U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On... (Universal Island)
UK release date: 7 February 2005
It already sounded like an timeless classic on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and now it's been released as a single. Sometimes... is a grand U2 ballad in the mould of One and is a moving tribute from Bono to his late father.
Everything about this song is near perfect - from the lyrics painting a bittersweet portrait of Bono's father ("we fight all the time; we're the same soul") to the musical build up through the song which starts off gently and softly until it builds up majestically as The Edge rings out with yet another superb guitar riff.
By the time Bono's singing "don't leave me here alone", you'll be sobbing along with him. It may seem self-indulgent to those who haven't heard the song, but Bono's trick is making this song pertinent to anyone who's suffered a huge loss in their life - which, sadly, is most of us. It's almost enough to forgive them for those exorbitant ticket prices for their summer gigs. Almost.
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