So What
CC & Lee Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanna know
Umm
All I really wanna know
Took you so long baby
Straight out of a film or a magazine
Were you real or make believe
Watching you looked just like a dream
Blue jeans high heel shoes and baseball hat

Leather jacket, matching bag
Passed you by but saw you turn back
From that day I've been making my move
Hoping the feeling was mutual
From the start you had nothing to loose
All my intentions I thought you knew
I wanna know
What took you so long to be mine
I felt this way for some time now
What took you so long to give your heart
Just to hold you in my arms
I need your affection
Just to be around you nothing I wouldn't do
And every moment I spent second-guessing
Wondering what you like
How could I make you mine
How could I keep this bottle inside
Hiding away behind my disguise
Tell me why we've wasted so much time
Instead of taking it to the sky
What took you so long to be mine
I felt this way for some time now
What took you so long to give your heart
Just to hold you in my arms
Wish you could see just what I see
I've been feeling you for so long
I'm in a dream it's ecstasy
I hope it lasts forever more
What took you so long to be mine
I felt this way for some time now
What took you so long to give your heart
Just to hold you in my arms
What took you so long
Took you so long
Took you so long
I wanna know
What took you so long
Took you so long
Took you so long
What took you so long
Took you so long
Took you so long

What took you so long
Took you so long

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to CC & Lee's song "So What" seems to be a conversation between two people who haven't seen each other in a while. The first person is excited to see the second person and asks them about what's new and how the scene has been with them. They express how much they have missed the second person and that they've been gone for too long. The second person is also glad to see the first person and they both seem to be winning just by being in each other's presence. The first person invites the second person to stay home and not roam anymore, indicating that they want to spend more time together.

The song appears to be about rekindling an old flame or reconnecting with a friend after being separated for a long time. The excitement and joy expressed in the lyrics show that the person is happy to be around the other person and suggests a desire for a deeper connection.

Line by Line Meaning

So tell me babe, what's new?
Asking the person how they are doing and wanting to know if anything new has happened in their life.

And how's the scene with you?
Wanting to know how the person is doing and if everything is going well in their life.

Gee, it's good to see you, babe!
Expressing excitement and happiness to see the person after being apart for a long time.

Yeah, I missed you so,
Admitting that the person was missed greatly while they were apart.

How you'll never know!
There is no way to fully express or describe how much the person was missed.

You walked in,
Describing the moment when the person arrived and entered the room.

Lights went on
A metaphor for feeling happy and excited when the person arrived.

All over my face!
Showing how the happiness and excitement was reflected in the person's facial expression.

You lit up the place,
Describing how the person's arrival made the place brighter and more lively.

And you've been gone
Acknowledging that the person was away for a period of time.

Just too long now!
Feeling like the person was gone for an extended period of time and it was too long to be apart.

You're glad to see me too!
Feeling happy and relieved that the other person is also excited to see them.

Hey, my world is spinning!
Expressing how everything feels so exciting and new in the moment.

Now I know I'm winning!
Feeling like everything is going well and they are in a good place in life.

You stay home now,
Asking the other person to stay close and not be apart for so long again.

Don't ever roam now!
Asking the other person to not wander or be away for too long again in the future.

And I'll say, babe,
Promising to express how happy and excited they are to see the other person again.

"It's good to see you!".
Expressing happiness and excitement to see the other person again after being apart for a long time.

Gee, it's good to see you, babe!
Expressing excitement and happiness once again at the end of the song to see the other person again after being apart.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Paul Watson, Tyrone Henry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

coog houblaga

3y↑10

I nearly fell off my chair when i saw him with a telecaster, but then i just listened and admired as usual, what a great guitarist, they don't get much better than Larry Carlton !

Andy Butler

Beautiful tone and musicality... modern day Kenny Burrell

Andrew Larson

7y↑72

This is one if the greatest guitar solos right here!! Larry Carlton is FANTASTIC!

Matt Ayars

He’s just the best. He’s getting better with age too.

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

Check “kid Charlemagne”, “wanted dead or alive”, “peg” all amazing solos too..But yes ive never heard larry shred!😍🔥

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

4y↑2

Tom Cass Both amazing

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

Gustavo Martínez 😂😂😂

Gustavo Martínez

LARRY FUCKS GUTHRIE GOVAN.

