A Reflection on Chapter 3 of Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story

Even if you’re not a U2 fan, I really recommend Bono’s autobiography in audio. He narrates the audiobook and it’s heartbreakingly beautiful and entertaining. If nothing else, listen / read chapter 3.

Even casual U2 fans know the lore, but just thinking about a boy losing his mother suddenly at 14, and then having a dad and brother who never speak of her again out of fear of dealing with the pain. And how that boy at 18 writes a lyric that will take his band around the world.

"I had the feeling it was out of control
I was of the opinion it was out of control."

And then continuing to sing that lyric, and many others of course, 40+ years later.

Missed in all the chaos of the "free" U2 album, Songs of Innocence, was the beautiful song "Iris" where Bono gave himself the freedom to explore the memories of his mother, Iris, in his lyrics:

"Hold me close
Like I'm someone that you might know
Hold me close
The darkness just lets us see
Who we are
I've got your life inside of me"

And in the process along the way, freeing himself of the guilt that he somehow caused her death by aneurysm, repeating the oft used phrase by parents to their kids "...you'll be the death of me."

"Iris standing in the hall
She tells me I can do it all
Iris wakes to my nightmares
Don't fear the world, it isn't there
Iris playing on the strand
She buries the boy beneath the sand
Iris says that I will be the death of her
It was not me"

To know that pain and loss, and to bury it beneath the macho bravado of punk rock, only to dig it up and process it much later in life.

"The star that gives us light
Has been gone a while
But it's not an illusion
The ache in my heart
Is so much a part
Of who I am"

And finding his way into that song every night on multiple tours around the world: