# In a Little While > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/In_a_Little_While > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/In_a_Little_While.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Little_While > Source revision: 1346624856 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2000 song by U2 This article is about the song by U2. For the song by Uncle Kracker, see [In a Little While (Uncle Kracker song)](/source/In_a_Little_While_(Uncle_Kracker_song)). "In a Little While" Song by U2 from the album All That You Can't Leave Behind Released 2000 Genre Rock Length 3:39 Label Island, Interscope Composer U2 Lyricist Bono Producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, with additional production by Richard Stannard and Julian Gallagher "**In a Little While**" is a song by Irish [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [U2](/source/U2) and the sixth track on their 10th studio album, *[All That You Can't Leave Behind](/source/All_That_You_Can't_Leave_Behind)* (2000). Although it was not released as a single from the album, it became a hit on [adult album alternative](/source/Adult_album_alternative) radio in the United States, reaching number one on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Triple-A](/source/Adult_Alternative_Airplay) chart for a single week in March 2002. ## Writing and recording The title "In a Little While" originated as a line that co-producer [Brian Eno](/source/Brian_Eno) had been toying with but not found a use for before giving it to U2.[1] The vocals of lead singer [Bono](/source/Bono) were quickly developed in a couple of improvised [takes](/source/Take) after he arrived at the studio hungover and with very little voice after a "very big night out on the town" and only two hours of sleep. Guitarist [the Edge](/source/The_Edge) said that Bono sang "this incredible improvised lyric and melody", while Bono described his voice as one "that was up all night".[2] The Edge achieved a clean guitar tone from plugging his 1950s [Fender Stratocaster](/source/Fender_Stratocaster) directly into a [Fender Bassman](/source/Fender_Bassman) amplifier. After the band was done with the track, the Edge said they found it too traditional and not unique enough.[3] As a result, they took it to [Windmill Lane Studios](/source/Windmill_Lane_Studios) for [Richard Stannard](/source/Biffco) to work on. Stannard stripped the song down from its layers, found a section of the rhythm track that he liked,[1] and added it as a [loop](/source/Loop_(music)) over drummer [Larry Mullen Jr.](/source/Larry_Mullen_Jr.)'s drums.[3] The change solidified the song and validated the band's revamped songwriting approach of "build[ing] up the material organically, and then add[ing] more modern elements on top of it", rather than building songs from electronics.[3] The lyrics are addressed to Bono's wife, [Ali Hewson](/source/Ali_Hewson). Bono said that when they were younger, people at school used to call him a "baby-snatcher" for dating a girl a year younger than him. She is referenced in the lines "A little girl with Spanish eyes, when I saw her first in a pram they pushed her by / Oh my, my how you've grown". Bono said that his idea for the song was "the temporal nature of being", but that setting it during a hangover added "comedy and earthiness that balances the philosophical pretensions". Midway through the song is a lyrical tangent that includes the lines "A man dreams one day to fly / A man takes a rocket ship into the sky". The section was informed by Bono reminiscing at the turn of the millennium about the awe he felt over technological marvels such as man landing on the Moon as well as his frustration with the lack of progress in solving world problems like poverty and disease.[2] ## Live performances The song was played at over half of the shows on the [Elevation Tour](/source/Elevation_Tour). It was played for most of the first leg, about half of the second leg, and not at all on the third leg. On the live concert film, *[Elevation 2001: Live from Boston](/source/Elevation_2001%3A_Live_from_Boston)*, Bono introduces the song by explaining it was the last song [Joey Ramone](/source/Joey_Ramone) heard on his deathbed. He notes his honour of having one of his favorite musicians loving a song of his.[4] Bono said that it became a [gospel song](/source/Gospel_song) after he heard about Ramone, and U2 subsequently dedicated the song to him for the rest of the tour.[5] [The Killers](/source/The_Killers)' frontman [Brandon Flowers](/source/Brandon_Flowers) performed the song as a duet with Bono in [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas) in 2006 on the [Vertigo Tour](/source/Vertigo_Tour). This was one of only two performances of the song on the Vertigo Tour. However, it was snippeted almost forty times during performances of "[I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For](/source/I_Still_Haven't_Found_What_I'm_Looking_For)".[6] During the performance of "In a Little While", U2 made contact with Belgian astronaut [Frank DeWinne](/source/Frank_DeWinne) who read the lyrics. The song was also played several times during the [U2 360° Tour](/source/U2_360%C2%B0_Tour).