Mariah's cover of “Without You,” originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970, was chosen as the third single from her Music Box album. “I used to love the song ‘Without You’ when I was a little girl and I remember that it always made me cry and I always thought it was such a beautiful song,” Mariah said in 1993. “I heard it again when I was in a restaurant and I was like, ‘I love this song, this is such a great song, I haven't heard it in so long’ and I just decided that I wanted to cover it.”
In the United States, “Without You” became commercially available as a double-sided single with “Never Forget You” on January 25, 1994. The single peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent thirteen weeks in the Top 10. “Without You” was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America on March 27, 2022.
“Without You” became Mariah's first number-one single in the United Kingdom after debuting at the top spot and spending four weeks atop the Official Singles Chart. It ended 1994 as the year's seventh best-selling single in the country and was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on December 11, 2020. “Without You” also enjoyed a massive success across Europe, topping the singles charts in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.
In Australia, “Without You” became Mariah's first song to enter the Top 5, peaking at number three during the week of April 3, 1994. The song remained in the Top 10 for twelve consecutive weeks and was certified 2x Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association on September 19, 2019.
Mariah's performance of “Without You” from her 1993 Here Is Mariah Carey TV special taped at the Proctor's Theatre was used as the song's music video.
“Without You” was released as a double A-side with “Never Forget You” in the United States on January 25, 1994. The Single, including both songs, was available on CD and cassette.
The European “Without You” Single was issued on CD and Cassette including “Never Forget You” as the B-side. The live version of “Dreamlover” from Mariah's concert at Proctor's Theatre was added as a third track on the Maxi Single, available on CD. “Without You” was released on Vinyl as a double A-side with “Never Forget You,” with the 7" Vinyl including both songs and the 12" Vinyl adding the live version of “Dreamlover.”
In the United Kingdom, “Without You” was released as a double A-side with “Never Forget You.” CD 1 includes the live version of “Dreamlover” from Mariah's concert at Proctor's Theatre as a bonus track. CD 2 was titled The Ballads's CD and includes “Without You,” “Vision Of Love,” “I'll Be There” and “Love Takes Time.” The Single was available on Cassette, including “Without You” and “Never Forget You.”
The Australian “Without You / Never Forget You” Single, including both songs, was issued on CD and Cassette.
On February 21, 1994, “Without You” was released in Japan as a double A-side with “Never Forget You.” The Single was available on 3" CD.
No I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way
The story goes
You always smile but in your eyes
Your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there
But then I let you go
And now it's only fair
That I should let you know
What you should know
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't live
I can't give anymore
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't live
I can't give anymore
Well I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way
The story goes
You always smile but in your eyes
Your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't live
I can't give anymore
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't give
I can't give anymore
Written by William Peter Ham, Tom Evans.
Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
