With or Without You

U2

About With or Without You

"With or Without You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree (1987), and was released as the album's lead single on 16 March 1987. The song was the group's most successful single at the time, becoming their first number-one hit in both the United States and Canada by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and the RPM national singles chart for one week, with a further three weeks at number two. "With or Without You" features sustained guitar parts played by guitarist the Edge with a prototype of the Infinite Guitar, along with vocals by lead singer Bono and a bassline by bassist Adam Clayton. The song originated from a demo recorded in late 1985 that the group continued to work on throughout The Joshua Tree sessions. Ostensibly a troubled love song, the track's lyrics were inspired by Bono's conflicting feelings about the lives he led as a musician and domestic man. Critics praised the song upon its release. It is frequently performed on the band's tours, and it has appeared on many of their compilation albums and concert films. "With or Without You" is U2's second most frequently covered song. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine placed the song at number 132 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". 


Year:
1987
4:56
3,812 
#43

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait, without you

With or without you
With or without you

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
Oh

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

With or without you

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music. Throughout the group's musical pursuits, they have maintained a sound built on melodic instrumentals, highlighted by The Edge's timbrally varied guitar sounds and Bono's expressive vocals. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal themes and sociopolitical concerns. more »

10 fans

Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Title and Artist
"With or Without You" is a song by the Irish rock band U2, from their fifth studio album, "The Joshua Tree."
Song Release
"With or Without You" was released as the lead single from "The Joshua Tree" on March 16, 1987.
Genre
The song signifies a departure from U2's earlier sound, showcasing a more sophisticated style of music that encompasses elements of alternative rock and pop.
Chart Performance
"With or Without You" became U2's first number-one single in the United States and also topped the charts in Canada and New Zealand.
Grammy Awards
The song helped U2 to win their first two Grammy Awards in 1988, for 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Rock Performance'.
Inspiration
Bono, the band's lead vocalist, wrote the lyrics that were inspired by his conflicting feelings about the lives that he led as a musician and, domestically, as a married man.
Iconic Sound
The song is well-known for its sustained guitar sound, achieved by The Edge by using a prototype of the 'Infinite Guitar', an instrument which allows notes to be held indefinitely.
Live Performances
"With or Without You" is one of the band's most frequently performed songs in concerts and was part of the regular set lists during the band's 360° Tour.
Music Video
The music video for "With or Without You" is equally iconic, filmed in black and white and featuring the four band members in close-up shots.
Cultural Impact
"With or Without You" remains one of U2's most popular songs till this day and it has been widely covered by artists across various genres.

Discuss the With or Without You Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "With or Without You Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/1431712/U2/With+or+Without+You>.

    Missing lyrics by U2?

    Know any other songs by U2? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    With or Without You

    87.3M
    584.1K     0

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1987

    Billboard #1


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Nights In White Satin was a 1967 hit for which band?
    A The Moody Blues
    B The Doors
    C The Yardbirds
    D The Rolling Stones

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss U2's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    U2 tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    With or Without You

    »