• SONGS
    • 13 (THERE IS A LIGHT)
    • 40
    • A CELEBRATION
    • A MAN AND A WOMAN
    • A SORT OF HOMECOMING
    • ACROBAT
    • ALEX DESCENDS INTO HELL FOR A BOTTLE OF MILK
    • ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
    • ALL I WANT IS YOU
    • ALWAYS
    • AMERICAN SOUL
    • ANGEL OF HARLEM
    • ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
    • BAD
    • BEAUTIFUL DAY
    • BIG GIRLS ARE BEST
    • BOOK OF YOUR HEART
    • BREATHE
    • BULLET THE BLUE SKY
    • CALIFORNIA (THERE IS NO END TO LOVE)
    • CEDARS OF LEBANON
    • CEDARWOOD ROAD
    • CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
    • CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE
    • DESIRE
    • DIRTY DAY
    • DISCOTHEQUE
    • DROWNING MAN
    • ELEVATION
    • EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
    • EVERY BREAKING WAVE
    • EXIT
    • FALLING AT YOUR FEET
    • FAST CARS
    • FIRE
    • GET ON YOUR BOOTS
    • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
    • GLORIA
    • GONE
    • GRACE
    • HAWKMOON 269
    • HEARTLAND
    • HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME
    • I FALL DOWN
    • I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
    • I THREW A BRICK THROUGH A WINDOW
    • I WILL FOLLOW
    • I'LL GO CRAZY IF I DON'T GO CRAZY TONIGHT
    • IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS
    • IN A LITTLE WHILE
    • IN GOD'S COUNTRY
    • INTO THE HEART
    • INVISIBLE
    • IRIS (HOLD ME CLOSE)
    • IS THAT ALL?
    • KITE
    • LANDLADY
    • LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
    • LEMON
    • LEVITATE
    • LIGHTS OF HOME
    • LIKE A SONG
    • LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE
    • LOVE IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT
    • LOVE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN ITS WAY
    • LOVE IS BLINDNESS
    • LOVE RESCUE ME
    • LUCIFER'S HANDS
    • LUMINOUS TIMES (HOLD ON TO LOVE)
    • MAGNIFICENT
    • MERCY
    • MIRACLE DRUG
    • MISS SARAJEVO
    • MLK
    • MOFO
    • MOMENT OF SURRENDER
    • MYSTERIOUS WAYS
    • NEW YEAR'S DAY
    • NEW YORK
    • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
    • NUMB
    • OCTOBER
    • ONE
    • ONE TREE HILL
    • OUT OF CONTROL
    • PEACE ON EARTH
    • PLEASE
    • PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
    • RAISED BY WOLVES
    • RED FLAG DAY
    • REJOICE
    • RUNNING TO STAND STILL
    • SALOME
    • SCARLET
    • SECONDS
    • SILVER & GOLD
    • SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT
    • SO CRUEL
    • SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
    • SONG FOR SOMEONE
    • STAND UP COMEDY
    • STARING AT THE SUN
    • STATELESS
    • STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
    • STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
    • SUMMER OF LOVE
    • SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
    • SURRENDER
    • SWEETEST THING
    • THE BLACKOUT
    • THE FIRST TIME
    • THE FLY
    • THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GIVE YOU AWAY
    • THE MIRACLE (OF JOEY RAMONE)
    • THE PLAYBOY MANSION
    • THE SHOWMAN (LITTLE MORE BETTER)
    • THE TROUBLES
    • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
    • THE WANDERER
    • TOMORROW
    • TRIP THROUGH YOUR WIRES
    • TRYIN' TO THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WORLD
    • TWILIGHT
    • TWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
    • ULTRA VIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY)
    • UNKNOWN CALLER
    • UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD
    • VERTIGO
    • VOLCANO
    • WAKE UP DEAD MAN
    • WALK ON
    • WALK TO THE WATER
    • WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORLD
    • WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN
    • WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
    • WHITE AS SNOW
    • WHO'S GONNA RIDE YOUR WILD HORSES
    • WILD HONEY
    • WINDOW IN THE SKIES
    • WIRE
    • WITH A SHOUT (JERUSALEM)
    • WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
    • YAHWEH
    • YOU'RE THE BEST THING ABOUT ME
    • ZOO STATION
    • ZOOROPA
  • THEMES
    • ADDICTION
    • BEFORE THE FALL
    • BEING REBORN
    • BETRAYAL
    • BLINDNESS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • BROKEN HEART
    • CHALLENGING CHRIST
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST'S VICTORY
    • CONFESSING INABILITY TO CONNECT TO GOD
    • COVENANT LOVE
    • DANGERS OF RELIGION
    • DESPAIR
    • END OF THE WORLD
    • ENEMIES
    • FEMININE GOD
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOD VIA HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
    • GRACE
    • HEAVEN ON EARTH?
    • HOLLOW HEDONISM
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • LIGHT & DARKNESS
    • LOST & FOUND
    • LOVE IS ALL WE CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
    • LOVE THE HIGHER LAW
    • REDEMPTION
    • RUNNING TO OR AWAY FROM GOD?
    • SEX & SPIRIT
    • SPIRIT IS NOWHERE
    • SPIRIT TEACH ME
    • THE DOOR IS OPEN
    • TRUE TREASURE
  • QUOTES
    • ACCIDENTAL UNIVERSE?
    • ANTI-RELIGION
    • ATHEISM
    • BEING REBORN
    • BIBLE
    • BLESSINGS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST
    • CHRIST'S BIRTH STORY
    • CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS?
    • CHRIST THE SON OF GOD?
    • DAVID & THE PSALMS
    • EQUALITY & JUSTICE
    • ESSENCE MADE MANIFEST
    • FORCE OF LOVE & LOGIC
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOOD & EVIL
    • GRACE & KARMA
    • HEAVEN
    • HOLY SPIRIT
    • HYPOCRISY
    • IDENTIFYING AS A CHRISTIAN
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • INSTINCT
    • LOVE
    • MEETING GOD
    • MUSIC
    • SEX
    • TERRORISM
    • THE POOR
    • TRANSCENDENCE
  • SONGS
