"Get Out of Your Own Way" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their fourteenth studio album, Songs of Experience, and was released as the album's second single on 8 December 2017.
"Get Out of Your Own Way" | ||||
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Single by U2 | ||||
from the album Songs of Experience | ||||
Released | 8 December 2017 (2017-12-08) | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:58 | |||
Label | Island, Universal | |||
Composer(s) | U2 | |||
Lyricist(s) | Bono | |||
Producer(s) |
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U2 singles chronology | ||||
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"Get Out of Your Own Way" is lyrically addressed to the daughters of lead vocalist Bono[1] (actress Eve Hewson, and Jordan, both featured on the cover),[2] with words of encouragement to not be one's own worst enemy.[3][4] The lyrics also reference the US political crisis, mentioning Liberty receiving a "smack in the mouth".[1] Musically, the song was compared to the band's 2000 single "Beautiful Day".[5] Seguing between the end of "Get Out of Your Own Way" and the beginning of the album's next track, "American Soul", is a spoken word segment by rapper Kendrick Lamar; playing what Bono called a "cracked preacher", Lamar gives an ironic take on the Beatitudes.[1][6]
On 1 November 2017, the band officially announced details of the album's release; as part of the announcement, "Get Out of Your Own Way" was one of two songs released on music streaming services. Those who pre-ordered the album received "instant grat downloads" of "Get Out of Your Own Way" and other songs.[7] U2 performed "Get Out of Your Own Way" on the 2 December 2017 episode of American comedy television series Saturday Night Live.[8]
"Get Out of Your Own Way" was released as the album's second single on 16 January 2018,[9] with the song's music video following two days later.[10] For the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, U2 pre-recorded the performance of "Get Out of Your Own Way" on a barge in front of the Statue of Liberty.[11]
After the single release of "Get Out of Your Own Way", several remixes of the song were issued by Afrojack and Switch.[12]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Country | Date | Format | Version | Label |
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Italy[24] | 8 December 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Universal |
Various[25] | 29 December 2017 |
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Switch Remix | Interscope |
United States[9] | 16 January 2018 | Alternative radio | Original | |
Various | 26 January 2018[26] |
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Afrojack Remix | |
6 April 2018[27] | Acoustic Version | |||