Wave of Sorrow

This week U2 released the 20th anniversary remastered edition of “The Joshua Tree.” This is one of the most significant albums of all time and contains classic songs like “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I Am Looking For,”and “With or Without You.” The CD also contains some previous unreleased songs. One of them has touched me deeply this week. It’s called “Wave of Sorrow.”

“Wave of Sorrow” is a song based upon Bono and Ali’s experience with World Vision in Ethiopia in 1984. It is remarkable to hear these words in light of our visit to Guraghe, Ethiopia.

“Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what’s left in the earth
Blessed are the kings who’ve left their thrones,
They are buried in this valley of dry bones.
Blessed are you with an empty heart,
For you’ve got nothing for which you cannot part.
Blessed is the ego, it’s all we’ve got this hour,
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power.
Blessed is the sex worker who sold her body tonight.
She had to use what she’s got to save her children’s lives.
Blessed are the deaf who cannot hear a scream,
Blessed are the stupid who can dream.
Blessed are the tin-canned cardboard slums,
And blessed is the Spirit that overcomes.”

Listen to Bono talk about the song and hear him sing it at iLike.

Update: watch a recent live performance of this song: [kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/oo-w7B4tNB4" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /].

Dream venti…