Richard Gagliano

6y↑4

Larry Carlton never ceases to amaze me, and on a Telecaster, wow! Smokin’ band too!

Keith Ling

13y↑4

It goes into Room 335 after the drum solo. Very nice performance. Without a doubt, Larry is the king of the comp. If anyone can do jazz on a Tele, it's Larry.

Mac

5y↑11

Rare to see Larry max-out playing, Jesus his bebop improv skills are insane I had no idea!

18echosf

7y↑15

Awesome playing from all! There is so much going in! And Larry.........Oh My! So melodic throughout the tune, including his blistering solo and fantastic fills! His feel for the guitar just totally knocks me out!

j g

3y↑1

WOW!! These guys were in the pocket! Drummer and bassist were solid. Nice to see Larry play a Tele!

m t

No matter how many times I see Larry, I am always astounded by his musicianship. Light years ahead.

Dog-gone

6y↑2

Awesome Trio. Great bass n drums, Larry just kills it as usual. That Tele is a 51 model with a great back story. Keith Richards was shown it as it was for sale but he had too many so it ended up being shown to LC and the rest is history. Larry said the back pick up screams.

A Face in the Crowd

7y↑19

Must be fun to be able to call a tune, unrehearsed, and see where it goes -- in front of a Montreux audience.

Daunier Thompson

5y↑8

As a jazz musician your required to be able to do that or you won’t be able to make it in that line of work

frisell1968_الله أكبر

13y↑2

wow! never heard Larry shred! I'm speechless!

Herr Friberger

5y↑3

Is the word improvisation totally forgotten these days??

deathlesshorsie

8y↑11

I could ride on this groove all freaking day - so.fucking.hip.

FULL MOON

6y↑5

Well..., there are only three basic chords in blues (may be a few more if one wants to sound more be-bop ish), and even less in tunes such as "So What" or "Maiden Voyage". It took guys like Miles, Coltrane and such a lifetime to find out how to solo over those two chords without repeating oneself and be deadly boring. It takes a genius to play circles around those forms and keep listener engaged. I'm not in position to say in any authoritative way if Larry C. is one of those G. guys but, he does not sound boring to me by any means. I wouldn't mind to hear his way of interpreting "So What" more often. I remember my own college years and countless mish-ups in counting bars in order to stay on track without messing up the form Lol... Believe me..., it's quite a challenge to play around those two chords in convincing way. I tip my hat to Larry for this one...
♫♫ ♥❀(~‿~)❀♥ ♫♫

Winston Smith

'Last Night' is still one of my favourite guitar albums. This is pretty good too. Cheers.

Daniel Kuk

4y↑29

Rick Jackson on keys
He’s my piano teacher!

Tim Rubin Halcomb

4y↑1

You're a good musician too. I checked out your videos. I hope you get a chance to check me out. I'm a guitarist. My most popular one is IT'S JUST COOL. That one starts out subtle but keeps progressing. I dedicate it to the beatnik era. Keep jamming man. Peace.

Daniel Kuk

4y↑3

@Tim Rubin Halcomb Yep, been taking from him for 8 years.

Tim Rubin Halcomb

Are you serious or is that just a compliment? WOW! If you're serious man, then you are very lucky. The guy is a genius.

Daniel Kuk

4y↑2

I'll put it this way: I wouldn't be the musician I am today without him

Steve Reinecke

4y↑4

Please tell Rick I have throughly enjoyed his playing over the years watching him with Larry on youtube...best regards to you both from New Zealand!

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

4y↑3

That drum solo!!! Im looking him up right now🥇❤️

NEWMOON54 Cannone

3y↑1

Moyas Lucas ~!~ Absolutely INCREDIBLE bass player ~!~

Sammy Rothrock

4y↑2

Tele magic all from Larry's hands warmth, smooth, clean, a master! That rhythm pickup through whole set!

