‘Never Tear Us Apart’ is a power ballad by Australian rock band INXS, released in June 1988 as the fourth single from their sixth studio album, Kick (1987). The single reached No. 24 in the UK, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. In the US, it reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The music was written by keyboardist Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues-style demo; INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence wrote the lyrics, which describe an instant connection between two people who form a bond that will last forever. Hutchence had many passionate relationships in his lifetime, many with celebrities like Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen, but he was never married. He did have a daughter in 1996 with Paula Yates. When Andrew Farriss wrote the track, it was up-tempo, in the vein of Gene Vincent. Hutchence had him keep slowing it down to accommodate his lyric until the song became a ballad with a prominent string section. The song is layered with synthesizers, containing dramatic pauses before the instrumental breaks. Kirk Pengilly lends a saxophone solo near the end.
The music video for the song, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations in Prague along with "Guns in the Sky" and "New Sensation", all directed by Richard Lowenstein. As of December 2022, the video has a total view count of more than 93 million on YouTube from two versions, making it their most popular song on the platform.
After Hutchence's death in 1997, his coffin was carried out of St Andrew's Cathedral by the remaining members of INXS and his younger brother Rhett as ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ was played in the background. In February 2014, after the Australian TV screening of INXS: Never Tear Us Apart mini-series, ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ charted again in Australia via download sales. It peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart, surpassing its original peak position of No. 14 back in 1988.
In 2021, it was listed at No. 282 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".
Label – WEASongwriters – Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence
Producer – Chris Thomas
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Don't ask me
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart
[Chorus]
I… I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart
[Verse 2]
We could live for a thousand years
But if I hurt you
I'd make wine from your tears
I told you that we could fly
'Cause we all have wings
But some of us don't know why
[Chorus]
I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never, ever tear us apart
[Saxophone Solo]
[Chorus]
I… (Don't ask me)
I was standing (You know it's true)
Mmm, you were there (Worlds collided)
Two worlds collided (We're shining through)
And they could never tear us apart
[Chorus]
You… (Don't ask me)
You were standing (You know it's true)
I was there (Worlds collided)
Two worlds collided (We're shining through)
And they could never tear us apart
[Outro]
I… I was standing
You were there