“More Than Words” is a soft acoustic ballad by Extreme, released in March 1991 as the third single from their album Pornograffitti. The song became the band’s biggest hit, known for its intimate, stripped-down sound and heartfelt lyrics, standing in contrast to their usual funk-metal style.
Lyrically, More Than Words is about expressing love through actions rather than just saying “I love you”. The track is entirely acoustic, featuring gentle fingerpicking by Nuno Bettencourt and soft, harmonious vocals from Gary Cherone. The minimalist arrangement, without drums or electric instruments, creates an intimate and emotional atmosphere, allowing the tender lyrics and vocal harmonies to shine.
The song was a massive commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and performing well internationally, including No. 2 in the UK. It helped introduce Extreme to a broader audience, though it also led some to mistakenly label them as a ballad-driven band, despite their heavier sound.