Sarah Terrence

So smooth, although he does use the bridge pickup on the next tune- What tone, but then, what do we expect from a master? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmWX2VOEoAU

Dave Hammel

3y↑2

That was one finest performances I have ever seen

Paul Shearing

I keep coming back to this video - it is, in my opinion exquisite: stellar performers at the top of their game. The keyboard playing is fantastic and Larry is superb but the engine room is unbelievable. What Chris Kent is doing here is totally fabulous. To swing it so fluidly and to be so inventive - it is aspirational. I would love to be able to play bass like this - he makes it look easy - it isn't. What a star player.

riff tipton

9y↑26

I love Ronny Jordan's version but watching sir Larry tear it up on a butterscotch Tele is too cool.

Javier Cisternas

Larry makes Ronny Jordan's version sound boring

Rafi Alvarez-Tapiz

12y↑1

Beautiful! God bless you Larry Carlton!

Me To The Moon

That walking bass was so good clean and really sounded great.

Roberto Sozio

5y↑1

Great band very very nice

CERI MCCOY

6y↑11

Saw Ed Bickert get a great tone out of a tele at a jazz festival: amazing. Larry Carlton kicks here!

Stemenik

Guys, Mike Stern played on a Tele for half of his career and on a replica up to now...

Richard Leonard

And Ted Quinlan , too.

Richard Leonard

Ted Quinlan , too.

samsuke picotiri

4y↑2

Is the transition from so what to 335 unrehearsed? No matter what Larry plays, he's always a jazzer. He is a real deal.

Marty MacCauley

12y

Larry just raised the bar! That riff is so hard to figure out if you're a self taught like me. I've never seen him solo like this before and love it ... great tone and nice to see him shoulderin' a Tele. Nice segue into Room 335 too :)

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

6y↑15

Wow Larry bopping it out.. Never heard him shred like this nice1 Go the tele!

keith shwalbe

Wonderfully well played fellas

Gianni Hill

9y↑136

Great tone coming from that Telecaster!

david reinecke

I actually disagree here. There’s a compressed, congested midrange-y quality that sounds un-tele-like. The solo rules tho!

Tim Frazier

Bill O'Rourke Check out Jack Pearson. Squier Strat

David Willbourne

Take a look at his rig rundown video for more info

J Cavazos

Gianni Hill. And, Larry Carltpn.

Dan Martinazzi

6y↑2

It's his '51 Tele!!!! What a great sounding guitar!!!

7 More Replies...

Dan The Man

Purely AWESOME, all off them!

Tea Cool

10y↑5

One of my favorites from Larry.

Tea Cool

Larry Carlton's- So What!!!!!

FL BEACH

6y↑28

This Tele was offered to Keith Richards ,but he already had to many and tuned it down, Larry's tech called him and then sent it to him, he loved the tone, the rest is history.

Bru Rred

4y↑1

@Nick Lancaster Keef really does have enough of them, im glad this one found a way into Larrys hands. This tele deserved to be played and played hard and good. I just still love larry with a 335. It's part of his look. Just got my first 335 last week and Ive been missing out with my teles and les pauls.

Revo55

4y↑1

I recently watched Larry tell the story on his Rig Run-down. An amazing story. Also amazing how few guitars, amps & effects he has and uses. Still has the "Steely Dan" Fender Tweed, which was really an unassuming amp, but what a sound!

Nick Lancaster

5y↑4

It's hard too imagine having too many '51 teles!

Robz p

11y

I agree with so many on here- Incredibly fast and tremendous speed and precision by all players...just sucks all the charm and joy from a beautiful tune. I'm a big fan of high tempo prog/Jazz but this ain'y the tune to rattle off.

Pinch loaf

7y↑7

What command of the instrument Larry has.plus taste and class.

Tom Faux

11y↑4

Some musicians just have fast metabolism. Dizzy, Alvin Lee, Larry Carleton... These guys just burn more calories than the Miles Davis's and Bill Frisells of the world.

Johan Fransen. Gitareur

What a great band!!

Gary Harrison

3y↑1

I love the amazing playing and these guys are the best. For me though I prefer the slower pace that Miles did, it just has that speakeasy jazz house vibe. This is a great take on it but nothing my favorite.

Chris Gabler

Outrageously good performance! So What, with Steely Dan’s Peg at the end. Shred that Tele!

Warren Cox

not Peg.....room 335

stuksy4321

wonderful performance!

Jim Neely

That my friends is how it is done. Incredible performance from ALL the players. Oh, did I
mention Carlton was on fire... someone call 911.

