Tower Of Song
U2 Lyrics

Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I am getting older and my loved ones have died or moved away

I ache in the places where I used to play
I am physically and emotionally worn out from years of performing and touring

And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I am still passionate about love, but I am not actively seeking it out

I'm just paying my rent every day in the Tower of Song
Music is my livelihood and I spend every day creating and performing it.

I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get?
I feel isolated and alone, and I wonder if other musicians have felt this way too.

Hank Williams hasn't answered yet
Despite reaching out to others, I still feel disconnected and unheard.

But I hear him coughing all night long
I sense the presence of other musicians who have struggled before me.

Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song
Even though these musicians may be gone, their influence still looms large and towers above me.

I was born like this, I had no choice
My love of music is innate and something I have always had.

I was born with the gift of a golden voice
My voice is my greatest asset and what sets me apart as a musician.

And twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond
There are forces beyond my control that guide and inspire my work.

They tied me to this table right here in the Tower of Song
My love of music is all-consuming and has tied me to a life of creative pursuit.

So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I am not easily affected by the criticisms or negative opinions of others.

I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all
I am confident in my self-image and am unfazed by attempts to bring me down.

I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
I am unafraid to stand in the spotlight and display my talents for all to see.

Ah, they don't let a woman kill you, not in the Tower of Song
Despite the challenges and obstacles I face as a woman in the music industry, I won't be defeated by them.

Now, you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure
Despite my struggles, my love of music and my passion for creative expression remain strong.

The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor
Those in power maintain control over those without it, even in the realm of music.

And there's a mighty judgment coming, but I may be wrong
There may be a reckoning or justice for these imbalances in the music industry, but I am uncertain.

You see, you hear these funny voices in the Tower of Song
Musicians are uniquely attuned to the creative and spiritual energy within the world around them.

I see you standing on the other side
I am aware of the distance between myself and those I love, and I long for connection.

I don't know how the river got so wide
The obstacles preventing this connection are mysterious and difficult to understand.

I loved you baby, way back when
I have a deep and abiding love for those I care about, even if we are apart now.

And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed
There were opportunities for connection that have now been lost or destroyed.

But I feel so close to everything that we lost
Despite this distance and loss, I still hold onto the memories and emotions of our time together.

We'll never, we'll never have to lose it again
Though it is impossible to relive or regain the past, I remain optimistic about the future and the possibility of connection.

Now I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back
I must continue on my creative and musical journey, uncertain of what the future holds.

They're moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
This constant movement and upheaval is the reality of a life in the music industry.

But you'll be hearing from me baby, long after I'm gone
Though I may be physically distant or even gone, my music will continue to speak for me and connect me to those I care about.

I'll be speaking to you sweetly from a window in the Tower of Song
My music will always be a window into my innermost thoughts and emotions, even after I am gone.

Yeah, my friends are gone and my hair is gray
The passage of time has brought change and loss into my life.

I ache in the places where I used to play
My physical and emotional exhaustion is a testament to the decades I have spent pursuing music.

And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
Though my passion for music and creative expression remains strong, I am no longer seeking love or attention in the same way.

I'm just paying my rent every day in the Tower of Song
Music is the work and the passion that drives me, and I will continue to pursue it until the end of my life.