    • 13 (THERE IS A LIGHT)
    • 40
    • A CELEBRATION
    • A MAN AND A WOMAN
    • A SORT OF HOMECOMING
    • ACROBAT
    • ALEX DESCENDS INTO HELL FOR A BOTTLE OF MILK
    • ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
    • ALL I WANT IS YOU
    • ALWAYS
    • AMERICAN SOUL
    • ANGEL OF HARLEM
    • ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
    • BAD
    • BEAUTIFUL DAY
    • BIG GIRLS ARE BEST
    • BOOK OF YOUR HEART
    • BREATHE
    • BULLET THE BLUE SKY
    • CALIFORNIA (THERE IS NO END TO LOVE)
    • CEDARS OF LEBANON
    • CEDARWOOD ROAD
    • CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
    • CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE
    • DESIRE
    • DIRTY DAY
    • DISCOTHEQUE
    • DROWNING MAN
    • ELEVATION
    • EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
    • EVERY BREAKING WAVE
    • EXIT
    • FALLING AT YOUR FEET
    • FAST CARS
    • FIRE
    • GET ON YOUR BOOTS
    • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
    • GLORIA
    • GONE
    • GRACE
    • HAWKMOON 269
    • HEARTLAND
    • HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME
    • I FALL DOWN
    • I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
    • I THREW A BRICK THROUGH A WINDOW
    • I WILL FOLLOW
    • I'LL GO CRAZY IF I DON'T GO CRAZY TONIGHT
    • IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS
    • IN A LITTLE WHILE
    • IN GOD'S COUNTRY
    • INTO THE HEART
    • INVISIBLE
    • IRIS (HOLD ME CLOSE)
    • IS THAT ALL?
    • KITE
    • LANDLADY
    • LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
    • LEMON
    • LEVITATE
    • LIGHTS OF HOME
    • LIKE A SONG
    • LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE
    • LOVE IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT
    • LOVE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN ITS WAY
    • LOVE IS BLINDNESS
    • LOVE RESCUE ME
    • LUCIFER'S HANDS
    • LUMINOUS TIMES (HOLD ON TO LOVE)
    • MAGNIFICENT
    • MERCY
    • MIRACLE DRUG
    • MISS SARAJEVO
    • MLK
    • MOFO
    • MOMENT OF SURRENDER
    • MYSTERIOUS WAYS
    • NEW YEAR'S DAY
    • NEW YORK
    • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
    • NUMB
    • OCTOBER
    • ONE
    • ONE TREE HILL
    • OUT OF CONTROL
    • PEACE ON EARTH
    • PLEASE
    • PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
    • RAISED BY WOLVES
    • RED FLAG DAY
    • REJOICE
    • RUNNING TO STAND STILL
    • SALOME
    • SCARLET
    • SECONDS
    • SILVER & GOLD
    • SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT
    • SO CRUEL
    • SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
    • SONG FOR SOMEONE
    • STAND UP COMEDY
    • STARING AT THE SUN
    • STATELESS
    • STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
    • STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
    • SUMMER OF LOVE
    • SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
    • SURRENDER
    • SWEETEST THING
    • THE BLACKOUT
    • THE FIRST TIME
    • THE FLY
    • THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GIVE YOU AWAY
    • THE MIRACLE (OF JOEY RAMONE)
    • THE PLAYBOY MANSION
    • THE SHOWMAN (LITTLE MORE BETTER)
    • THE TROUBLES
    • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
    • THE WANDERER
    • TOMORROW
    • TRIP THROUGH YOUR WIRES
    • TRYIN' TO THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WORLD
    • TWILIGHT
    • TWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
    • ULTRA VIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY)
    • UNKNOWN CALLER
    • UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD
    • VERTIGO
    • VOLCANO
    • WAKE UP DEAD MAN
    • WALK ON
    • WALK TO THE WATER
    • WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORLD
    • WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN
    • WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
    • WHITE AS SNOW
    • WHO'S GONNA RIDE YOUR WILD HORSES
    • WILD HONEY
    • WINDOW IN THE SKIES
    • WIRE
    • WITH A SHOUT (JERUSALEM)
    • WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
    • YAHWEH
    • YOU'RE THE BEST THING ABOUT ME
    • ZOO STATION
    • ZOOROPA
  • THEMES
    • ADDICTION
    • BEFORE THE FALL
    • BEING REBORN
    • BETRAYAL
    • BLINDNESS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • BROKEN HEART
    • CHALLENGING CHRIST
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST'S VICTORY
    • CONFESSING INABILITY TO CONNECT TO GOD
    • COVENANT LOVE
    • DANGERS OF RELIGION
    • DESPAIR
    • END OF THE WORLD
    • ENEMIES
    • FEMININE GOD
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOD VIA HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
    • GRACE
    • HEAVEN ON EARTH?
    • HOLLOW HEDONISM
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • LIGHT & DARKNESS
    • LOST & FOUND
    • LOVE IS ALL WE CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
    • LOVE THE HIGHER LAW
    • REDEMPTION
    • RUNNING TO OR AWAY FROM GOD?
    • SEX & SPIRIT
    • SPIRIT IS NOWHERE
    • SPIRIT TEACH ME
    • THE DOOR IS OPEN
    • TRUE TREASURE
  • QUOTES
    • ACCIDENTAL UNIVERSE?
    • ANTI-RELIGION
    • ATHEISM
    • BEING REBORN
    • BIBLE
    • BLESSINGS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST
    • CHRIST'S BIRTH STORY
    • CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS?
    • CHRIST THE SON OF GOD?
    • DAVID & THE PSALMS
    • EQUALITY & JUSTICE
    • ESSENCE MADE MANIFEST
    • FORCE OF LOVE & LOGIC
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOOD & EVIL
    • GRACE & KARMA
    • HEAVEN
    • HOLY SPIRIT
    • HYPOCRISY
    • IDENTIFYING AS A CHRISTIAN
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • INSTINCT
    • LOVE
    • MEETING GOD
    • MUSIC
    • SEX
    • TERRORISM
    • THE POOR
    • TRANSCENDENCE
Bono's Bible

