What Do You Want
Jeff Beck Lyrics


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I want somebody here to tell me why,
There's always smoke up in the sky.
Please don't make me want to cry,
Detail has not been seen.
Summer trees should all be green,
Plain and green as they have been,
Sun don't ever change the scene,
Please never let them die.

What do you want? [Repeat: x4]

Sounds which soar above my ears,
Will naturally precede in years,
They only cause a flood of tears,
I want to turn and run.
Don't need someone to make my fun,
Only need to see the sun,
I will not go and cause harm,
I cannot think that way.

What do you want? [Repeat: x4]

Sit spellbound by a flickering screen,
Watch the ever changing scenes,
Listen to the rising screams,
Of children of today.
Lock your doors and stay within,
Upon your face the stupid grins,
Penalty for unrealized sins,
Committed on your way.





What do you want? [Repeat: x6]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Jeff Beck's "What Do You Want" present a series of deep, almost existential questions to the listener. The song starts with Beck expressing his confusion about the causes of the smoke in the sky, pondering why it's always there and why it makes him want to cry. He then points out how the beauty of summer trees should be preserved and how the sun fails to change the scene of environmental decay.


The enigmatic chorus "What do you want?" is repeated several times, seemingly directed to the listener, making them question their own motives and desires. Beck then brings up the theme of the passage of time and the sounds that bend in the air, signaling changing times that cause tears. He concludes his point by adding that he cannot, and will not, cause any harm to anyone.


The final verse deals with how we live our lives, how we spend most of our days safe and secure behind locked doors, glued to our screens, and blind to the suffering of those around us. Beck asks us to reflect on the unredeemable sins of apathy that we all commit along the way.


Line by Line Meaning

I want somebody here to tell me why,
I'm seeking an answer; I want someone to explain the reason behind something.


There's always smoke up in the sky.
I observe that there's seemingly always smoke in the sky.


Please don't make me want to cry,
I would prefer not to feel like crying.


Detail has not been seen.
I haven't witnessed any specifics or details about the situation.


Summer trees should all be green,
I believe that trees in the summer should be green in color.


Plain and green as they have been,
Trees in the past have been green and unremarkable.


Sun don't ever change the scene,
The sun alone is not enough to alter the surroundings.


Please never let them die.
It is my hope that trees will not die or be destroyed.


What do you want? [Repeat: x4]
This line appears numerous times, asking the listener what they desire.


Sounds which soar above my ears,
I can hear noises or sounds emanating from above me.


Will naturally precede in years,
These same sounds will continue to persist in the future.


They only cause a flood of tears,
This noise causes me to become emotional, possibly causing me to cry.


I want to turn and run.
I wish to escape or avoid the situation entirely.


Don't need someone to make my fun,
I don't require anyone else to entertain me or create amusement in my life.


Only need to see the sun,
Simply observing the sun is enough to make me content and happy.


I will not go and cause harm,
I affirm that I will not purposefully inflict injury or damage to anyone or anything.


I cannot think that way.
It is not within my nature to have aggressive, harmful thoughts.


Sit spellbound by a flickering screen,
I'm engaged or captivated by watching something on a TV or computer screen that flickers with changing images.


Watch the ever-changing scenes,
I closely observe the dynamic or rapidly moving images and videos displayed on the screen.


Listen to the rising screams,
I am able to hear screams or loud noises that are increasing in volume.


Of children of today.
These sounds are coming from children in the present.


Lock your doors and stay within,
It would be wise to lock your doors and stay inside for safety purposes.


Upon your face the stupid grins,
You will have a silly or foolish smile on your face.


Penalty for unrealized sins,
You will face some sort of punishment or consequence for sins or wrongdoings that you didn't realize you committed.


Committed on your way.
These sins or wrongdoings were committed while you were on your journey, wherever that may be.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF BECK, JIM MCCARTY, JIMMY PAGE, KEITH RELF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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