What It Takes
Jason Mraz Lyrics


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It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la, life goes full circle
Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn, brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
And It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished, yeah

Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la, life goes full circle
Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la
It is so...

It takes some silence to make sound
And it takes a loss before you found me
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la, life goes full circle
Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la, life is meaningful
Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Ah, la, la, la

It is so wonderful
It is so meaningful
It is so wonderful
It is meaningful
It is wonderful
It is meaningful
It goes full circle
Wonderful
Meaningful




Full circle
Wonderful

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "What It Takes" by Jason Mraz reflect on the idea that the things in life that are worthwhile often require work, time, and hardship. The lyrics suggest that there is a process to everything in life, and that process is often necessary to achieve success, happiness, or love. The first verse speaks to the idea that even something as seemingly simple as building a crane requires effort, while the second verse explores the power of language and action. The third verse touches on the cyclical nature of life and the idea that joy and sorrow are interconnected. Finally, the chorus emphasizes the wonder and meaning of life.


Overall, the song suggests that it is important to appreciate the journey and the process, rather than just focusing on the end result. Rather than seeing challenges or hardships as obstacles, they should be viewed as necessary steps on the path to achieving success, love, or happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes something big and powerful to create something equally as big and powerful


It takes two floors to make a story
The smallest components can come together to make something greater and more substantial


It takes an egg to make a hen
Things have to begin somewhere, and all achievements rely on the efforts and successes that precede them


It takes a hen to make an egg
The process of growth and development relies on different stages and components being completed in sequence


There is no end to what I'm saying
Life is full of complex, interrelated processes and actions that can sometimes be difficult to fully comprehend


It takes a thought to make a word
All meaningful actions and contributions start with thoughtful consideration and imagination


It takes some words to make an action
Ideas and intentions are only as good as the words and actions that follow them


It takes some work to make it work
Success requires dedicated effort, even to achieve something that already exists or seems simple


It takes some good to make it hurt
Growth, change, and improvement can be painful, but often necessary for progress


It takes some bad for satisfaction
We can learn and appreciate the good times more by experiencing hardship and adversity


Ah, la, la, la, life is wonderful
Life is full of surprises both good and bad, but ultimately, it is a gift to be celebrated and enjoyed


Ah, la, la, la, life goes full circle
Everything is interconnected and cyclical, with experiences and actions often coming full circle


It takes a night to make it dawn
Change and growth often occur gradually, and require long periods of time, patience, and waiting


And it takes a day to make you yawn, brother
Sometimes the most routine or mundane experiences can lead to greater appreciation and understanding of life's complexities


And it takes some old to make you young
Experience, knowledge, and wisdom are invaluable in understanding and appreciating life


It takes some cold to know the sun
Difficult times can highlight and amplify the importance and beauty of happier times


It takes the one to have the other
Opposites often define and depend on one another for existence and meaning


And it takes no time to fall in love
Sometimes the most powerful and transformative experiences come suddenly and without warning


But it takes you years to know what love is
To truly understand and appreciate such experiences and emotions, we must invest time, effort, and intention to develop and mature


And It takes some fears to make you trust
To truly trust others and ourselves, we must overcome and acknowledge our anxieties, uncertainties, and doubts


It takes those tears to make it rust
Emotional vulnerability and expression can be difficult and uncomfortable, but are necessary for growth and healing


It takes the dust to have it polished, yeah
Challenges and imperfections ultimately give us opportunities to learn and improve, leading to greater success and satisfaction


It takes some silence to make sound
Inspiration often comes from periods of reflection, solitude, and introspection


And it takes a loss before you found me
Sometimes the most difficult and tragic events lead us to greater growth, purpose, and connection to others


And it takes a road to go nowhere
Life presents us with many opportunities, experiences, and paths to take, some of which may not seem to offer immediate value or significance


It takes a toll to make you care
Only through challenging and difficult life experiences can we learn to truly care and empathize with others


It takes a hole to make a mountain
Small, incremental steps and contributions can build to create remarkable and meaningful achievements


Ah, la, la, la, life is meaningful
Ultimately, life is a journey of growth, discovery, and fulfillment, despite its challenges and setbacks


It is so wonderful
Life is truly remarkable and worth celebrating, despite its flaws and hardships


It is so meaningful
Beyond mere enjoyment and pleasure, life holds deep significance and meaning that can be discovered through intentional engagement and reflection


It goes full circle
Life's ups and downs, twists and turns, and varied experiences are all part of a larger, interconnected narrative that ultimately leads to fulfillment and understanding


Wonderful
Life is full of beauty, wonder, and awe that can inspire and uplift us even during hard times


Meaningful
Life holds deep purpose, significance, and value that can be discovered through life experience and intentional growth


Full circle
Ultimately, life presents us with constant opportunities for growth, learning, and fulfillment that ultimately create a complete journey or story




Contributed by Aubrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@amyra98

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

La la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Al la la la la

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished

Ha la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is so full of
Ah la la la la la la life is so rough
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is our love
Ah la la la la la

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life is meaningful
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life it is...so... wonderful
It is so meaningful
It is so wonderful
It is meaningful
It is wonderful
It is meaningful
It goes full circle
Wonderful
Meaningful
Full circle
Wonderful



All comments from YouTube:

@lounakanelos514

2024 anyone ????

@banderslav3124

Always

@smukika

Yes, Always!!!

@wildernessrick9278

🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️

@tamaraguguchevska8994

🍻

@steelc0re593

🎉yes🎉

9 More Replies...

@alexanderblake3569

One of the best songs ever written. I’ve never seen so much without my eyes.

@KalbiKing

It takes some silence to make sound. When the music drops I get chills every time. Beautiful song.

@coz2006ster

I cry every time I hear this song, we take this life for granted and it's shameful. I appreciate artist like Jason to remind me that Life IS Wonderful. Thank you from the bottom of heart!! God Bless you

@buraaslolita9857

Same here

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