I created the original version of this mixtape a few years ago for my friend Renee. The two of us have been friends since kindergarten, and in many ways this mix represents some of the biggest things that have bonded us through the years: a love of music in its many forms, long hours in a car together, and since we were 18, a pursuit of the mysteries of Jesus Christ.
One of Renee and I’s common beliefs is that there are certain songs that make excellent “driving songs”: tunes just meant to be played (at full volume of course) while behind the wheel of a car. It's hard to say what exactly qualifies a song for "driving" status; it's just something you feel.
Over the years we’ve created compilations of driving songs for each other, usually featuring various artists. But U2 is one of the few bands who deserve their own "driving songs" mix.
In honor of U2’s new album “No Line on the Horizon” (LOVE the cover art!) dropping on March 3, I’ve updated the mix a bit and posted it here. I tried to cover most of U2’s 30-year career, but couldn’t get to everything. (Sorry Sean, no “Pop” music!)
So grab your keys, some snacks, and your sunglasses. Open up the sunroof and roll down the windows. And don’t forget to turn the speakers all the way up.
Got No Destination - A Road Trip With U2
- The Three Sunrises
- Mysterious Ways
- Hawkmoon 269
- Beautiful Day
- I Will Follow
- All Because of You
- Bad
- Scarlet
- Where The Streets Have No Name
- Desire
- Elevation
- Two Hearts Beat As One
- One Tree Hill
- A Sort Of Homecoming
- Gloria
- Even Better Than The Real Thing
- City Of Blinding Lights
- Hallelujah Here She Comes
- Window In The Skies
- “40”
Selected Commentary:
The Three Sunrises – During our college years it was tradition to begin road trips with this B-side from “The Unforgettable Fire”, which is still my favorite album after all these years. The first time Renee and I saw U2 in concert was the tour for this album as well.
Hawkmoon 269 – Legend has it that the “269” in the title comes from the number of takes it took the band to finally nail this song, during a particularly brutal recording session.
I Will Follow – Gotta go with the live version from “Under a Blood Red Sky”. It always reminds me of driving away from high school football games through the muggy Houston night. The air was always so thick you could feel it.
Bad – Renee and I actually watched “Live Aid” live in 1985. When U2 performed this song at Wembley Stadium, it was the closest I had gotten to transcendence before becoming a Christ-follower.
Where The Streets Have No Name – "Rock 'n' roll stops the traffic." When U2 announced the first leg of their Joshua Tree tour, their only Texas dates were in Houston. But both shows were school nights, and Renee and I were freshmen at TCU in Fort Worth. Of course that wasn’t going to stop us. Even though Renee locked her keys in the car and I ripped my favorite pair of jeans, we both made it back for our 8 o’clocks the next morning. (We were too young and responsible to skip.) A year later U2 added a second North American leg, this time with a stop Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth (check us out in the film “Rattle and Hum”)! I gained free admission to one of the shows by serving concessions during the opening act. Did you know that up through the "Joshua" tour U2 didn't allow the sale of alcohol at their shows?
A Sort Of Homecoming – “Oh don’t sorrow, no don’t weep / For tonight, at last / I am coming home.”
Window In The Skies – A great expression of the joy of the gospel. Plus I love this version of their video.
“40” – Back in the day U2 closed their shows with this ode to Psalm 40. Thousands of people would be pouring out of the stadium and the entire crowd would still be singing the chorus, in unison, all the way back to their parked cars. I love that they brought this tradition back recently.
Don’t forget to catch U2 all week (March 2-6) on the “Late Show with Dave Letterman”!
To check out my other mixtapes, click here.
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