'This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now' song lyrics by U2

This song is from U2's new Songs of Innocence album. It ss dedicated to the gone but never forgotten Joe Strummer, and 'celebrates The Clash spirit of passion and purposefulness'.

In "This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now," U2 draws heavily from the punk ethos of rebellion and resistance, with lyrics that capture a generational call to arms, echoing the spirit of The Clash. 

Bono’s invocation of "Soldier, soldier / We signed our lives away" reveals a metaphorical enlistment into a cause bigger than oneself—a surrender not to traditional warfare but to a lifelong battle for meaning, truth, and justice. The imagery of complete surrender as "the only weapon we know" speaks to the band's immersion in the world of activism and idealism, where their chosen struggle is waged not with violence but with music and conviction. 

There's a sense of lost innocence and irrevocable change in "we knew the world would never be the same," reflecting how The Clash shaped U2's early vision—a vision that was less about being “cool” and more about channeling the energy of punk into something constructive, something transformative.

The lyrics carry a sense of disillusionment, especially in the exchanges with the "Old man," who represents a kind of weary pragmatism. "Old man knows how to cheat ambition / You don’t lose if you don’t play" reflects a generational divide, where youthful defiance butts up against the cynical wisdom of experience. 

Yet U2 chooses to "take the path of most resistance," a reference to their decision to rebel not just against authority but against complacency itself, embracing the difficult road of social change and artistic integrity. 

'This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now' song lyrics by U2

Soldier, soldier

We signed our lives away

Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Solider, this is where you can reach me now

We come from an ancient place
Beyond what we can see
We’ve come to colonise your night
And steal your poetry

Old man knows that I never listen
So how could I have something to say
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
You don’t lose if you don’t play

1 2 3 4 was enough

Soldier, soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Solider, this is where you can reach me now

In a double decker bus
Into College Square
If you won’t let us in your world
Your wold just isn’t there
If you won’t let us in your world
Your world just isn’t there

Old man says that we never listen
We shout about what we don’t know
We’re taking the path of most resistance
The only way for us to go

Hup 2 3 4 was enough

Soldier, soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Solider, this is where you can reach me now

This is the site
This is the season
This is where you can reach me now
This is the time
This is the number
This is where you can reach me now

Check out the lyrics to The Troubles which is also from Songs of Innocence.

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"The Troubles" song lyrics by U2

The Troubles is a song by U2 that can be found as the closing track of Songs of Innocence.

U2 delves into the haunting dynamics of domestic violence, a theme that Bono has described as "uncomfortable." 

The lyrics, marked by repetition and a haunting refrain, reflect a deep exploration of violation and the insidious erosion of self that often accompanies abusive relationships. 

The line "Somebody stepped inside your soul" serves as a chilling metaphor for emotional invasion, suggesting a loss of autonomy as the abuser takes control. 

The imagery of theft—"Little by little they robbed and stole"—evokes a gradual but profound dismantling of one's identity, echoing the experience of victims who find themselves unwittingly transformed by the torment of another. This encroachment into the inner sanctum of the soul not only speaks to the immediacy of violence but also to the psychological scars that linger long after the physical wounds have healed.

Bono's lyrics convey a palpable tension between vulnerability and resilience, particularly in the stark declaration, "I have a will for survival." This assertion underscores the struggle for agency in the face of relentless pain, encapsulating the push and pull of hope and despair. 

The line "I can live with denial, but you’re not my troubles anymore" illustrates a pivotal moment of self-assertion, suggesting that the speaker has reached a critical juncture where acknowledgment and acceptance intersect. The concluding lines, where the narrator proclaims their nakedness and lack of shame, symbolize a powerful reclamation of selfhood. 

This reclamation, coupled with the realization that they no longer identify with the troubles imposed by another, culminates in an empowering statement of liberation. U2, through the poignant craftsmanship of their lyrics, not only sheds light on the harrowing realities of abuse but also offers a glimmer of hope for healing and self-discovery.

In a rare move the song features Swedish indie singer-songwriter Lykke Li as a lead singer.

She said of the opportunity to appear on the album, that Danger Mouse texted her saying Hey, do you want to sing on a U2 track?'" to which she responded "Yeah, I don't know. Sure.' It was a random question to ask."

Li also said "The song already has so much depth to it, you don't even need to fully understand what the lyrics are about to understand it in your soul and heart."

"The Troubles" song lyrics by U2

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

You think it’s easier
To put your finger on the trouble
When the trouble is you
And you think it’s easier
To know your own tricks
Well, it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do

I have a will for survival
So you can hurt me
And then hurt me some more
I can live with denial
But you’re not my troubles anymore

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

You think it’s easier
To give up on the trouble
If the trouble is destroying you
You think it’s easier
But before you throw me a rope
It was the one thing I could hold on to

I have a will for survival
So you can hurt me
And then hurt me some more
I can live with denial
But you’re not my troubles anymore

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

Got knows it’s not easy
Taking on the shape of someone else’s pain
Got now you can see me
I’m naked and I’m not afraid
My body’s sacred and I’m not ashamed

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control

Check out the lyrics to Every Breaking Wave and The Miracle from the same album.

* U2's song Ito Okashi from the Passengers days featured Japanese singer Akiko Kobayashi and of course, the Grammy Award winning Zooropa featured the late and great Johnny Cash on The Wanderer.

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