Most people have probably heard the phrase \u201cOne Tree Hill\u201d.\u00a0 And on hearing it, I’d guess the vast majority of people think of a TV show.<\/p>\n
In a way that\u2019s a shame.\u00a0 Because the phrase has far more meaning, and is far more significant, than as just the name of a TV show.<\/p>\n
The phrase has other meanings.\u00a0 It\u2019s a geographical reference – to a place of spiritual significance to an ancient culture.\u00a0 And that geographical reference is related to a relatively recent song as well.<\/p>\n
The song referenced by phrase is IMO exceptional. It too predates the TV show.\u00a0 Indeed, the TV show reputedly takes its name from the song and\/or geographical reference, or perhaps both – though it’s at best only tangentially related.<\/p>\n
The “backstory” of the song is also IMO moving, and worth knowing. It details how the place, the song, and individuals associated with its creation are interrelated.\u00a0 And yeah, you’re right:\u00a0 I’m about to wander “off the reservation” a bit once again.<\/p>\n
Consider yourself forewarned.\u00a0 (smile)<\/p>\n
. . . <\/b><\/p>\n
Of deep spiritual significance to the Maori people of New Zealand is a place they have given multiple names.\u00a0 One of those names is Maungakiekie<\/i>. It overlooks what today is the city of Auckland.<\/p>\n
It’s a hill – or if you prefer, at 597 feet a smallish mountain – formed by cone of an ancient volcano.\u00a0 Milennia ago, it and a couple of smaller, adjacent volcanoes spewed forth the second largest lava flow in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
In geological terms, Maungakiekie<\/i> is relatively recent.\u00a0 But in human terms, it’s indeed ancient.\u00a0 It’s believed to be at least 28,500 years old.<\/p>\n
English colonists founding the town of Auckland also found the place intriguing.\u00a0 When they arrived, they noted that the hill had a single tree at its summit.\u00a0 Accounts differ as to whether that tree was a pohutukawa<\/a> or a totara<\/a>; the latter is a tree sacred to the Maori, and in fact the totara was responsible for one of the multiple Maori names for the hill.<\/p>\n The single tree gracing its summit led to the mountain\u2019s English name.\u00a0 The colonists called it \u201cOne Tree Hill\u201d.<\/p>\n Reputedly it’s a truly beautiful place.\u00a0 From its summit, one can reportedly view both of Auckland\u2019s harbors.<\/p>\n . . .<\/p>\n In the mid-1980s, a song was written about Maungakiekie<\/i>.\u00a0 The song was written by the Irish band U2.\u00a0 Their lead singer Bono wrote the lyrics; the music was a group collaboration between the band and their then-producer, Brian Eno.<\/p>\n It was a tribute to one of their roadies, Greg Carroll, who died young.<\/p>\n So, one might ask:\u00a0 how in the world did this happen?\u00a0 How did a man from New Zealand happen to influence a band from Ireland so deeply?\u00a0 And why did they write a song in his honor?<\/p>\n I’ll tell you.<\/p>\n Carroll was a native New Zealander \u2013 in the truest sense of the word.\u00a0 Carroll was of Maori ancestry.\u00a0 His heritage was thus that of New Zealand’s aboriginal people.<\/p>\n Greg Carroll began work for U2 in 1984.\u00a0 That year, the band came to New Zealand on tour.\u00a0 On arriving \u2013 after 24 hours of travel \u2013 the band\u2019s singer, Bono, had difficulty in sleeping due to jet lag.\u00a0 A group of local people took him on a nighttime tour of the Auckland area.<\/p>\n Carroll was a member of the group showing Bono the local Auckland sights.\u00a0 One Tree Hill was one of the places they visited.<\/p>\n Carroll was hired to work for the band while they toured New Zealand – initially, for a single show.\u00a0 He turned out to be a natural as a band \u201croadie\u201d and stage hand.\u00a0 He simply had a rare talent for such work – and for dealing with people.\u00a0 He eventually became their stage manager.<\/p>\n U2\u2019s manager recommended they hire Carroll to work for them for the remainder of the tour.\u00a0 The band agreed, assisted Carroll in getting a visa, then flew him to Australia to become a part of their road crew for the remainder of the tour.