[2] "Wild Honey" runs for 3:47 and is played in common time at a tempo of 125 beats per minute.
[3] According to guitarist The Edge, "Wild Honey" broke up the album before the next track "Peace on Earth", and its placement in the running order was a misjudgement.
[4] There was a lot of debate about whether or not "Wild Honey" should be included on All That You Can't Leave Behind, because the fun and the frivolity of the song was not something U2 are noted for.
[4] But producer Brian Eno loved it and thought it was like a Van Morrison song, and lead singer Bono wanted it on the album, saying, "it was playful and broke the mood.
Brian Hiatt of MTV considered Bono's vocals on the track to be "hoarse, gritty and soulful".