"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" Lyrics by U2


"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" lyrics by U2


The lyric was written by lead singer Bono as a tribute to his father, Bob Hewson, who died in 2001. Bono sang this at his funeral. In the video for the song it was prefaced with the following from Bono "My father worked in the post office by day and sang opera by night. We lived on the north side of Dublin in a place called Cedarwood Road. He had a lot of attitude. He gave some to me - and a voice. I wish I'd known him better."

"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" song lyrics by U2
 

The song shares similar fatherly sentiments with Kite from All That You Can't Leave Behind.

SYCMIOYO debuted at number 1 on the UK charts, the same place as Vertigo, making it the first time a U2 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, had two number ones in the UK.

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own Lyrics


Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

We fight all the time
You and I, that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need, I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can you hear me when I sing
You're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me
Well, hey now
Still got to let you know
A house doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
Best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

-

The song's theme stands out as a poignant exploration of familial relationships, vulnerability, and the realization of interdependence. Rooted in Bono's experience with his father, Bob Hewson, particularly during his father's terminal illness, the song delves into the complex dynamics of a father-son relationship. The lyrics express a blend of pride, regret, and a deep-seated need for mutual understanding and reconciliation. 

The refrain, "You don't have to go it alone," encapsulates the song's core message: the acknowledgment that despite differences and challenges, there is an essential, unbreakable bond that connects us, especially in familial ties. 

This realization of not being able to navigate life's difficulties in isolation is a universal theme, resonating with the listener's own experiences of seeking and offering support within their relationships. The song's emotional depth is further amplified by its musical composition, which mirrors the ebb and flow of the complicated yet profound relationship it depicts. Through this track, U2 not only provides a window into Bono's personal life but also touches on the broader human experience of grappling with pride, the pain of impending loss, and the humility in accepting that sometimes, we can't make it on our own.

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