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  1. So guys I just wanted to share with you an eye opening and heartbreaking experience I just had in the last couple of days related to this song: Iris (Hold me Close).

    It's about me and my mother. For the last two weeks she has been sick, and it is hard for me because I am studying away from home, in Canada.

    She told me that she has been having tremendous headaches that just won't go away. She knows I love U2, and she used to be a singer. So to make her feel better, I told her to listen to Iris (hold me close), because it is about a Mother and Son relationship.

    I know that Bono's mother, Iris, passed away because of a brain aneurisma.
    So this was one of my concerns with my mother, aside from cancer, of which her father died from.

    Those two ideas were in my head, and of course the other side of me which pushed me to think positively. To know that life is like that, that we have to keep going, and that all bad things that happen are to build your character.

    But most importantly, that there are things we just cannot control.

    Yesterday morning, she had an MRI Exam because the doctors had no idea what was happening. My parents stayed at the hospital the whole day, and I had no idea of that. I got a call at 5:45pm, in the middle of my class.
    It was my father, he told me he wanted to to FaceTime asap. I knew instantly that something really bad came out of that MRI Exam.

    So I finish my class,get to my room, call my father, and there they are in the screen.
    My mother, my father and my little sister, explaining to me that the doctors have to do an emergency surgery because she was going to have an aneurisma at any moment.

    My mother was calm, she told me she had been nice to everyone all the day. Smiling and sharing love, enjoying every moment. She is like that, she has a light that never goes out. It was hard talking about death with her. I tried not to cry, told her how much I loved her and asked for her forgiveness for all the moments I have been a bad son. She was proud and gave me advices, she was positive and shining her light on me.

    I asked her if she liked the song, she replied "I loved it" "Such beautiful words from you" .

    They are not my words, they are Bono's. But I thought those were the right words for her to listen. She has no idea Bono's mother died of an aneurisma, I do not know if it was a coincidence or some of live's mysteries.

    But the only thing I know is that I love her and that her light will never go out. I am holding her closer than ever.

    Thanks for reading this guys, love you.
  2. Thanks for sharing Papalangas007. So often music can express things we can't. It is a very emotional song and I really hope that you get through this test. Where are you studying in Canada? Thanks for sharing.
  3. Originally posted by Papalangas007:So guys I just wanted to share with you an eye opening and heartbreaking experience I just had in the last couple of days related to this song: Iris (Hold me Close).

    It's about me and my mother. For the last two weeks she has been sick, and it is hard for me because I am studying away from home, in Canada.

    She told me that she has been having tremendous headaches that just won't go away. She knows I love U2, and she used to be a singer. So to make her feel better, I told her to listen to Iris (hold me close), because it is about a Mother and Son relationship.

    I know that Bono's mother, Iris, passed away because of a brain aneurisma.
    So this was one of my concerns with my mother, aside from cancer, of which her father died from.

    Those two ideas were in my head, and of course the other side of me which pushed me to think positively. To know that life is like that, that we have to keep going, and that all bad things that happen are to build your character.

    But most importantly, that there are things we just cannot control.

    Yesterday morning, she had an MRI Exam because the doctors had no idea what was happening. My parents stayed at the hospital the whole day, and I had no idea of that. I got a call at 5:45pm, in the middle of my class.
    It was my father, he told me he wanted to to FaceTime asap. I knew instantly that something really bad came out of that MRI Exam.

    So I finish my class,get to my room, call my father, and there they are in the screen.
    My mother, my father and my little sister, explaining to me that the doctors have to do an emergency surgery because she was going to have an aneurisma at any moment.

    My mother was calm, she told me she had been nice to everyone all the day. Smiling and sharing love, enjoying every moment. She is like that, she has a light that never goes out. It was hard talking about death with her. I tried not to cry, told her how much I loved her and asked for her forgiveness for all the moments I have been a bad son. She was proud and gave me advices, she was positive and shining her light on me.

    I asked her if she liked the song, she replied "I loved it" "Such beautiful words from you" .

    They are not my words, they are Bono's. But I thought those were the right words for her to listen. She has no idea Bono's mother died of an aneurisma, I do not know if it was a coincidence or some of live's mysteries.

    But the only thing I know is that I love her and that her light will never go out. I am holding her closer than ever.

    Thanks for reading this guys, love you.
    I wish you a lot of courage !
  4. my life experience with U2 is not as sad ! but very happiest moment for me! I kissed the girl who would become my wife on a U2 song when I played and sing for her with my guitar, all I want is you!
  5. I lost my brother to suicide in July of 2014. When Songs Of Innocence was released that same year in September, the album really connected with me in a personal way.

    The lyrics in 'Sleep Like A Baby', 'tomorrow dawns like a suicide" really encapsulated that feeling I had the next day before I found out he had died and something felt very wrong. Also I can totally relate with "there's no end to grief, that's how I know" in California.

    It annoys me when people say anything past 'Pop' is boring and U2 have lost it. Some of their best songwriting has been in these last two albums and I have found so much to relate to.
  6. My parents got divorced when I was a teenager and my father kind of left my mum and me. We had no contact for over 25 years.

    In 2015 my mum met an old friend in town who told her that my dad had cancer and was about to die. He lived in a hospice.

    I decided to visit him and he was very happy about it. We had a few weeks left.

    One day when I left the hospice and got in the car U2 was on the radio. Ordinary Love. I can't fight you anymore, it's you I'm fighting for. Exactly what I felt.
  7. Welcome to Canada, I hope you are enjoying our country! I'm willing to bet there are active members somewhere near where you live.

    I'm happy you are finding solace in music; at @miryclay said music can express things we can't.

    Particularly in this song. A friend saw i+E in Toronto, and suddenly this song made her cry. She didn't know the back-story, thought it was a "get over it" type song. Then she saw the visuals, and it hit her.

    Really hoping that you get a positive outlook on all of it man. Puts our petty arguments about U2 in perspective.
  8. Met my missus through Propaganda. Best subscriber gift yet.

    I hope your mam gets well soon @papalangas007. These things are very hard when you are away. We'll say a prayer for you and your family, and for all of you fighting battles in the background.
  9. I emigrated from the UK in my mid-teens and left behind my first teenage girlfriend; someone who had a profound influence on my self-esteem. We stayed in touch (by letter in those days) for a couple of years but, as you'd expect, distance and time made it hard even for a friendship to last and we lost touch. Around about the time TUF came out, I'd heard from an old school mate that she was in trouble and using drugs. The lyrics and story to "Bad" resonated so strongly with me - "if I could, you know I would...let it go..."

    I often wonder how life turned out for her but have never been able to track her down. Every time I heard Bad on the recent JT tour I thought of her and said a little prayer.

    As @miryclay wrote, music and artist often express what we can't. I hope you get the outcome you all need.
  10. We all need a Subscription DVD SydneyMike but it won't ship until at least November. LOL!
  11. The lyrics of Miracle Drug have always had a special place for me. Long story short, my mom died in 2014 after being on a ventilator for several days. I've always wondered how much she heard and sensed during that time. Miracle Drug still takes me back to her hospital room
  12. So sorry to read all of this, Juandi I hope the surgery goes well and they can rule the aneurysm risk completely out. Mucha suerte! Abrazos!