If there’s one song that turned U2 from rising alternative heroes into a truly global phenomenon, it’s “With or Without You.” Released in mid-March 1987 as the lead single from the band’s fifth album, The Joshua Tree, it became their first No. 1 in the United States and Canada, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and Canada’s RPM chart for one, while peaking at No. 4 in the UK—an early sign that the record was about to change everything for the group.
Release, context, and chart breakthrough
The single arrived on March 16, 1987 (some discographies list territory-specific dates later that week), just days after The Joshua Tree hit stores. Its chart run was emphatic: three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, 18 weeks on the chart overall, and a swift rise to the top in Canada; the UK Singles Chart peak was No. 4. By any metric, it was the band’s biggest single to that point and the breakthrough that cemented U2 with American audiences.
Who made it—and how
The track was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, whose partnership with U2 shaped the atmosphere and dynamics of The Joshua Tree. Steve Lillywhite later handled the single’s mix—one of several album cuts he mixed—helping the song’s crescendo land with radio-ready impact.
Musically, “With or Without You” is a masterclass in restraint and gradual build. The arrangement pivots on Adam Clayton’s unhurried bassline and the Edge’s sustained, voice-like tones—created with a prototype of Michael Brook’s “Infinite Guitar,” which allowed notes to bloom seemingly without end. Eno contributed sequenced elements and keyboard textures (notably via the Yamaha DX7), which sit just beneath the surface and give the track its glassy, nocturnal pulse. Together, those pieces turn a simple harmonic cycle into a widescreen swell.
From near-abandonment to a defining sound
It’s almost hard to believe now, but the band wrestled with the song for months and briefly considered scrapping it. The breakthrough arrived late in the sessions, when the Infinite Guitar’s singing sustain locked against the rhythm track and finally revealed the shape of the record. That “a-ha” moment transformed a fragile sketch into a signature U2 sound—one that would influence countless rock ballads afterward.
What the lyrics say (and why they stick)
Bono’s lyric distills a tangle of desire, devotion, doubt, and sacrifice into a few indelible images. The refrain—“and you give yourself away”—lands like both confession and accusation, pairing the intoxication of love with the fear of losing oneself inside it. He has said the words channeled the tension he felt between domestic life and the all-consuming orbit of a touring band; that unresolved push-pull is the engine of the song’s emotional power.
Two videos, one iconic mood
The band shot two videos in Dublin in February 1987. The main version (often credited to Meiert Avis, with Matt Mahurin’s involvement) intercuts performance footage with abstract shots of dancer Morleigh Steinberg—who would later marry the Edge—casting the track’s ache in flickering chiaroscuro. An alternate cut surfaced later in deluxe editions. (Fun detail: Steinberg’s shots were done separately in California, with no on-set interaction with the band.)
Why it endures
Part of the song’s longevity is structural: it starts with near-stillness and climbs steadily, so every new layer feels like a release. But it’s also about universals—the friction between closeness and independence, the way deep attachment can feel like both surrender and salvation. Add a melody that settles in your head on first listen and production that still sounds modern, and you get a track that keeps finding new listeners. The legacy is measurable, too: in March 2024, “With or Without You” became the first U2 song to cross one billion streams on Spotify.
The bigger picture
Within U2’s catalog, “With or Without You” functions as both centerpiece and doorway. It helped The Joshua Tree become a landmark, won the band a wave of critical and fan accolades, and has remained a cornerstone of their live set for decades. Watch footage from tours across the years and you’ll see the same thing: a crowd singing every word, the band riding that long, patient build, and a finale that feels both intimate and enormous. That’s the mark of a classic—and why, nearly four decades on, this slow-burn ballad still hits with the force of revelation.
Bottom line: “With or Without You” is the sound of U2 perfecting tension and release—minimal chords, maximal feeling, and a production that turns atmosphere into drama. It didn’t just top charts; it taught a generation how powerful restraint can be.