《With or Without You》这首歌通过细腻的情感表达，讲述了一段情感纠葛的故事。歌曲中的主人公似乎陷入了一种无法自拔的状态，无论对方在不在身边，都感到迷茫和失落。
歌词解读
I don't really do *
But lately nothing's been enough
Running on an empty cup
Think I'm gonna fall in love
开头表达了主人公内心的一种空虚感，暗示着即将发生的感情变化。
I know I should give it time
But it never feels right
Twenty ways to mess it up
Should've seen it in your eyes
Now they're burned into my mind
This is gonna be rough
这里反映了主人公意识到自己应该给这段关系更多时间，但内心却总是觉得不对劲，担心会把事情搞砸，并且对方的眼神已经深深烙印在脑海中。
Are we calling this love
Late night drives through Oregon
Can't say I miss home again
All these things I do again cause
I'm pretty lost with or without you
主人公开始质疑这种感觉是否真的就是爱情，深夜开车穿过俄勒冈州，虽然不再想念家乡，但依然感到迷茫。
I wanna call I don't know how to
Why's every song always about you
Do you ever feel the way I do
No you're not really making this easy
Not sure if you wanna see me
If you leave I wouldn't know how to
主人公想要联系对方，但不知道如何开口，所有的歌似乎都在诉说对方的故事。他怀疑对方是否也有同样的感受，并且觉得对方并没有让这段关系变得容易处理。
I'm pretty lost with or without you
这句话反复出现，强调了无论对方在不在身边，主人公都感到迷失和困惑。
Oh it's driving me insane
Something bout it feels wrong
Don't know what to tell my mom
She thinks I will never change
You can't be someone you're not
Came close paid the cost
Hear it echoing your name
Spending all this time alone
Out with people I don't know
Made me want you just the same
这种情感状态让主人公感到疯狂，他不确定如何向母亲解释，而母亲则认为他永远不会改变。尽管尝试过，但他仍然无法摆脱对对方的思念。
It made me want you just the same
Late night drives through Oregon
Can't say I miss home again
All these things I do again cause
I'm pretty lost with or without you
再次强调这种深夜开车的行为，虽然不怀念家乡，但这些行为让他更加感到迷失。
I gotta stop thinking about you
This life seems empty without you
I'll always be thankful I found you
Even if I wasn't allowed to
Nobody said this is easy
Sometimes wish you would need me
If you leave I wouldn't know how to
I'm pretty lost with or without you
主人公希望自己能够停止对对方的思念，但生活似乎没有对方就变得空洞。即便这段感情并不被允许，他依然感激遇见了对方。他希望对方也能够需要自己，但如果对方离开，他将不知所措。