 |
|
29|Top 100
'With Or Without You'
U2
U2 recorded “With Or Without You” and the rest of their album The Joshua Tree in Danesmoate, a Georgian mansion near Dublin now owned by bassist Adam Clayton. As if inspired by their historic surroundings the band made a |
 Song facts |
| Composer |
Composer |
|
| Genre |
Rock
|
|
| Album |
The Joshua Tree
|
|
| Year of Release |
1987 |
|
| UK Chart Position |
4 |
|
conscious decision to write songs in a more traditional vein than any they had recorded before. The decision paid off. “With Or Without You” became their biggest hit, topping the US charts for three weeks, while The Joshua Tree became one of the fastest-selling albums of all time. The track works on two distinct levels. For millions of fans it’s a straightforward love song best summed up by the lines “I can’t live/ With or without you” – an emotion surely felt at some time by almost anyone who has ever been in a serious relationship.But as singer Bono has admitted, the song also addresses his own insecurities and anxieties. The lines “And you give yourself away/ And you give yourself away” represent his fears about being in band, about literally giving himself away when he bares his soul in lyrics and interviews. Musically, the song is something of a slow burner, with The Edge’s understated guitar and Bono’s subdued vocals building gradually towards a towering climax. However you interpret it, it’s an immensely powerful and popular song.
Written in the studio |
|
A real joint effort this one - Adam had the bass line, Bono the title. But a musical invention "the infinite guitar" helped to create the eerie production sound.
|
Other versions |
|
 This version of With or Without Youwas performedlive at a concert in Dublin and broadcast on Radio 1 on 26th December 1989.
|
|
|
|
| DON'T MISS |
|
|
|
 |
|
Doves
Special guests on Dermot's show this week
|
|
What's on
Find out more about current and forthcoming documentaries on Radio 2.
|
|
Full Schedule
Many songs are a collaboration, often with more than just two people. 
Newsletter sign-up