[6] During the [YouTube](/source/YouTube) [live-streamed](/source/Live-streamed) concert from the [Rose Bowl](/source/Rose_Bowl_(stadium)), released on the 2010 *[U2360° at the Rose Bowl](/source/U2360%C2%B0_at_the_Rose_Bowl)* concert video, lyrics from "In a Little While" were read by Belgian astronaut [Frank DeWinne](/source/Frank_DeWinne) from the [International Space Station](/source/International_Space_Station). ## Personnel **U2** - [Bono](/source/Bono) – [vocals](/source/Singing) - [The Edge](/source/The_Edge) – [guitar](/source/Guitar) - [Adam Clayton](/source/Adam_Clayton) – [bass guitar](/source/Bass_guitar) - [Larry Mullen Jr.](/source/Larry_Mullen_Jr.) – [drums](/source/Drum_kit), [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument) **Additional musicians** - [Brian Eno](/source/Brian_Eno) – [keyboards](/source/Electronic_keyboard) - [Daniel Lanois](/source/Daniel_Lanois) – guitar ## Charts ### Weekly charts Chart (2002) Peak position US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7] 1 ### Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position US Triple-A (Billboard)[8] 11 ## See also - [List of covers of U2 songs - In a Little While](/source/List_of_covers_of_U2_songs_(A-M)#In_a_Little_While) ## References **Footnotes** 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-stokes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-stokes_1-1) Stokes (2005), p. 154 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-U2_by_U2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-U2_by_U2_2-1) McCormick (2006), pp. 294, 299 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guitarplayer_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guitarplayer_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-guitarplayer_3-2) Fox, Darrin (January 2001). "Basic Instincts: The Edge Brings the U2 Sound Full Circle". *[Guitar Player](/source/Guitar_Player)*. Vol. 35, no. 1. pp. 100–108. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hamilton, Hamish (Director) (2009-09-21). [*Elevation 2001: U2 Live from Boston*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301962/) (Motion picture). Boston, Massachusetts: Island/Interscope. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** McCormick (2006), p. 305 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-u2gigs_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-u2gigs_6-1) ["In a Little While"](http://www.u2gigs.com/In_A_Little_While-s14.html). *U2Gigs.com*. Retrieved 21 September 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_U2_7-0)** "[U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/U2/chart-history/AAA)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved 31 January 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "The 2002 Allstars: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". *[Airplay Monitor](/source/Airplay_Monitor)*. Vol. 10, no. 51. 20 December 2002. p. 52. **Bibliography** - [Stokes, Niall](/source/Niall_Stokes) (2005). *U2: Into the Heart – The Stories Behind Every Song*. New York: [Thunder's Mouth Press](/source/Thunder's_Mouth_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56025-765-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56025-765-2). - U2 (2006). [McCormick, Neil](/source/Neil_McCormick) (ed.). [*U2 by U2*](https://archive.org/details/u2byu200u2ne). London: [HarperCollins](/source/HarperCollins). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-00-719668-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-00-719668-7).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list)) v t e U2 songs Discography Covers Three "Out of Control" Boy "I Will Follow" "An Cat Dubh" and "Into the Heart" "A Day Without Me" "The Electric Co." October "Gloria" "Fire" "October" War "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "Seconds" "New Year's Day" "Two Hearts Beat as One" "Red Light" "40" The Unforgettable Fire "A Sort of Homecoming" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "The Unforgettable Fire" "4th of July" "Bad" "Elvis Presley and America" "MLK" The Joshua Tree "Where the Streets Have No Name" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "With or Without You" "Bullet the Blue Sky" "Running to Stand Still" "Red Hill Mining Town" "In God's Country" "Trip Through Your Wires" "One Tree Hill" "Exit" "Mothers of the Disappeared" Rattle and Hum "Desire" "Hawkmoon 269" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "Angel of Harlem" "When Love Comes to Town" "Heartland" "God Part II" "Bullet the Blue Sky" "All I Want Is You" Achtung Baby "Zoo Station" "Even Better Than the Real Thing" "One" "Until the End of the World" "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" "So Cruel" "The Fly" "Mysterious Ways" "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World" "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" "Acrobat" "Love Is Blindness" Zooropa "Zooropa" "Numb" "Lemon" "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" "Dirty Day" "The Wanderer" Pop "Discothèque" "Mofo" "If God Will Send His Angels" "Staring at the Sun" "Last Night on Earth" "Gone" "Please" The Best of 1980–1990 "Sweetest Thing" All That You Can't Leave Behind "Beautiful Day" "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" "Elevation" "Walk On" "Kite" "In a Little While" "Wild Honey" "Peace on Earth" "When I Look at the World" "New York" The Best of 1990–2000 "Electrical Storm" How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb "Vertigo" "Miracle Drug" "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" "City of Blinding Lights" "All Because of You" "A Man and a Woman (song)" "One Step Closer" "Original of the Species" "Yahweh" U218 Singles "Window in the Skies" No Line on the Horizon "No Line on the Horizon" "Magnificent" "Moment of Surrender" "Unknown Caller" "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" "Get On Your Boots" "Stand Up Comedy" "Fez – Being Born" "White as Snow" "Breathe" "Cedars of Lebanon" Songs of Innocence "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" "Every Breaking Wave" "Song for Someone" Songs of Experience "You're the Best Thing About Me" "Get Out of Your Own Way" "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" Non-album singles "Another Day" "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" "A Celebration" "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" "Invisible" "Atomic City" Soundtrack singles "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" "The Hands That Built America" "Winter" "Ordinary Love" "Your Song Saved My Life" --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [In a Little While](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Little_While) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Little_While?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.