More Than Words

"More Than Words" is a ballad written by and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone (with harmony vocals from Bettencourt), it was released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti. The song was a departure from the funk metal that had permeated the band's style previous to its release. On March 23, 1991, "More Than Words" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 81 and soon after reached number one. It also reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, where the group had had success before its American breakthrough. Though they had made a few European charts before, this brought the band to their first mainstream success in the United States. Extreme followed "More Than Words" with another power ballad, "Hole Hearted," which was slightly faster paced than "More Than Words", but nevertheless topped at number 4 in the United States and number 3 in Canada.

[Verse 1: Gary Cherone] Saying "I love you" Is not the words I want to hear from you It's not that I want you Not to say, but if you only knew How easy it would be to show me how you feel More than words is all you have to do to make it real Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me 'Cause I'd already know [Chorus] What would you do if my heart was torn in two? More than words to show you feel That your love for me is real What would you say if I took those words away? Then you couldn't make things new Just by saying, "I love you" Da-de-da-la-de-da La-de-dei-dei-dei More than words Da-de-da-la-de-da [Verse 2: Gary Cherone] Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand All you have to do is close your eyes And just reach out your hands and touch me Hold me close, don't ever let me go More than words is all I ever needed you to show Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me 'Cause I'd already know [Chorus] What would you do if my heart was torn in two? More than words to show you feel That your love for me is real What would you say if I took those words away? Then you couldn't make things new Just by saying, "I love you" Da-de-da-la-de-da La-de-dei-dei-dei More than words Da-de-da-la-de-da La-de-dei-dei-dei More than words La-de-dei-dei-dei La-de-dei-dei-dei La-de-dei-dei-dei More than words More than words [Outro] More than words