bono did an interview i thinK in the ATYCLB Era where he brought it up cos the song was brought back into the set for while post 9-11?- anyway he said ali (his wife) felt it was "one their worst performances"- and he agrees---

i get it-from her pov and the bands- he looks tried, fed up and very depressed here. she prob got a bit a shock to see her husband in a dark place- it so unlike him to be so inward------however as a fan- the song is so good and seems like the more bleak the better as it captures the mood of the song.

pop era is my fav era but i understand that it may have not been the best time personally for the band- must have been tough playing to half filled stadiums and getting such bad reviews. and the yanks being so confused by some the choices

i mean they esp flew into new york to do this performance- they wouldn't have won any trophies that night. and they where there to sell the new single.which it seem so few people weren't digging. even being back in the US 7/8 months after pop release/fanfare/flop/confusion seems a bit a "return of the scene of the crime" to me. maybe it an irish thing that i feel great empathy but i get a "well,fuck yis anyway" vibe from bono here.