All Because Of You
by U2

Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In their younger days, U2 aspired to play big cities like New York and London. They knew if they could succeed in those places, they had made it. This song deals with how that excitement and innocence can fade over the years to where it becomes more routine playing sold out shows in New York City.
  • The band traveled on the back of a flatbed trailer to film the music video, and many people in Manhattan stopped what they were doing and ran to catch Bono and the band. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Gautam - Rockville, MD
  • Adam Clayton told Q Magazine November 2004: "Often when we have something which is straight rock it never goes anywhere - we just keep churning it around. But this was one or two takes."
  • In the band's book U2 by U2, co-written by Neil McCormick, Bono explains: "One of the things that underpins our work is the idea that you can begin again and that you can reinvent yourself, but also that you can go back to the beginning, that you can be free of the mistakes that you've made. So in 'All Because Of You' there are the lyrics: I'm alive, I'm being born, I've just arrived, I'm at the door of the place I started out from and I want back inside."
  • "The riff for 'All Because Of You' came out of the now legendary Monaco sessions," says U2's lead guitarist, The Edge. "We just wanted to make it a piece of great, raunchy, twenty-first century rock 'n' roll. It's probably the only real rock 'n' roll song we have ever written."

Comments: 9

  • Kevin from Delmar NyIt's because of you...I am. We all need one another to be who we are. The slower ones sure and the bullet trains.
  • Jim from San Diego, Ca"All because of you, I am" has two meanings.
    1. He is saying "all because of you, I am" meaning all because of you, I am, alive, a sucess, etc...
    2. He is also acknowledging God. "All because of You, I am" meaning all because of you, God. The God in the Bible is known as the Great I Am!
    It's a play on words and it's brilliant!
  • Ty from Kitchener, CanadaIt's about God. the first verse is saying he was privilaged but he knew there was more to life. the first quarter of the second verse is saying he thought he didnt need god, the second quarter is saying intlectualy God is a bullet train and he is a tortise,the last half is saying some people are very sinful compared to him but his burden is still too heavy to bear. the third verse sounds like he becomes a christian and goes to heaven.
  • Anonymous from Dixon , CaI think you are wrong. It is definately about starting their career in big cities. The first verse basically means that they were stuck in a big city, and they loved it. The second verse means that people loved U2, but U2 did not love them as much. The chorus is self-explanitory, but the third verse is a little bit tricky. It's a little confusing, but it means that the band was basically trying to be a big city man, but everyone they knew in that city already was. The fourth verse is saying that they can go on the road and become different people, but when they come back they will act like they always have. the final verse after the chorus is saying that they will definately always be a part in that city, and no matter what it does to them, they will always love the city. See, it is not about God, because, why would Bono want to die. It is not about his mom, because she is dead. It is about big cities that they started their musical career in, like Chicago and New York.
  • Matt from Los Angeles, CaI actually just assumed it was about Bono's dad.
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtBono has said that this could be about anything the listener perceives it to be. God, a family member, a friend, a lover, etc...
  • Trenton from Minneapolis , MnIt's about God. I think that's pretty easy to see.
  • Rick from Humboldt, IaTHis song is definitely a tribute to his mom. I don't see what else it could be about.
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtHmmm....I always thought it was about something completely different, but good song anyhow.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.