Bono wrote the lyrics to U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The song was released in 1987 as the second single from the band’s landmark album The Joshua Tree.
Although Bono wrote the lyrics, the song was a collaborative U2 composition. The Edge helped develop the title and musical framework, while the track grew from an earlier band demo with a distinctive drum pattern by Larry Mullen Jr. Bassist Adam Clayton and the rest of the group also shaped the finished arrangement.
The song combines rock with strong gospel influences. Its lyrics express spiritual yearning and uncertainty rather than presenting a simple statement of religious confidence. The Edge’s chiming guitar and Bono’s high-register vocal helped give the recording its characteristic sound.
Released on May 25, 1987, the single became U2’s second consecutive number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, following “With or Without You.” A frequent misconception is that Bono wrote every part of the music alone; he was specifically the lyricist, while the composition was credited to U2.