the worlds greatest band

the first time i ever broke night (hung out till the sun came up) was to the tune of U2’s “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and “New Years Day” from their Under A Blood Red Sky live recording at Red Rocks

it was at a Black Celebration (named after the Depeche Mode tune) held at a basement by 183rd and Valentine in the Bronx. contrary to popular myth, it wasnt all hip-hop and a b-boy stance in the boogie down in ’85. there were some pre.goth sects roaming aroung wearing all black/all the time. after hangin out with the cool kids on mah block (and goin from straight As to B- land in record time), i finally got the nerve to stay out late, hop (as in not pay the toll) the 4 train, almost walk the tracks since the train weas takin fohevah and find my way to this underground party… that they were charging for! i dont recall the exact entrance fee but i do know that i didnt have it. we had to wait for somebody we wuz cool with to come out and then spit on the back of our wrists so that the entrance stamp could be shared.

of course, i had no idea what i was doin ‘cept trying to look cool for at least half a second but everything was different… the music was not rap, this wasnt a house jam more like a basement fest, and the people were all lookin like they came straight out of some weird video.. and then it hit “This is NOT a rebel song”

and it was one of those moments- like when you first realize you can curse in church, when you win your first race, when ya walk around the house alone at 2am- pack your clothes in a floded blanket and plan the runaway, when ya find out your parents real names, when you kiss her behind the tree in the park during recess, when she slips you the nots in the hall, when you make a blood oath, when you first move, when ya make a new best friend, when ya finish home work on the bus on the way to school, when ya first taste her, when you really first taste her, your first A, your first F, your first paycheck, when you grab the check, the taste of scotch, a desperate cur for a hangover, when she walks out, when you follow, when you hear the tap of her heels up the down staircase… all that and a electric guitar ripping chords through a hazy bronx summer three weeks before school and you’re looking at the sun rise over the 4 train as it creeps over University and hits Jerome… yeah… rock & roll

since then, U2 has helped me get in and out of a lot of trouble and they are still kickin it… yeah… rock & roll

love ya like if you were the soundtrack to mah life

Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own

Tough, you think you’ve got the stuff

You’re telling me and anyone

You’re hard enough

You don’t have to put up a fight

You don’t have to always be right

Let me take some of the punches

For you tonight

Listen to me now

I need to let you know

You don’t have to go it alone

And it’s you when I look in the mirror

And it’s you when I don’t pick up the phone

Sometimes you can’t make it on your own

We fight all the time

You and I… that’s alright

We’re the same soul

I don’t need… I don’t need to hear you say

That if we weren’t so alike

You’d like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now

I need to let you know

You don’t have to go it alone

And it’s you when I look in the mirror

And it’s you when I don’t pick up the phone

Sometimes you can’t make it on your own

I know that we don’t talk

I’m sick of it all

Can you hear me when I Sing,

you’re the reason I sing

You’re the reason why the opera is in me

Where are we now?

I’ve got to let you know

A house still doesn’t make a home

Don’t leave me here alone

And it’s you when I look in the mirror

And it’s you that makes it hard to let go

Sometimes you can’t make it on your own

Sometimes you can’t make it

The best you can do is to fake it

Sometimes you can’t make it on your own

Lyrics: Bono

Music: U2

Produced by: Chris Thomas

Additional production by: Steve Lillywhite and Nellee Hooper Keyboards and additional vocals: The Edge

first time played live: 2004-10-16: Riverside Studios, London, England

last time played live: 2004-11-22: Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, New York, New York

thanks to macphisto.net