The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency. Within four years, they signed with Island Records and released their debut album, Boy (1980). Subsequent work such as their first UK number-one album, War (1983), and the singles "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" helped establish U2's reputation as a politically and socially conscious group. By the mid-1980s, they had become renowned globally for their live act, highlighted by their performance at Live Aid in 1985. The group's fifth album, The Joshua Tree (1987), made them international superstars and was their greatest critical and commercial success. Topping music charts around the world, it produced their only number-one singles in the US, "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".
Facing creative stagnation and a backlash following their documentary/double album, Rattle and Hum (1988), U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image. Beginning with their acclaimed seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and the multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour, the band integrated influences from alternative rock, electronic dance music, and industrial music into their sound, and embraced a more ironic, flippant image. This experimentation continued through their ninth album, Pop (1997), and the PopMart Tour, which were mixed successes. U2 regained critical and commercial favour with the records All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), which established a more conventional, mainstream sound for the group. Their U2 360° Tour of 2009–2011 is the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history. The group's thirteenth album, Songs of Innocence (2014), was released at no cost through the iTunes Store, but received criticism for its automatic placement in users' music libraries.
U2 has released 14 studio albums and is one of the world's best-selling music artists in history, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Throughout their career, as a band and as individuals, they have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes, including Amnesty International, Jubilee 2000, the ONE/DATA campaigns, Product Red, War Child, and Music Rising.
Foundation: The band originally formed in 1976 when Larry Mullen posted a bulletin in his school asking for musicians to form a rock band. The band then consisted of the four current members plus three additional guitarists, including The Edge’s brother Dick Evans (later a member of Virgin Prunes), Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. According to legend, Bono originally auditioned as a guitarist but couldn’t play. He auditioned as lead vocals, but really couldn’t sing. He was, however, incredibly enthusiastic about the band, extremely charismatic, a great writer, and was strangely able to reach the audience when the band played, something he is known for still today. Bono will reach out into the crowd and dance or mess with someone in the crowd at every concert. He was kept as a member. The extra guitarists would soon leave the band and the group would go through the names “Feedback ” and “The Hype” before finally settling on U2.
The 70s & 80s: 1978 was a jumping point year for the band, finally finding their sound / voice. U2 won a talent contest in 1978: £500 and funds to make a record. Paul McGuinness became the band’s manager and U2 released an EP called Three and the single Another Day, the following year. U2 went on to release their first album, Boy and then more critically acclaimed albums incl.: October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, and The Unforgettable Fire (featuring the song PlayMLK dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr). Seen by many as a political band with more charisma than others, they were called “a different kind” of band. After a short break U2 returned with The Joshua Tree & the USA music inspired Rattle And Hum (also a movie of the same name, based on the tour).
The 90s: Promising ”to dream it all up again”, they added industrial and dance styles to their music. Trying to drop a goody two shoes image, they went to Berlin (Germany), supposedly to develop new self-expressions. From there they started to make fun of themselves and had a good time of it in albums like Achtung Baby (meaning ”watch out, baby”, artwork feat. make-up artist Nassim Khalifa) & Zooropa. Bono took on many stage personae such as “The Fly”, “Mirrorball Man” and “Mr. MacPhisto” for the gigantic ZOO TV Tour. Later they continued to make fun of Pop culture and all its extremes with the album Pop and consequent PopMart tour which was announced to be launched at a Kmart store and included a giant golden arch across the stage.
The 00s: At the end of the 90’s into 00’s U2 became less image and more reality. With the death of Bono’s good friend Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS, Bono wrote more songs from the heart surrounding ideas like life and death, children, hope, and the real world past all the pop culture and TV. Some say they’ve returned to a more band-centric sound with albums like All That You Can’t Leave Behind which features a song, Kite, dedicated to Bono’s father who passed away shortly after the album’s conception and 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
The 10s: U2 went on the U2 360° Tour in 2009 and 2010. This tour set records for the highest-grossing concert tour. The band worked with producer Danger Mouse for their thirteenth album Songs of Innocence, which was released on 9 September 2014 for free to all Apple iCloud users.
The Name: There are many theories as to the origin of the name U2. For example, U2 was an intelligence airplane that was in use by the United States during the Cold War. Other obvious candidates include “You too” and “You two”, etc. Nonetheless the official line on the name’s origins remains unknown. The band has been quoted as saying that they did think of the U2 spy plane, but remain hushed about other reasons… U2
This is Where You Can Reach Me Now
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Beyond what we can see
We've come to colonize 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
On a double decker bus
Into College Square
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 sign
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
Oh oh oh
The lyrics of U2's "This is Where You Can Reach Me Now" tell the story of soldiers who have signed their lives away in complete surrender. They are aware that their actions will change the world forever, but they have accepted this fact as the only weapon they know. The song seems to impart a sense of nostalgia and sadness, for a generation that has been asked to make a sacrifice for their country.
