Is That All?

Like much of U2's early work, I reckon this is addressed to God. It's vague but hangs on the eponymous repetition.. What does it mean? I suspect it's a question about the nature of music, worship and soulful expression.

Traditionally, I feel that many people give U2 songs too much religious merit. While a good many U2 songs are clearly religious in nature, I feel a good deal of them aren't. October is probably U2's most spiritual album, and I think this is one of their most religious songs, ranking right up there with "40" and "Gloria".

Like many songs U2 produced in the early '80's, I think this song deals with the band's (especially Larry's) struggle to decide between God and the rock and roll lifestyle they were rapidly becoming involved in. In a way, they felt their Rock lifestyle went against their religious views and so they were torn between their two greatest loves: Music and God.

I think this song is Bono saying he's happy with his religious standing and he's happy with God, but he's wondering if being happy with God and accepting God is all his life gets to have a dedication to. He's asking God in the repetitive line "Is that all", if accepting God is the only path he can choose. He's asking God in this song if it is ok for him to want more, to want to be a musician and a man of God simultaneously.

Queue up this track and sing the lryics to The Cry to the open guitar lick. U2 had only a year between albums, with extensive touring in between. They took a musical idea written on the road (The Cry debuted in a concert in January 1981) and tried to expand it for an album that was a little short on material.

By the way, I like this song.

“Is that all? Is that all you want from me?” Is what John Lennon asked Mark David Chapman before Mark shot and killed him on Dec 8 1980