Musical Monday: The First Time I Heard U2

I was about to discover that the United States of America was the greatest place in the world to be free, female and 21. Except for my own little dot on the map in Virginia, I hadn’t exactly been much of anywhere, unless beach vacations counted. But I had a job on the West Coast, a Camaro and an aftermarket cassette deck.

My friend Clare who accompanied me on my cross country drive, introduced me to U2. I resisted them at first. They sounded a little angry and were clearly complex; the name of the album was War. I found the lack of photographs on the cassette case annoying. I wanted to see what these Irish dudes looked like. But after listening the first time through in its entirety, I was hooked and smitten. By the time we were to Oklahoma, the music of U2 had easily become the soundtrack of our journey.

We had a week of driving, which for the duration satisfied, what I knew then was an inborn American instinct to head West. We were a kind of lame precursor to Thelma and Louise as we made our way across I-40. Our attempt to buy beer in a dry county in Tennessee embarrassed us, because we were nice girls, and didn’t want the 7-11 employees to think we were a couple of lushes. We still cared about such things. In my memory, livestock was everywhere, including a pig in the back seat of a Cadillac at a gas station in Arkansas.

We stopped at a motel in Oklahoma on a stormy night. Against all common sense, we went to get in the car to find a restaurant during a tornado warning, but a raccoon hiding under the car jumped out and scared us, so we changed our minds. I liked the way the terrain was so flat I could see daylight under cars that were a mile ahead of us.

In Santa Rosa, New Mexico, we opened a bottle of wine with our car keys and even with a little cork, was one of the best bottles of wine ever. We saw the Grand Canyon, and later witnessed our first tumbleweed, cactus, and desert. When we drove off the mountains enveloped in night, and spotted the cluster of lights of Las Vegas far in the distance, we felt as if we were landing in an airplane.

The song, The Refugee, plays in my mind the most often when I remember this trip. I could tell you that it’s a theme thing with the girl, America, and the promised land, but in truth I think it had more to do with the “…Woah, Woah”‘s.

Lyrics | U2 lyrics

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24 Comments

jori-o March 9, 2009 at 4:32 pm

Excellent choice and fabulous trip down memory lane!! U2 is one of my all-time favorite bands. What great memories you have associated with that album!!
Mimi March 9, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Love them. I remember seeing their Joshua Tree concert.
Sarah's Blogtastic Adventures March 9, 2009 at 5:32 pm

Love the memory! And the band!
Sarah's Blogtastic Adventures March 9, 2009 at 5:32 pm

Love the memory! And the band!
Vic March 9, 2009 at 6:22 pm

I loved U2- the War album was the first one I ever heard, and I went back and got every other album out at the time. Joshua Tree is my road trip album from the time period. There’s a road outside of Albuquerque that will forever be tied to “In God’s Country” for me.
Great post, Margo.
Pricilla March 9, 2009 at 6:35 pm

I am more of an early Springsteen goat. I don’t know much of U2…
But the cross country trip sounds lovely. Much like the publicist’s three year journey in her fifth wheel. Gorgeous country, this.
phd in yogurtry March 9, 2009 at 7:56 pm

I can barely recognize Bono without his groovy tinted shades.
Robin March 9, 2009 at 8:11 pm

Gosh, look how young they look on that album cover! Wow!
You must be really psyched about the new release, huh?
I love it when an album becomes the theme for a road trip. The two can never be separated again after that.
Happy Music Monday!
Robert March 9, 2009 at 8:20 pm

an excellent choice for Music Monday..:)
Shawn March 9, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Awesome story and description. And yes, U2 is forever awesome.
HumorSmith March 9, 2009 at 9:33 pm

Nice slice of memory.
Diane March 9, 2009 at 11:29 pm

great story!
Speedcat Hollydale March 10, 2009 at 12:33 am

GREEEAT song! ((big smile))

Hello from SpeedyCat
Amy March 10, 2009 at 12:49 am

I liked your story. My friends and I loved U2 in high school we would listen to it in the car all of the time. Great band still today. Thank you for stopping by today. Have a great night.
Dawn March 10, 2009 at 1:54 am

1987…Basel, Switzerland… Joshua Tree concert. Sheer perfection. Still have the t-shirt, and would still run off with Bono in a heartbeat.
Nick | Mom Most Traveled March 10, 2009 at 2:27 am

Good story If you make it Laos some day you’ll might run across a pig, goat or dog riding on the back of a motorbike.
Margo March 10, 2009 at 10:50 am

thanks for stopping by and reading, guys! Musical Monday is always a fun trip down memory lane,Jori and Diane… and Speedycat. pricilla – the publicist’s odyssey sounds interesting. Still haven’t gotten the new album -can’t wait! Group hug.
angie March 10, 2009 at 5:48 pm

I always think of my brother when I hear U2. He was such a huge fan.
dani c March 10, 2009 at 9:56 pm

U2 ROCKS !!!
The Girl Next Door March 11, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Oh I’m so jealous this is the trip I always wished I had taken. At least now I feel like I took it with you!
Margo March 12, 2009 at 11:55 am

Girl next door, there’s still time. I’ll drive!
Nelesc March 23, 2009 at 8:23 pm

Thank you so much for this!!! I remember dancing wildly to Refugee in my bedroom. They are indeed a fun, political and spiritual band. All the things I attempt to be.
H.E.Eigler March 25, 2009 at 2:20 am

thanks for sharing your link at Monday’s Muse! Can’t go wrong with U2 – love ‘em!
ArtSnark March 25, 2009 at 3:04 pm

very cool – sounds like a grand time