Suicide and mental illness are the main themes of this song. "Our emotions aren't just glossy, throwaway things," Bono told NME in 1982. "Some people saw 'A Day Without Me' as escapism, but it was about suicide." "The Electric Co.," another song on the Boy album, also looks at mental health. That one is about one of Bono's friends who was institutionalized.
This was the first song Steve Lillywhite produced for U2. After the group signed with Island Records, the label had Lillywhite helm the track to see if he was compatible with the band. He was - Lillywhite ended up producing their first three albums, setting them on course for superstardom.
This was released as a single two months before appearing on Boy. It's one of U2's earliest songs.
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