I wouldn...

I wouldn't be explaining my soul if I didn't include my two favorite U2 songs. I first heard "With or Without You" in 1993 at Jody Sheldon's birthday party on Ham Hill in Centralia, Washington. Her dad was playing the guitar and we had been playing outside. After a while, we all came inside and turned on the CD player. He big sister put this on and we were dancing in a circle playing "keep the balloon in the air" while we listened to the song over and over over on repeat. It was beautiful. "Where the Streets Have No Name" has been one of my favorite songs since I first purchased Joshua Tree in 1995, but it really spoke to my heart at the U2 concert in Minneapolis in 2001. It was a few days before my wedding and I was in a very strange place emotionally and spiritually. The lights were dim and the opening strains started playing and gradually got louder and louder. The lights got brighter and brighter until the whole Target Center was bathed in yellow golden light. All at once, I saw my life stretching out before me and behind me and I just cried and cried because I was so happy.Where the Steets Have No NameI want to runI want to hideI want to tear down the wallsThat hold me insideI want to reach outAnd touch the flameWhere the streets have no nameI want to feel sunlight on my faceI see the dust cloud disappear Without a traceI want to take shelter from the poison rainWhere the streets have no nameWhere the streets have no nameWhere the streets have no nameWe're still building Then burning down loveBurning down loveAnd when I go thereI go there with youIt's all I can doThe city's afloodAnd our love turns to rustWe're beaten and blown by the windTrampled in dustI'll show you a placeHigh on a desert plainWhere the streets have no nameWhere the streets have no nameWhere the streets have no nameWe're still buildingThen burning down loveBurning down loveAnd when I go thereI go there with youIt's all I can doOur love turns to rustWe're beaten and blown by the windBlown by the windOh, and I see loveSee our love turn to rustWe're beaten and blown by the windBlown by the windOh, when I go thereI go there with youIt's all I can doWith or Without YouSee the stone set in your eyesSee the thorn twist in your sideI wait for youSleight of hand and twist of fateOn a bed of nails she makes me waitAnd I wait without youWith or without youWith or without youThrough the storm we reach the shoreYou give it all but I want moreAnd I'm waiting for youWith or without youWith or without youI can't liveWith or without youAnd you give yourself awayAnd you give yourself awayAnd you giveAnd you giveAnd you give yourself awayMy hands are tiedMy body bruised, she's got me withNothing to win andNothing left to loseAnd you give yourself awayAnd you give yourself awayAnd you giveAnd you giveAnd you give yourself awayWith or without youWith or without youI can't liveWith or without youWith or without youWith or without youI can't liveWith or without youWith or without you