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

Here i am again 2yrs later! This helps get through Covid..Im so going to tab some of larrys solo out! Watch this space il post it on my channel as a lesson😍🥇Cheers from New Zealand

Graeme Golding

5y↑10

Love that terrific bass, Fabulous.

I LOVE GUITAR - Dino Gilley

i love how at 5:40 I think the drummer(awesome) was ending up too fast or going too long but you can see Larry drawing him in to the riff and slowing him down. and the look on everyones faces especially the keyboard player behind larry in that one shot.

David Peavy

7y↑8

Yea the '53 my father left me has a resonance that other teles I've owned just don't have. Jazz tone better than '84 ES-175 to my ears. Huge neck and tone control gets dark fast. Puts a smile on every players face.

Michelle R Jackson

5y↑3

Blessed you are😎😎😎 What a gift! RIP for your Father - just lost mine this Christmas..

kingdomofheaven7771

7:00 beautiful solo.

S Bingham

Oh my God. This is freakin GREAT.

Tim Rubin Halcomb

That drummer is so good!

Steven Whaley

Soaring over the top...like SuperMan! What a complete musician. And the rest of the band are members of this SuperGroup with capes of their own!

Greg Elchert

13y

Whoa. Larry can shred!

bdrbjrsdad

12y

RIP Chris Kent, a sweet person and blistering hot bassist!

William Jensen

Mr 335's Tele is a very special vintages 50's era that he is getting an amazing tone out of. It really proves a players tone is in their hands/fingers not not so much all the equipment. I could play and tweek my amp and Tele tones for years and only get close. I still end up with a jazz/blues cross tone and not the pure jazz tone I would want to hear. A very special video as I never seen LC play any straight up Fender guitars as he promoted Valley Arts for some time. Thanks!

Bo Reed

Larry is just great, and on a Tele? If you're great you're just great.

hugo sepulveda

10y

This guy, what a talent at his craft... of course is unique Larry Carlton

Tim Rubin Halcomb

That is awesome music.

Tim Rubin Halcomb

4y↑4

Here's Larry playing a MILES DAVIS tune on the guitar and doing it the RIGHT WAY! Now that's real entertainment.

rondy702

11y

I agree, great musicianship, no doubt. I just prefer this song at a slow tempo/groove!

Carlos Alberto Guglielmelli Viglioni

EXCELENTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig MacKinnon

Larry has the Tele talkin'...band is super tight too. Awesome!

Doug Williams

14y

Larry at the top of his game!

Gideon Artajo

I've been listening to L.C. for forever,but this band he is playing with,is" The Band"that he should be with...👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🇵🇭🇮🇱🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏⛪⛪⛪⛪🎸🎸🎸

Greg Wallis

6y↑13

If anyone requires a definition of the word skill, well this is all you ever need.

vlad dubos

Monstrueux ! quel pied !!!!

1973wildcatman

7y↑6

What a sick band the great players always want t play with the best

Dain Huston

5y↑2

the great amazing Fender Telecaster ! the one guitar to be played in every facet of music

AStreetCalledStr8t

too fast....but clean. Larry Carlton!

Daniel JAUBERT

tous les guitaristes se disent: voilà c'est ça que je voudrais faire ! et aussi c'est ça que j'arriverais jamais à faire ; le genie ne s'apprend pas

- The1trueharf -

It's amazing how many jazz players have used Telecasters

ISTVÁN VINCZE

10y

-incredable performance

Earl Garcia

Rippin it

Stephen Thwaites

7y↑6

Hey Larry! Nice noodling! Great keyboard solo!

Bruno Stélio

6y↑1

Master!!!

Terje

Great cooking band.!
I enjoyed this very much.! Thanks

Roberto Sozio

Great Band very good

MuzikPlus

Love the Tele, love the bass! Would love it even more if it were slower.

