In 1985, U2 considered dismissing an “awful” demo. Now, it is the eighth best-selling song of the entire 1980s

U2 nearly abandoned ‘With or Without You’ after early versions left the band and producers dissatisfied. The song was revived through experimentation with a sustained-guitar sound, went on to become a major hit and helped establish the success of 1987’s The Joshua Tree.

Bono wrote the song around an inescapable relationship and later described its lyrics as “pure torment”, reflecting a conflict between artistic commitment and domestic life. The Edge’s Infinite Guitar provided the sustained notes the track needed; Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and, later, Steve Lillywhite helped shape its sound. The article’s headline calls it the eighth best-selling song of the 1980s, though the supplied text ends before giving supporting sales figures.