<\/p>\n When the band returned to Dublin, Carroll continued his employment with the band. He packed up, and went to Ireland with them.<\/p>\n Carroll also became close friends with Bono and his wife Ali.\u00a0 Why? How?\u00a0 Hell, I don;t know.\u00a0 Fate, the hand of God, random chance . . . whatever. How does anyone choose their friends?\u00a0 Regardless of the reason, it happened.<\/p>\n But it wasn’t just Bono and Ali.\u00a0 Carroll was also respected and well-liked by the other members of the band, and their organization.\u00a0 By all accounts, he was simply a damn fine young man.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, these friendships were to be short-lived.<\/p>\n On July 3, 1986, Bono asked Greg Carroll to take his motorcycle from the recording studio where the band was working on their next album to his home.\u00a0 While riding Bono\u2019s motorcycle, a car unexpectedly pulled out in front of Carroll.\u00a0 He could not stop in time.<\/p>\n He was killed on impact.<\/p>\n Greg Carroll was 26 years old when he died.<\/p>\n . . . <\/b><\/p>\n Carroll\u2019s body was flown back to New Zealand.\u00a0 There, he was buried in his hometown of Wanganui in a traditional Maori funeral.\u00a0 Bono, Ali, and the band\u2019s drummer Larry Mullen \u2013 along with some other members of the band\u2019s organization –\u00a0accompanied Carroll’s remains to New Zealand and attended Carroll’s funeral.<\/p>\n Bono sang at Carroll’s funeral.<\/p>\n Think about that for a moment.\u00a0 Bono, his wife Ali, and a number of others flew literally halfway around the world to attend the funeral of someone they’d known for a relatively short time – less than 2 years<\/i>.<\/p>\n Was Greg Carroll someone they considered a worthy friend?\u00a0 Yes, I think you could say that.<\/p>\n Bono, Ali, Mullen, and the others returned from the funeral to Ireland.\u00a0 Soon afterwards the band resumed recording.\u00a0 The sessions would produce an album called The Joshua Tree<\/i>.\u00a0 Even after nearly 27 years, it\u2019s the work I consider their best.<\/p>\n Carroll’s passing affected all of the members of the group, as well as their work.\u00a0 The tone of the album is simply different from their previous work – noticeably so.\u00a0 And Bono\u2019s memory of the funeral and his earlier visit to New Zealand inspired a tune on the band’s album \u2013 the ninth song, to be precise.\u00a0 It was a bit over 5 minutes long.<\/p>\n The tune was called \u201cOne Tree Hill\u201d.\u00a0 On the surface, it’s a generic tribute to departed friends – with an element of politics added.\u00a0 (U2 was heavily into political statements in the 1980s.)<\/p>\n In reality, the song was a direct, moving tribute to Carroll.\u00a0 The band also dedicated their album The Joshua Tree<\/em> to his memory.<\/p>\n Bono recorded his vocals for the song in a single take.\u00a0 He did so because was so emotionally affected that he didn\u2019t feel he could sing the lyrics a second time.\u00a0 After the final mix of the song was made, he also couldn\u2019t listen to it for a rather long time.<\/p>\n Losing a friend can have one helluva effect.<\/p>\n . . . <\/b><\/p>\n After it was released, the song was exceptionally well-received.\u00a0 But for a long period of time, the band would not perform the song live.\u00a0 U2 finally performed it live in September 1987 \u2013 over a year after Carroll\u2019s untimely death, and after completing 2\/3 of their next tour \u2013 for the first time.\u00a0 It\u2019s a song the band still performs only irregularly today; they only perform it at what they consider special occasions.<\/p>\n The studio version of the song, from The Joshua Tree,<\/i> may be found here<\/a>; a live version (an outtake from the band\u2019s 1987 Rattle and Hum<\/i> concert recordings) may be found here<\/a>.\u00a0 Both are IMO worth a listen.<\/p>\n Either version qualifies as a fitting tribute to a departed friend.<\/p>\n . . .\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n Why this article?\u00a0 I can\u2019t really say with certainty.<\/p>\n