The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records. Some 30 years later U2 embarked on a concert tour in North America, Europe, and Latin America, on which they played the album in its entirety at each show, the first time the group toured in promotion of an album from their back catalogue, rather than a new release.
In an interview given at the time, U2 guitarist, the Edge, cited the 2016 US presidential election and other world events for what he judged to be renewed resonance of The Joshua Tree's subject matter: "That record was written in the mid-Eighties, during the Reagan–Thatcher era of British and U.S. politics. It was a period when there was a lot of unrest. Thatcher was in the throes of trying to put down the miners' strike; there was all kinds of shenanigans going on in Central America. It feels like we're right back there in a way ... It just felt like, 'Wow, these songs have a new meaning and a new resonance today that they didn't have three years ago, four years ago’."
With the blessing of the band and whilst they were on their world tour in 2017 it was announced that a group of Irish artists would remake the U2 album, with 11 covers of songs being recorded and the album would benefit Ireland’s LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. The Joshua Tree by U2 is probably my favourite album by them. But I have loved discovering this new version of their songs, with 11 different ways displayed of interpreting their classic songs.
One of the songs, Running to Stand Still, tells the gritty and heart-breaking story of a young woman in the context of the heroin addiction epidemic in Dublin of the 1980’s.
She walks through the streets
With her eyes painted red
Under a black belly of cloud in the rain
In through a doorway
She brings me white golden pearls
Stolen from the sea
She is ragin', she is ragin'
And the storm blows up in her eyes
She will suffer the needle chill
She's running to stand still
Written most poignantly by U2 it is played with feeling and to great effect by Irish Band Kodaline.
The Joshua Tree doesn’t shy away from very difficult and emotive subjects. It is written with the compassion and conviction of lead singer Bono, and framed by his Christian faith. He is not judgemental or condemning, but caring and hopeful. The message of his songs convey simply that this is the way of the world and that only our love and kindness for one another will ever be sufficient. Put another way, life is what it is, and what will we do in response?
Gracious God, we come to you today seeking your grace. We know that we are not perfect, and that we make many mistakes. But we also know that you are a God of love and mercy, and that you are always willing to forgive us.
We pray that you would pour out your grace on us today. Help us to be kind and compassionate to others, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to let go of our anger and resentment. Help us to be patient, caring and understanding, even when things are difficult.
Most of all, we pray that you would give us the strength to follow your will. Help us to live a life that is pleasing to you, and to make a difference in the world. Amen.
Neil Chappell
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