“God Part II” by U2
(Words: Bono, Music: U2, Album: Rattle and Hum, Island 1988)

Rattle and Hum is the last U2 album I completely enjoyed. Since then, there have been some good songs, but most of the album lack their early grit and they ceased to have anything to prove. And from that album, this is one of my favorite songs (although, admittedly, it changes often, and usually as I’m listening to it).

I also love that this song is a sequel to a song by John Lennon. If U2 were to do that today, I think it would be looked at as arrogant and sacrilegious. Then, it was looked at as inventive and daring. Such is the cost of fame.

Don’t believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma’s going to get him
If I don’t get him first

gramophonestylus:

“Running To Stand Still” U2

You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking
Scream without raising your voice.

I was just talking about this with a friend earlier today. We were talking about music with grit and we made reference to U2 up until Achtung Baby when they started to sound too perfect. This song, along with songs like “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”, “New Year’s Day” and “Bullet the Blue Sky” epitomize the “early” U2 when they were more vibrant and before they had more money and exposure than God. At one point in the conversation, we mentioned the old Chinese curse: “may you get what you wish for” but in U2’s case, paraphrased it to be “may you achieve perfection”. To me, the closer they got to perfection (and the large The Edge’s bank of effects pedals got), the less interesting and the less exciting they became.

(via vergeofbliss)

“God Part II” by U2
(Words: Bono, Music: U2, Album: Rattle and Hum, Island 1988)

themesong: walking contradiction

For all of the grief they take today about being so huge and somewhat pretentious, U2 has done some incredibly cool stuff in their career. This is one of my favorites. For years, I always wondered why they dedicated the song to John Lennon and why the song was a “Part II”. At some point, I heard John Lennon’s “God” and put it all together. But even before that, this song struck me for the contradictions in the lyrics.

Don’t believe the devil
I don’t believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up

Don’t believe in excess
Success is to give
Don’t believe in riches
But you should see where I live
I…I believe in love

Don’t believe in forced entry
Don’t believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don’t believe in death row
Skid row or the gangs
Don’t believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I…I believe in love

Don’t believe in cocaine
Got a speed-ball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Do you hear what I said
Don’t believe them when they tell me
There ain’t no cure
The rich stay healthy
While the sick stay poor
I…I believe in love

Don’t believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma’s going to get him
If I don’t get him first
Don’t believe that rock ‘n’ roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
It spirals and turns
I…I believe in love

Don’t believe in the 60’s
The golden age of pop
It glorifies the past
While the future dries up
Heard a singer on the radio late last night
He says he’s gonna kick the darkness
‘til it bleeds daylight
I…I believe in love

I feel like I’m falling
Like I’m spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside a name
a presence I can feel
I…I believe in love

awordoraline:

U2 - God Part II

I feel like I’m falling
Like I’m spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside a name
a presence I can feel
I… I believe in love

One of my favorite U2 songs and for a long time I was wondering why it was called Part II. Where was part one? Then it somehow came to me (or I read it somewhere) that they boys from U2 considered this a sequel to “God” by John Lennon. 

45andsingle:

JOHN LENNON - God

The dream is over

Always special to hear this song. It’s one of Lennon’s forgotten classics. On a side note, I also love that U2 recorded a “sequel” to this called “God II” on Rattle and Hum.

“I was the Dreamweaver

But now I’m reborn

I was the walrus

But now I’m John.”

(via 45andsingle-deactivated20111006)