I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, a new cover by GuruGanesha

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, GuruGanesha's newest single,  is a cover from one of GuruGanesha’s favorite Rock & Roll bands, U2. This song was originally released in 1987 as part of U2’s acclaimed album “The Joshua Tree”, becoming a worldwide hit that keeps resonating in the hearts of millions even today 35 years later.

With lyrics written by Bono, this song for GuruGanesha has become an expression of both spiritual longing and an ode to universal human restlessness and the quest for meaning. These are lyrics that speak deeply to his soul sparking the inspiration to question even his deepest, most long held beliefs.'

We had the opportunity to interview GuruGanesha to learn more about the inspiration behind creating a cover for this song with his unique touch.

Can you share a little background on your love for U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”?

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine years ago,  Bono said the song was "an anthem of doubt more than faith." And I realize now that the times I deeply  listened to this iconic recording were some of the only times in my life that I allowed myself to feel and embrace my own doubts. It’s  quite liberating periodically to doubt away, and to give yourself permission to deeply explore those doubts.  By the way, The Edge came up with the title and melody, and Bono wrote lyrics around it. This was definitely influenced by gospel music. 

This is the second cover you have released as part of your upcoming album. How do you choose the songs you want to create covers from?

Both of the covers that I’ve recorded of late, Landslide and this one, were my way of starting to heal a broken heart and somehow gracefully navigate through this ‘dark night of my soul’ period, and perhaps create something of comfort for others as well.

Music has the amazing power of supporting our walk through life being a companion for our feelings and putting words to things we sometimes can’t explain. Most of us can relate deeply to this song. Why are these lyrics important to you in this present moment?

The answer is quite simple. First, it’s a flat-out fabulous song that resonates for millions of people. Second, it speaks directly to my current mental/emotional/spiritual condition. After 50 years of being ‘certain’ that I had found what I was looking for, by having connected up with  a ‘Master’ to guide me and take away my cares…a man who spoke with utter certainty about everything including the deepest spiritual unknowns, a man who prescribed in the most minute detail exactly how to live life in such a way as to achieve enlightenment.  Turns out he was living a double life that didn’t include a whole lot of  walking the talk resulting in a deep sense of disillusionment and the shattering of my arrogant ‘certainty’ that I had indeed found the superior way to live my life!

This song is inspired by those moments in life when we question even our deepest, most long-held beliefs. My folksy version of the song is designed to give you a warm embrace during those lonely moments of doubt, disappointment, and despair. The song speaks to the emptiness that I sometimes feel in my heart, not always…but perhaps a bit more so of late as so much of what I held dearest spiritually for five decades has come into question…most notably in my own mind.

How different is the process of recording a song written by someone else? Do you start to find yourself breathing new meaning into lyrics you’d heard before?

Absolutely, first and foremost, you have to make it your own. It needs to be a transmission from deep within the most tender and vulnerable parts of your own heart. Then and only then will you have done it justice….then even the original composer will be delighted when they hear it! I feel so good in this regard about both this new cover and Landslide. They both speak to my own personal heartbreak.

There is a sweet humility to this song that I love, a lack of certainty that is so vulnerable, so real, so human. I hope people will find this song comforting. The tone and pace of this new version is very gentle and soul searching...quite different from U2’s rockin' original.

How does it feel to voice a song that has been loved by so many?

It feels like a sacred responsibility, a deep honoring of a magical creation from a special time in space.

I love how Bono’s lyrics acknowledge the ongoing ‘uncertainty’ that life truly is. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured  out, it serves up a curveball that throws you into doubt once again. Even Mother Theresa had a period of deep doubt in her life that she calls the ‘dark night of her Soul’. Interestingly enough, I realize that over the course of my life I’ve purposefully avoided the uncomfortable feeling  of uncertainty and doubt by hitching  my wagon to individuals who spoke with utter certainty about all of life’s mysteries. Somehow that was comforting until it wasn’t. Finally I’ve learned to steer clear of people who claim to have it all figured out.  Perhaps there is nothing to find or figure out after all…

Are your last releases part of a bigger project? Can you give us a sneak peek of what is coming up?

Yes indeed…we’ve been releasing my new album ‘Born to Be Loved’ one single at a time for over a year now: Mysterious Pathway, Undying, Landslide, River and my new single “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. We have one more song, the title track ‘Born to Be Loved’  coming with the album release to be out this Spring.

With the advent of these last two tracks, this labor of unconditional love will be complete. And of course I’m already searching my heart as to clues for the next project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSChV3sV4KM