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Cover of The Joshua Tree by U2
Cover: The Joshua Tree

Song · U2

“Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2

From the album The Joshua Tree (1987)

“Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2 appears on 151 radio countdowns from 49 stations between 1987 and 2026. It was first released in 1987 on the album The Joshua Tree. Its best result is #3 on the 99.1 PLR U2 20. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #19 alternative song of 1987, #109 alternative song of all time and #67 of the '80s.

151countdowns
49stations
#3best position
0#1 finishes
2top 10 finishes
1987–2026years charted

Watch

U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name (Official Music Video)

Video from YouTube (U2VEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Where the Streets Have No Name" throws open The Joshua Tree, U2's 1987 album, and that August it followed "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" out as the record's third single. Everything hangs on The Edge's guitar: a repeating arpeggio run through a delay until it shimmers like heat off a desert road, first as the song rises up and again as it fades away.

Bono wrote the words, bristling at the idea that you can read a person's faith and income off the street they live on, an idea he tied to Belfast in particular. Getting it on tape was a fight; at one point producer Brian Eno thought about wiping the tapes and starting from scratch. He and Daniel Lanois stuck with it, adding keyboard, omnichord, tambourine and extra guitar between them, while Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. drive it like a convoy. Flood recorded it, and Steve Lillywhite and Mark Wallis mixed it.

It reached number four in the UK, the band shot the video playing on a Los Angeles rooftop, and that clip won the Grammy for Best Performance Music Video. The song has stayed in their live show ever since the Joshua Tree Tour.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1987 14 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1987 107
1987 12 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1987 91
1987 12 WLIR / WDRE Long Island, NY WLIR Top 100 Songs of 1987 99

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 89 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of the 1980s 200
1988 346 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1988) 496
1989 148 91X 91X Top 191 Songs of the 1980s (1989) 191
1989 114 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1989) 495
1990 161 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990) 299
1991 160 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) 1002
1992 142 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1994 188 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1995 130 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 153 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1996 123 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 97 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 130 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 740 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1998 155 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1998) 488
1999 117 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 17 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 87 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 222 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 67 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
2000 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 68 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 163 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2001 166 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 306 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 186 100.7 WZLX WZLX Memorial 500 (2002) 500
2002 530 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2002) 923
2002 191 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
2002 717 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 47 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 91
2003 215 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 394 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 225 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 122 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 107 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2004 43 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 533 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2004) 923
2005 306 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 548 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 105 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 490 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2005 61 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 70s & 80s 96
2006 392 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 176 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 306 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 94 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 23 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Resurrection Songs (December 2006) 107
2007 212 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 30 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2008 195 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 150 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 331 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 143 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 136 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 141 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 36 WXPN WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010) 885
2011 150 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 351 97.9 The Loop The Loop Rock N Roll 500 (2011) 500
2012 77 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 82 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2012) 500
2012 102 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 160 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 133 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2013) 500
2013 174 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2013) 500
2013 351 Big 100 BIG 500 Labor Day Countdown (2013) 500
2014 164 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 188 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 81 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 108 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2014 349 Big 100 BIG 1000 New Year's Countdown (2014) 1000
2015 16 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2015 263 I-95 I-95 Memorial Day Weekend Top 500 (2015) 500
2015 185 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2015) 500
2015 17 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 3 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR U2 20 20
2016 244 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2016) 500
2016 140 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 136 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 633 WYEP WYEP 913 Countdown 2016 913
2016 497 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2016) 500
2017 97 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2017 187 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2017) 500
2017 137 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2018 48 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 347 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2018) 500
2018 126 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 474 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 224 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 414 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 192 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2019 456 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2020 469 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 22 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 232 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 100 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 316 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2020 58 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2021 51 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s 909
2021 455 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 404 WCSX WCSX Rock & Roll 500 (2021) 499
2021 107 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 198 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2021) 500
2021 26 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2022 100 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2022) 500
2022 71 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 268 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 429 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 184 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 239 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 250 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 153 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 318 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 232 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2023 58 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of The Last 40 Years 91
2023 415 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 93 WYEP WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023 1229
2023 489 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 433 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 318 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 281 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2023 187 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 36 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 38 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places 800
2024 72 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 79 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 29 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2024 455 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 488 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 349 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 222 KQRS KQRS KQ 500 (2024) 499
2024 467 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 453 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 5 KEXP The Best Opening Tracks of All Time 738
2025 70 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 249 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 490 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 364 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 397 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 232 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2026 92 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s 498
2026 144 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 238 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 365 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500

Also listed as: Where The Streets Have No Name; Where the Streets Have No name; Where the Streets Have No Nmae; Where the Street Have No Name.

Charting alongside it in 1987

Best songs of 1987 →
  1. 1Girlfriend in a ComaThe Smiths
  2. 2With or Without YouU2
  3. 3Dear GodXTC
  4. 4Why Can't I Be You?The Cure
  5. 5StrangeloveDepeche Mode
  6. 6Lips Like SugarEcho and the Bunnymen

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