U2’s  The Joshua Tree Remastered has been released, and I am glad we have the long Thanksgiving weekend to check it out. With any collection it’s hard to know where to start. I did listen to disc 1 on my noise canceling headphones and the re-mastering sounds pretty good, but the proof will come when I can crank up the stereo. I did sample the DVD disc and the concert from Paris. It’s funny to see Bono and the Edge with their long hair!

I did have to get to the bonus music disc and hear the finished version of “Wave of Sorrow”(Birdland). Of all the songs on the bonus disc “Wave of Sorrow” is the essential one. Listen to it here:

Bono singing Wave of Sorrow

“Wave of Sorrow” Birdland lyrics below:

“Wave Of Sorrow (Birdland)”

Heat haze rising on Hell’s own hill
To wake up this morning was an act of will
You walked through the night to get to today
To bring your children to give them a way

Oh, oh this cruel sun
Its daylight never done
Cruelty just begun
To make a shadow of everyone

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now

Souls bent over without a breeze
Blankets on burning trees
I’m sick without disease
Nobility on its knees

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now

Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
A wave of sorrow

Where now the holy cities
Where all the ancient holy scrolls
Where now the Emperor Menelik
And the Queen of Sheba’s gold
You, my bride, wear her crown
On your finger a precious stone
Has every good thing now been sold

Oh son of the shepherd boy now king
What wisdom can you bring
What lyric could you sing
Where is the music of the seraphim

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now
Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
A wave, a wave of sorrow

Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what’s left of the earth
Blessed are the kings who have left their thrones
They are blessed in this valley of dry bones
Blessed are you with an empty heart
For you have nothing form which you cannot part
Blessed is the ego if it’s all we’ve got this hour
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Blessed is the sex worker’s body sold tonight
She works with what she’s got to save her children’s life
Blessed are the deaf who cannot hear her scream
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Blessed are the tin can cardboard slums
And blessed is the spirit that overcomes