some 20 years ago that U2 released the Joshua Tree album... my copy was on cassette... that's how long ago it was. was… hey, it was 20 years ago, but it was also one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Like many others I’m sure, I was glad to see that

The album has been remastered and is to be re-released on November 20th in 4 different formats:
  • CD format: remastered album on CD
  • Deluxe format: remastered album on CD, bonus CD with b-sides and rarities from The Joshua Tree sessions, and a 36-page booklet
  • Box set edition: remastered album on CD, bonus CD with b-sides and rarities from The Joshua Tree sessions, bonus DVD with a concert from the Joshua Tree Tour and other videos, and a 56-page hardback book
  • Double vinyl edition: remastered album on two gramophone records, and a 16-page booklet
The re-release includes previously unreleased tracks that were written for but not included on the original Joshua Tree album release. One of these, "Wave of Sorrow" is now circulating at iLike.com/u2. Wave of Sorrow was written out of Bono’s experience in Ethiopia with World Vision. The video is below, with Bono continually interrupting to explain the lyrics, which draw on several biblical allusions, including Solomon and the Beatitudes, and links them with extreme poverty.

Definitely one to get.

update:
David duChemin of fearfully human and pixelated image posts the words:
"Wave of Sorrow"
by U2

Heat haze rising
On hell's own hill
You wake up this morning
It took an act of will
You walk through the night
To get here today
To bring your children
To give them away

Oh... oh this cruel sun
Is daylight never done
Cruelty just begun
To make a shadow of everyone

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now

Souls bent over without a breeze
Blankets on burning trees
I'm sick without disease
Nobility on it's knees

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now
Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
Away
On a wave of sorrow

Where now the holy cities?
Where are the ancient holy scrolls?
Where now Emperor Menelek?
And the Queen of Sheba's gold

You my bride, you wear her crown
And on your finger precious stones
Has every good thing now been sold

Son, a shepherd boy, now king
What wisdom can you bring?
What lyric would you sing?
Where is the music of the Seraphim?

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now
Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
Away
A wave of sorrow

Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what's left of the earth
Blessed are the kings who've left their thrones
They are buried in this valley of dry bones

Blessed all of you with an empty heart
For you got nothing from which you cannot part
Blessed is the ego
It's all we got this hour

Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Blessed is the sex worker who sold her body tonight
She used what she got
To save her children's life

Blessed are you, the deaf who cannot hear a scream
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Blessed are the tin canned cardboard slums
Blessed is the spirit that overcomes

--
And then he writes:
I'm heading back to a place - the so-called "third world" - that I've come to see as the "real world", and my spirit needs it desperately. I've only been home for a few months and see now that my sense of urgency has slackened, my spirit has become greedy for the cheap trinkets our culture has on offer. I often feel and suspect that I need these people more than they need me; as though there's a trade going on that fills their stomach but heals my spirit. I can't help but think I return with the deeper blessing.


1 comment:

nadine said...

"Definitely one to get." Remember these words as you Christmas shop for your favourite daughter :)