The song speaks to the listener on multiple levels, with its lyrics about the ancient origins of humanity, the colonization of the night, and the theft of poetry. It also references the wisdom of the old and the youthful ambition of the young, highlighting the generational gap in society.
Moreover, the song also touches upon themes of resistance, exclusion, and the search for identity. The soldier's journey, both physical and emotional, teaches us that sometimes the only way to go is the path of most resistance.
Line by Line Meaning
Soldier, soldier
Addressing the listener as a soldier
We signed our lives away
Acknowledging that they have fully committed themselves to a cause
Complete surrender
Admitting that the only way to succeed is to give it all
The only weapon we know
Acknowledging that the military is the only expertise they have
Soldier soldier
Reiterating the fact that the listener is a soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Anticipating the monumental impact that their actions would have
Solider, this is where you can reach me now
Providing a direct address for the listener to contact the singer
We come from an ancient place
Announcing that they have roots in a long-standing culture
Beyond what we can see
Their origins are abstract
We've come to colonize your night
Their purpose is to infiltrate and take over
And steal your poetry
Metaphorically taking the beauty from life
Old man knows that I never listen
The artist is acknowledging that they have a tendency to ignore the advice of the elderly
So how could I have something to say
Questioning their ability to dispense advice themselves
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
Acknowledging that the wise know the shortcuts to success
You don't lose if you don't play
Encouraging the listener to only engage in what they deem worthy
1 2 3 4 was enough
Suggesting that things were simple back then
On a double decker bus
Jumping to a different scenario
Into College Square
Entering a place where learning is the norm
If you won't let us in your world
Referring to the closed-mindedness of those in power
Your world just isn't there
Implying that their world is more worthy
Old man says that we never listen
Reiterating the wise observations
We shout about what we don't know
Acknowledging their youthful passion for things they have no understanding of
We're taking the path of most resistance
Displaying their stubbornness
The only way for us to go
Suggesting that there is no other option
Hup 2 3 4 was enough
Further emphasizing the simplicity of the past
This is the sign
Introducing the next stanza by describing it as a sign
This is the season
Continuing with the theme of the inherent properties of the next stanza
This is where you can reach me now
Bringing back the address given for the listener to reach out
This is the time
Reiterating the fact that this is a momentous occasion
This is the number
Implying that the fate has been sealed
Oh oh oh
A concluding sound effect
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JAVIERGALICIA100
Lyrics:
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
Soldier 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
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
On a double decker bus
Into College Square
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 will never be the same
Soldier 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.
@hazemabdelfatah1198
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
Soldier 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
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
On a double decker bus
Into College Square
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 will never be the same
Soldier 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
@user-bj4ww3zl4z
Dear,
thanks for this song.
I translated the lyrics according to my own understanding
战士，战士
你我早已签了生死状
那就无条件地、将自己托付给我们唯一拥有的武器吧
战士，战士
我们清楚这个世界永不会一尘不变！
可是战士，这是你我现在唯一的出路。
我们都来自一个古老的地方，
那是永远望不到的家。
我们已经占领了你的夜晚，
偷窃了你的诗情画意。
老人们知道，我从来听不进去劝告，
因此我更不会废话
老人们知道，如何去欺骗自己的雄心壮志，
对，你不去尝试，你也就不会失去什么。
1，2，3，4 tm这就够了
战士，战士
你我早已将生死置之度外，
完全相信自己唯一掌握的武器吧！
战士，战士
这个世界永远在变化
你我现在早已别无选择
在学院广场的双层巴士上（出发吗？兄弟），
如果你不愿与我共鸣
你的世界也不属于这里！
老人说我们永远听不进劝告
面对未知、只知道咒骂。
对，我们依旧选择了那条最艰难的道路！（和tm老人当年一样）
可这注定是我们唯一的路
冲，2，3，4，tm干就完了
战士，战士
你我早就是个死人了
就把这副躯壳，完全地交给唯一掌握的武器吧！
战士啊，战士！
你我深知世事无常！
可是兄弟，你我早已别无选择！
就在此站，
就在此季，
与我共鸣。
就在此时，
就在此刻，
共赴生死。
@GroundMemory
Awesome. I'm glad that iTunes account holders got this album for free. This song is one of the best on the album.
@boseifrit5480
Definitely. Volcano, California, and cedarwood road were all great too.
@boseifrit5480
Oh and every breaking wave
@charanpradhan5511
@@boseifrit5480 and miracle
@boseifrit5480
@@charanpradhan5511 yeah it was pretty good
@russiankodiak6849
For once Apple hooked us up with fire content
@charlieinthefog
I really love this song, great bass line, atractive guitar solos, nice voices... It's really really cool.
@LoopyBunny53
I had this song randomly on my iPhone. Wouldn't listen to it for months. Gave in and absolutely loved it and listened to it for months after.
@Nemova
I have no words to describe how I feel about this song. And the bass line... it sends chills down my spine.
@christiankjeldsen6875
Nemova same