My Gen X Playlist: All I Want Is You – U2

It’s difficult to believe today is my 361st post. This started out as an experiment, a chance to take on the challenge of writing daily and listening to some music along the way. At times, it’s been difficult to creatively write every day and then try to reach back in my brain to find a song to pair it with. But it’s also been a lot of fun, cathartic and meaningful.

My Spotify playlist has grown to almost 24 hours. It’s nice listening to music that I can connect to a new memory with this blog. It’s like the music has gained a second life for me. That’s an unexpected win.

My goal was to reach an entire year and then see where to go from there. It’s quickly approaching, just right around the corner. I may take a short break from daily writing once I hit that year mark. It will be nice to catch my breath before starting up again.

I’ve enjoyed joining the blogging community and appreciate the exchanges. I remember saying to myself, So this is what it means to be a part of an online community. As much as I’ve enjoyed the experience of writing while listening to music, I’ve equally enjoyed reading other’s daily blogs. The community has been a great source of inspiration and support. Thank you, all. I appreciate you.

So, I’m a few steps away from 365. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know I’ve had my share of clumsy moments in life. In true me fashion, there is the possibility I may trip over my own two left feet down the homestretch and stumble into a face plant inches before the finish line. I have no idea what that could even mean in every day terms, but believe me, that hasn’t stopped me in the past. At the very least it may be Kodak moment, worthy of of a good laugh. I’ll stop talking now before I predetermine my reality. I have a knack for that, too, you know.

Knack. Reality. I think I was subconsciously paving the way for the Knack’s My Sharona from the Reality Bites soundtrack. Since that’s already made the playlist, I’ll choose another one from that same movie. You can’t go wrong with U2’s All I Want Is You. I fell in love with this song after I bought the soundtrack. Who knew a love song could have so much guitar.

The backstory was a surprise. The inspiration came from Bono’s relationship with his wife. It turns out, the lyrics are from his wife’s perspective.

Bono wrote this song for his wife Ali when they were considering having children and he was wondering if he could cut it as a father despite his flaws. She reassured him, telling him she loved all of him, even the troubled parts.

The lyric is from her perspective, telling Bono that he can offer her riches (which he had thanks to U2’s previous album, The Joshua Tree), but all she really wants is him.

“She is the singer of the song,” Bono explained in his book Surrender. “It became one of our most enduring songs and the opposite of pretty much everyone’s reading of it.”

Bono and Ali ended up having four children, the first, Jordan, born in 1989, the year after this song was released.

– Songfacts

I can’t imagine Bono stumbling with anything. I think I do enough face plants to fill the quota for the both of us. So if you stand back and just let me do my thing, Bono, I think you’ll be in the clear.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you'll give me
A highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you'll give me
Eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold

All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You, all I want is
You, all I want is
You, all I want is
You