• SONGS
    • SONGS BY ALBUM >
      • BOY
      • OCTOBER
      • WAR
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE JOSHUA TREE
      • RATTLE AND HUM
      • ACHTUNG BABY
      • ZOOROPA
      • POP
      • ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
      • HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • SONGS OF INNOCENCE
      • SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
    • SONGS ALPHABETICAL >
      • 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
    • SONGS BY ALBUM >
      • BOY
      • OCTOBER
      • WAR
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE JOSHUA TREE
      • RATTLE AND HUM
      • ACHTUNG BABY
      • ZOOROPA
      • POP
      • ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
      • HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • SONGS OF INNOCENCE
      • SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
    • SONGS ALPHABETICAL >
      • 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

TRANSCENCENCE


I don't think religion has anything to do with God anymore or very rarely has. It is also becoming clear that the material world is not enough for anybody. We had a century of being told by the intelligentsia that we're two-dimensional creatures, that if something can't be proved, it can't exist. That's now over. Transcendence is what everybody, in the end, is on their knees for, running at speed toward, scratching at, kicking at. October 1, 1992 ー "U2 Finds What It's Looking For" by David Frick (Rolling Stone)

…there are always two routes out of town. There always were, there always are. There’s transcendence and there’s the cover version, or the dull copy: junk-food transcendence of drugs, the “easy to digest but finally that’s gonna give you heart disease” religion. But I tend to believe that people who just want a cheap way out of their life can find zealotry in lots of places. The true life of a believer is one of a longer, more hazardous or uphill pilgrimage, and where you uncover slowly the sort of illumination for your next step. 2005 ー Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas

We're looking for diamonds in the dirt, and the music is more in the mud now. Our heads may still be in the clouds, but our feet are definitely dragging the dirt. As dark as it gets, though, we are looking for shiny moments. Those shiny moments, for me, are the same as they've always been. There are big words for them, like transcendence. 1996 ー U2 At The End Of The World ー Bill Flanagan

One thing I actually like about the drug culture, though I'm not really part of it, is that it acknowledges the other side, the fourth dimension that everybody kind of buries. For a hundred years people have been told they don't have a spirit, and if you can't see it or prove it, it doesn't exist. 1996 ー U2 At The End Of The World ー Bill Flanagan

You can't close your eyes to what’s going on 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's always been the thing with U2. I think there’s some light in our music. March 1, 1997 ー Interview with Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 1) 
See Themes
​
Addiction

Spirit Teach Me