I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Remastered 2007

What's Bono looking for? The lyrics could refer to a spiritual journey or a search for love. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he said the song is "an anthem of doubt more than faith."

U2 guitarist The Edge came up with the title and melody, and Bono wrote lyrics around it. The song was released as the second single from U2's landmark 1987 album The Joshua Tree, following "With Or Without You." Both songs were #1 hits in the US.

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was influenced by gospel music. Bono wanted The Joshua Tree to explore various forms of American music they had encountered while touring there (the group is Irish). The album's co-producer, Daniel Lanois, said he nudged Bono in the gospel direction on tracks like this one. Lanois explained in the TV documentary Classic Albums: U2 The Joshua Tree: "I've always liked gospel music and I encouraged Bono to take it to that place. It was a very non-U2 thing to do at the time, to go up the street of gospel. I think it opened a door for them, to experiment with that territory... He's singing at the top of his range and there is something very compelling about somebody pushing themselves. It's like hearing Aretha Franklin almost. It jumps on you and you can't help but feel the feeling."