Here Without You is a song by the rock band 3 Doors Down, released on July 28, 2003, as the third single from the band’s second studio album, Away from the Sun (2002). The song reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 2003 and was certified sextuple platinum in the US for selling over 6 million units. It was also successful around the world, peaking at No. 2 in Australia and reaching the top 10 in Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In an interview with Arnold, Kevin Johnson of St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the song “became an Iraq War anthem.” Arnold added.
“That’s one of those songs…a lot of people can identify with whether they’re apart for…hours or…months while (someone) is away overseas.”
He elaborated the story behind the song during an interview by Shawna Ortega of Songfacts:
“The song’s about being away from someone, or missing them. And it really doesn’t matter if you’re here without them for all day or all month. It’s about the loneliness and missing of somebody. But in a way, people take that as a little bit of a sad song, and I kind of meant it as a happy song, because it’s talking about being here without you, but she’s still with me in my dreams. And tonight, it’s only you and me, so the song was really about that dream. And being in a state of peace, because you’ve got that person there with you in your sleep. In that way I kind of meant for it to be a little bit of a happy song.”
Tracklist:
- Here Without You (album version)
Credits:
3 Doors Down
Brad Arnold: vocals
Matt Roberts: lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Henderson: guitar, backing vocals
Todd Harrell: bass guitar
Additional musicians
Josh Freese: drums
David Campbell: strings
Rick Hopkins: Hammond B3
Matthew Burgess: percussion
Bradley Kirk Arnold (September 27, 1978 – February 7, 2026)