MUSIC


I always thought of music as a sort of sacrament. I always felt it was the language of the Spirit. It was always a religious experience for me ー music. August 2001 ー Radio Broadcast "Elevation: The U2 Story"
 
[Music] is how we worship God, even though we don’t write religious songs, because we [don’t] feel God needs the advertising. 2005 ー Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
 
Words and music did for me what solid, even rigorous, religious argument could never do ー they introduced me to God, not belief in God, more an experiential sense of GOD. Over art, literature, girls, my mates, the way in to my spirit was a combination of words and music. 1999 ー Selections from the Book of Psalms (Introduction by Bono) ー Pocket Canons
 
Music is the language of the spirit anyway. Its first function is praise to creation ー praise to the beauty of the woman lying next to you, or the woman you would like to lie next to you. February 2001, "Bono: The Beliefnet Interview" (Beliefnet)

…I stopped going to churches and got into a different kind of religion. Don't laugh. That's what being in a rock 'n' roll band is. Showbiz is shamanism, music is worship. Whether it's worship of women or their designer, the world or its destroyer, whether it comes from that ancient place we call soul or simply the spinal cortex, whether the prayers are on fire with a dumb rage or dove-like desire, the smoke goes upwards, to God or something you replace God with ー usually yourself. 1999 ー Selections from the Book of Psalms (Introduction by Bono) ー Pocket Canons

The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt. November 3, 2005 ー Interview with Jann Wenner (Rolling Stone)

It's such an extraordinary thing, music. It is how we speak to God finally ー or how we don't. Even if we're ignoring God. It's the language of the spirit. If you believe that we contain within our skin and bones a spirit that might last longer than your time breathing in and out ー if there is a spirit, music is the thing that wakes it up. And it certainly woke mine up. And it seems to be how we communicate on another level. November 3, 2005 ー Interview with Jann Wenner (Rolling Stone)
​
You can't close your eyes to what’s going in the world, but you want to hopefully make a music that tries to transcend that, and lift yourself and (if you’re lucky) other people out of that. That always been the thing with U2 ー I think there’s some light in our music. March 1, 1997 ー Interview with Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 1) 

That's... they key to all the important doors in my life, whether it's the band, or whether it's my marriage, or whether it's the community that I still live in. It's almost like the two sorts of sacraments are music and friendship. November 3, 2005 ー Interview with Jann Wenner (Rolling Stone)