Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is a song by rock band U2 and the third track from their 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The song was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2005 and it debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. Originally titled "Tough", the song is about lead singer Bono's relationship with his dying father. The song won awards for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Song of the Year" at the 2006 Grammy Awards.
Background
The lyrics were written by lead singer Bono as a tribute to his father, Bob Hewson, who died of cancer in 2001; Bono sang the song at his funeral. The video to the song begins with a note from Bono about his father, saying "I wish I'd known him better."
The song was released worldwide on 7 February 2005. The song was added to BBC Radio 1's "C List" Playlist on 29 December 2004. It moved to the B List a week later and to the A List a week after that. The song was also playlisted by XFM. The song debuted at #1 in the UK, marking the first time that a U2 album has produced two UK #1 hits (following "Vertigo" in November 2004.)
The single was also the third release in the United States. It reached #15 on the Adult Top 40 chart and #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in April 2005. It also reached #97 on the Hot 100.
The Complete U2 features a demo version of the song with a different verse but without the falsetto chorus line. On the album's deluxe edition bonus DVD is an acoustic performance of the song by Bono and The Edge.
An image screen depicting the lyrics appears on the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb bonus DVD as an easter egg.
It was featured on the second season of The O.C., episode 4, titled "The New Era". It was also featured on the Ugly Betty episode "I See Me, I.C.U.". It played after it was revealed that Bradford Meade, father of Daniel Meade died, drawing parallels to the song's concept.
Track listings
| Lyrics |
Music |
| 1. |
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (radio edit 96 BPM) |
Bono |
U2 |
4:51 |
| 2. |
"Fast Cars" (Jacknife Lee Mix) |
Bono with The Edge |
U2 |
3:28 |
| Lyrics |
Music |
| 1. |
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (radio edit 96 BPM) |
Bono |
U2 |
4:51 |
| 2. |
"Ave Maria" (Jacknife Lee Mix) |
Bono (English lyrics) |
Franz Schubert |
3:35 |
| 3. |
"Vertigo" (Redanka Power Mix) |
Bono with The Edge |
U2 |
7:32 |
| Lyrics |
Music |
| 1. |
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (radio edit 96 BPM) |
Bono |
U2 |
4:51 |
| 2. |
"Fast Cars" (Jacknife Lee Mix) |
Bono with The Edge |
U2 |
3:28 |
| 3. |
"Vertigo" (Trent Reznor ReMix) |
Bono with The Edge |
U2 |
3:38 |
| 4. |
"Vertigo" (Redanka Power Mix) |
Bono with The Edge |
U2 |
7:32 |
| 5. |
"Ave Maria" (Jacknife Lee Mix) |
Bono (English lyrics) |
Franz Schubert |
3:35 |
| 1. |
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (video – live from HQ, filmed during Radio 1 session, 16th November 2004) |
5:15 |
| 2. |
"Vertigo" (video) |
3:11 |
| 3. |
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (audio only) |
5:05 |
| 4. |
"Vertigo" (Trent Reznor Remix – audio only) |
3:38 |
Charts
See also
References
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Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas - "Smooth" (2000) · Adam Clayton, David Evans, Larry Mullen, Jr. & Paul Hewson - "Beautiful Day" (2001) · Alicia Keys - "Fallin'" (2002) · Jesse Harris - "Don't Know Why" (2003) · Richard Marx & Luther Vandross - "Dance with My Father" (2004) · John Mayer - "Daughters" (2005) · Adam Clayton, David Evans, Larry Mullen, Jr. & Paul Hewson - "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (2006) · Emily Burns Irwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson - "Not Ready to Make Nice" (2007) · Amy Winehouse - "Rehab" (2008) · Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin - "Viva la Vida" (2009)
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- Complete list
- (1960s)
- (1970s)
- (1980s)
- (1990s)
- (2000s)
- (2010s)
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