I Will Follow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "I Will Follow" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| UK cover | ||
| Single by U2 | ||
| from the album Boy | ||
| Released | October 1980 | |
| Format | 7" vinyl | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:37 | |
| Label | Columbia / Island | |
| Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| U2 singles chronology | ||
| "A Day Without Me" (1980) |
"I Will Follow" (1980) |
"Fire" (1981) |
| Alternate Covers | ||
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| U.S. / Canada cover | ||
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| New Zealand cover | ||
| Boy track listing | ||
| N/A | "I Will Follow" (1) |
"Twilight" (2) |
| Under a Blood Red Sky track listing | ||
| "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" (2) |
"I Will Follow" (3) |
"Party Girl" (4) |
| The Best of 1980-1990 track listing | ||
| "Where the Streets Have No Name" (7) |
"I Will Follow" (8) |
"The Unforgettable Fire" (9) |
"I Will Follow" is the opening track from U2's debut album, Boy. It was written by Bono about the tragic death of his mother, who died of a brain hemorrhage at the funeral of her father. The song was released as a single, and has since become a fan favorite live; it is the only song U2 has performed on every tour since they released their first album. It appeared on the compilation album The Best of 1980-1990.
"I Will Follow" had a second single release as a live version in the Netherlands and Germany in 1981, and a third release in the U.S., lifted from the Under a Blood Red Sky album, in 1983.
It is one of the band's biggest hits, and the most frequently performed, at over 757 performances[1]. It has been played extensively on every tour (except for Zoo TV where it only made about a dozen appearances). The Edge has always played this song on his favorite guitar, the Gibson Explorer. The only exceptions were Lovetown Tour and Popmart Tour. On Lovetown, it was segued into directly after "Where The Streets Have No Name," during which Edge used a yellow Fender Stratocaster with Lace Sensor pickups. In 1997 on the Popmart Tour, the song was segued into immediately after "Mofo," for which Edge used a Gibson Les Paul Custom.
The song appears on the live albums/DVDs Live from Boston 1981, Under a Blood Red Sky, Live from the Point Depot, Popmart: Live from Mexico City and Elevation: Live from Boston. It also appears on the bonus DVD that is included with the U218 Singles compilation and as a bonus track for UK/Australia releases of the CD.
Contents |
[edit] Track listings
[edit] Version 1
- "I Will Follow" (Album Version) – 3:37
- "Boy/Girl" (Live from London, September 22, 1980) – 3:24
This was the 7" version released in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
[edit] Version 2
- "I Will Follow" (Album Version) – 3:37
- "Out of Control" (Live from Boston, March 6, 1981) – 4:25
This was the 7" release in the U.S. and Canada. The cover features the same image from the U.S. and Canada releases of Boy to avoid accusations of pedophilia due to the image of the naked boy.
[edit] Version 3
- "I Will Follow" (Live from Hattem, May 14, 1982) – 3:51
- "Gloria" (Album Version) – 4:12
This was the 1982 live release in Germany and The Netherlands. The cover features the same image from the original release of Boy.
[edit] Version 4
- "I Will Follow" (Live from West Germany August 20, 1983) – 3:40
- "Two Hearts Beat as One" (Import Mix) – 3:42
This was the 1983 live single released to promote Under a Blood Red Sky in the U.S. The single was released in a generic red sleeve with no cover artwork.
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] 1981 Release
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "I Will Follow" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | #20 |
[edit] 1983 Release
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "I Will Follow" | US Billboard Hot 100 | #81 |
