I'm a U2 fan as well and have liked the Zooropa album for a long time. The First Time is a pretty melancholy song, especially at the end, but I think it is a good one.

Much to my surprise, they sang this song live at the concert we went to for their Vertigo tour.
Devin Rose | Homepage | 08.02.07 - 9:22 am | #

Thomas,
Have you listened much to "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb"? It is some of Bono's finest songwriting, to my mind. Not to say the other albums are not good, they are fantastic, but it goes above and beyond, especially the last song, Yahweh.
Kevin | 08.02.07 - 12:19 pm | #

Devin: very cool.

Kevin: i would agree. "sometimes you can't make it on your own" is one of my all-time favorites (and "city of blinding lights" is a close follower).
AmericanPapist | Homepage | 08.03.07 - 1:10 am | #

I think "For the First Time" is one of the most perfect songs in U2's catalogue. I am simply wowed by the perfect dual tracking that Bono acheives with the lyrics. On one level, the song is about his human family: loving saintly wife, patient steady blood brother, Norman (or else his best friend The Edge), and human father, Bobby, with riches to offer whom Bono largely rejected and fought with for much of his life. Then on a second level, the song is about the Trinity, each verse about one of the Persons culminating in, again, Bono's difficult relationship with The Father.

I am amazed at the symmetry. I have to wonder if it is entirely accidental that Bono was blessed with a sort of personal holy trinity to teach him something about the Heavenly one in order to use it in his art as well as in his life.

To me, its the impact on the art that is perhaps more important than on the life. While its hard to pin down exactly how Christian and what kind of Christian Bono actually is, his art touches the lives of millions and has been responsible for leading many into an orthodox faith in Christ. In other words, once again, the instrument matters less than the message.

I think Bono's Trinitarian theme, seen mostly in his more mature work, is a profound, exciting and invaluable thing to have contributed to the art of rock music. I love what he manages to get away with. What a thrill it is to see and hear!
Anglican Peggy | 08.03.07 - 11:53 am | #

Just a heads up, my anti-virus program caught a Trojan horse when I opened that page. Yikes!
Laura | 08.04.07 - 1:41 am | #

And porno naughtiness in the ads. Find a better link.
Boko | 08.08.07 - 6:52 pm | #