What The World Can’t Give Me is a song written by Mike Peters which first appeared as a studio recording on the Breathe album released in October 1994. It was one of the songs that formed the backbone of the live sets when Mike Peters and The Poets of Justice made their live debut in July 1992. A version of the song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London on 7th September 1992 but this was not released until March 1997.
There has to be musically challenging pieces; not just for the band but for the listener. I wanted to make a record where there is always something to discover with every play. I feel this song will become a real grower. I wanted to avoid the obvious, the ‘rock ballad’ that was latent in the song’s initial structure. I wanted to give this song a depth and a substructure to which the listener can keep coming back to. A musical form, to go hand in hand with the tone of the lyric, and so, by using instrumentation not normally used in rock ‘n roll, (like the classical guitar), I hope to have achieved the right effect. There is no simple way to fulfill the need of the song’s lyric and in that same way, the musical arrangement must also remain elusive – Mike Peters – 21st Century Fanzine #2.
1994 Breathe album recording
Running length 5:10
Written by Mike Peters & Jules Jones
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Voice, Acoustic Guitar
Field Marshall Slug – Lead Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals
Jules Jones – Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Owen Thomas – Drums, Percussion, Programming, Backing Vocals
Brychan Llŷr – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Emyr Penlan – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Recorded at Sain Studios, Caernarfon, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
Mixed by Risteard O’Moanaigh and Field Marshall Slug
Engineered by Gethyn Jones
Mastered by Nilesh Patel at The Exchange
Alternative studio / session recordings
1992 Abbey Road Sessions Recorded Live 7.9.1992
2020 Big Night In Live-Stream
(v) 7.9.1992 – Mike Peters And the Poets Of Justice – Abbey Road Sessions Recorded live 7.9.1992
Running length 6:04
Written by Mike Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Voice, Acoustic Guitar
Ethan Johns – Electric Guitar
Jules Jones – Piano, Hammond Organ, Backing Vocals
David Watkins-Clarke – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Martyn Barker – Drums
Steve Bell – Percussion
Produced by Michael Peters
Engineered by Mike Jarratt
Assistant Engineering by Darren Godwin
Mixed by Andy Taylor.
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England 7.9.1992 – Afternoon session (closed)
2nd May 2020. Mike Peters presents The Alarm – Big Night In broadcast for Season 1 Episode 5 live stream
Running Length 2:50
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Guitar
Recorded for Big Night In, Dyserth, Wales
Appears on the album The Alarm Music Will Keep Us Strong Disc 2 released in 2020
Album appearances and discography of studio / session recordings
The following are Worldwide releases unless stated
10th October 1994 : Mike Peters – Breathe
Released on double vinyl album by CRAI records catalogue number CRAI 47LP
Released on CD album by CRAI records catalogue number CRAI 47CD
Original 1994 Sain Studios recording
(v) March 1997 : Mike Peters and The Poets Of Justice – Abbey Road Sessions Recorded Live 7.9.1992
Released on CD by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C003
1992 Abbey Road Non audience session recording
November 2008 : Mike Peters – Breathe The Acoustic Sessions Deluxe edition
Released on 3 disc CD/DVD box set by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C0466
Disc 1 Original 1994 Sain Studios recording remastered
10th September 2020 : The Alarm – Music Will Keep Us Strong (Disc 2)
Released on CD as a 4 disc set as The Alarm Music Will Keep Us Strong – Disc 2 by First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C118
Recorded on 2nd May 2020 for the Big Night In broadcast from Season 1 Episode 7 live stream recording
Officially released live recordings ~ Audio
The following was a Worldwide release
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 5.08. Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on a 4 disc CD boxset as Alarmstock III Volume 1 London – Set 2 Scattered Across This Land by the Twenty First Century Recording Company
Lyrics ~ Abbey Road Sessions Recorded Live 7.9.1992
I want to believe in the heavens above me (yeah)
I want to have faith in all I see
To put my trust in God and man, oh lord
To know that there is more to life
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what I can never find
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what a life time cannot satisfy
I want to see what cannot be revealed
I want to reach into my dreams
To find that there will be an answer, oh lord
To see beyond the darkest night
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what I can never find
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what a life time cannot satisfy
I want to believe all the fighting is over
I want to have faith in a lasting peace
To trust that all will be forgiven
To know in love we never die
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what I can never find
I want what the world can’t give me tonight
I want what a life time cannot satisfy
Page updated 17/05/2026)