MusicByPeteGonzales

7y↑8

Larry's always been the man, those thumbs down folks .. What the heck are you hearing? :)

Psyfonify

ITS ALWAYS FUN TO SEE AN OLD ASS FART LIKE HARLON WHO JUST DISCOVERED THE INTERNET 5 MONTHS AGO THINKING YOU NEED SOCIAL SKILLS ON IT, FOR ANY REASON WHAT-SO-EVER. LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL SENTENCE. READ IT, OLD BRAIN-DEAD-ALCOHOLIC IDIOTS. YES THATS RIGHT, SCIENCE SAYS ALCOHOL TURNS YOU A PERMA-IDIOT. BELIEVE IT BECAUSE WITHOUT OUR ONLY TRUTH-TELLING SYSTEM WE'VE EVER INVENTED, YOU WOULDNT EVEN BE ALIVE, GREY FATTY FUCKFACES - signed, a millennial thats trolling your stupid altzheimer asses. This guys alright but Allan Holdsworth is miles beyond. This (my) comment may have had no social skills on purpose to prove that it makes zero difference in the end except your butthurt sorry ass taking offense to typed words, offense that nobody will give a single shit about, but everything ive said so far is 100% real-talk.

NotUrBiz

7y↑2

+Sean Donnelly, It's always fun to see a guy like you with no social skills proving what an ass he is in youtube comment sections. Thanks for the laugh, priceless!

Sean Donnelly

7y↑1

Jazz Haze lol your a loser

Sean Donnelly

7y↑1

Idk man i dont consider him jazz fusion what so ever hes like blues crossover elevator music but hey everyones entitled to their opinion what i might like others might despise and vice versa no hate towards Larry hes a solid player but i think he was a media frenzy thats overrated

MusicByPeteGonzales

I guess for me I think he deserves credit for being a pioneer in Yes "Jazz Fusion". His era was before the techno wizards that would dominate in the late 70's and early 80's. He's more of a finesse player than speed king for sure. Shawn Lane was a monster and terrible to see him gone. Other greats in today's field are Guthrie Govan and Scott Henderson but I think it took guys like Larry and Lee Ritenour to give way to more tech savvy players in later years. Just my opinion.

3 More Replies...

Guitar is Great

incredible

Nelson Nick Bauder

Saw him live at the Caravan of Dreams Jazz Club in Ft Worth, Tx early 90’s

Bard Wheelo

Bravo, Larry.

jazzyla9

Break neck speed at it's best!

Spirit G

larry Carlton the best that can happen to the ears because it goes a little further than Helix noodle ... that is music

Kyle Hill

6y↑14

This sounds almost like one of the Earthbound RPG songs when you fight against a mobile opponent.

Paolo Manzini

6y↑1

If you close your eyes, that Telecaster sounds just like an old jazz hollowbody guitar.

MaxPaws

11y

Freakin' amazing!!! Looks like 7 people found this link by accident...

rasm0225

3y↑1

Getting more views now.678k views in 2020.

Duane Christofferson

Larry shows you can play jazz on a telecaster.

searching for the sound

3y↑48

Who else is here from Larry's PG Rig Rundown?

Rob Wilson

I am. I guess I’m not the only one who wanted to hear the Tele. Beautiful!

Dennis John Dreher

Jazz is definitely his roots.

Ian O'Hare

7y↑6

SICK!!!

Keyboardman88

14y

@yawekalb But they are 5000 people who really appreciate this guy and his talent

Bri Grogan

13y↑2

Smokin!!! thanks for uploading.

Life-is-Inspiring

Larry’s version is cool

MR TEE

5y↑1

Loving it...Check out the Ronny Jordan version.

FL8mileshigh1

4y↑1

Yes. It appears on his 1992 album, THE ANTIDOTE. The whole album is superb.

DAVID KORNBLATT

Its true MILES DID SPEED through it but I believe that every song needs to breathe. I think LC is great but more on his 335. You are able to really listen to the song on a 335 it just sounds like a rubber band on a tele. The song is the best! The drummer is very good! Where is Donald Fagen and Walter Becker?

SoundSharp Music Ltd Wade Sharp

Drum solo kicked arse, yeeesss!!

小川仁朗

カールトンがこれ程までにJAZZを演るとは❗️ 名演だ。1.2位を争う位鬼気迫る名演だ🤙👏👏👏

Hugh Croft

8y↑5

Superb

SAES335

10y

As is expected, his stage performance is better than "So What" of the album performance. I hear this like the best result in his jazz performance. Would this music be "D Dorian"?