But if I’m a fool for you that’s something”
I saw U2 at the Garden Monday night and was reminded again of how similar a rock concert is to a Christian mass. Bono – following in the footsteps of singers like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Green, Bruce Springsteen – leads the congregation across the thin line that separates singing from praying.
I started going to concerts right about the time the church lost meaning for me and immediately recognized the feeling of community, of like-minded people sharing a thing that brought them great joy. Something to give voice to their ecstasy and comfort to their grief.
One of the highlights of the show for me was the second song of the night – Two Hearts Beat As One. Musically, it’s a pretty strait-forward rocker. Lyrically, it represents an innocent view of love that I find charming. Not everybody will. Like religion, you need to believe in a song for it to have meaning. Apparently, it’s the first time U2 had played it live since 1989. It held up remarkably well.
Here’s a video of the song from 1983, filmed in Montmartre in Paris:
I don’t know which side I’m on
I don’t know my right from left
Or my right from wrong
You say I’m not for you
But if I’m a fool for you
Oh, that’s something
Two hearts beat as one
Two hearts
Honey, this is my last chance
I can’t stop the dance
Maybe this is my last chance
Two hearts beat as one
Two hearts
Beat on everything don’t get it right
Beat on you, beat on me, beat on love
How to say what’s got to be said
I don’t know if it’s black or white
There’s others see it red
Is this love out of fashion? Or is it the time of year?
Are these words distraction
To the words you wanna hear?
Two hearts beat as one
I try to explain
The way I feel
Oh, yeah
Two hearts
Maybe this is my last chance
I can’t stop the dance
Maybe this is our last chance
Words & Music by Mike Power 