U2’s rich and storied history shares its roots in the Bronx. Several Fordham University students and alumni recall when U2 stopped by the Keating steps on a chilly March morning in 2009 to perform, as part of a broadcast for “Good Morning America.” U2 originated in Dublin, Ireland, in 1976, led by Paul David “Bono” Hewson, the band’s lead vocalist. Their song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” remains one of the band’s most popular and recognizable, even almost forty years after its initial release.
The song, which was part of their album “The Joshua Tree,” was released in 1987, and draws upon U2’s religious roots. Those well-versed in Irish history will recall the Troubles, a turbulent period in Irish history that had several searching for the meaning of their own lives. Musical analysts have been searching for the meaning of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” since its release. One common analysis comes from the Christian perspective, which aligns well with Bono’s beliefs and personal history.
One analysis I drew upon in particular was released by Jason Isbell in 2021. Isbell noted how the seemingly never-ending search for the self which Bono emphasizes in the song makes sense in the context of his own religious belief and relationship with God. “Bono’s world-weariness bleeds through from the song’s opening lines,” said Isbell in his analysis. “The song adopts the perspective of one who has seen much, from great heights (climbing highest mountains) to regrettable lows (crawling).”
The line Isbell references comes from the first verse of the song, where Bono reflects on marching through mountains and fields to “be with you.” However, “you” is not specifically defined in the song, which gives way to several interpretations. After spending years of my life trying to discover the meaning behind this song, Isbell’s reflection makes quite a lot of sense to me. The Christian journey is often one filled with peaks and valleys, and, coming from Bono, who is a Christian, it makes sense why this would be emphasized so much in the song.
Later in the song, a new verse reflects on speaking with “angels” and holding “the hand of the devil,” which, to me, highlights these ups and downs I mentioned before. He finds comfort in being with said “angels,” as his hand is “cold as a stone,” whereas the hand of the angel is “warm in the night.” Each verse is followed by the reflecting chorus: “but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” which details that as far as he has come in his journey, he is still searching for his meaning.
I believe a lot of people can resonate with U2’s music, because of how relatable it is, however, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” might just be the most relatable. A large portion of U2’s following is Christian, and people all over the world often run into troubled relationships with their faith, whether Christian or not.
Bono’s childhood was in a split household, with a Roman Catholic father and a Church of Ireland mother. This also likely contributed to his struggle in finding the top of the mountain, or the answer to his questions, as he was split between two religions from his youth.
Regardless of how many trials and tribulations Bono has faced, he introduces the penultimate verse by reasserting his belief in “the Kingdom come, where all the colors will bleed into one.” I think this definitely resonates with the Christian perspective, but also likely refers to Bono’s difficult childhood during the Troubles.
His message is simple: regardless of the disagreements we hold on this earth, in this case between the Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists, we face the same God at death. And, ultimately, what matters most is the good we did on this earth, and the search which accompanied it.
I have always believed every generation can truly learn so much from U2. Their message of peace and love is obvious, especially in “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” but they also make it obvious that, while struggles with our faith are common, we are not alone. We can find common ground with each other in finding what we are looking for, which could be different for each and every person. I have been a loyal follower of the band since I was in grammar school, and their place on my personally curated playlist is certainly going nowhere, anytime soon.
