After ELO's breakup in the mid 1980s, Lynne moved into production work, showing both the influence of The Beatles that characterized much of ELO's work and an influence from rockabilly-style music. The Beatles' connection was strengthened when Lynne produced George Harrison's Cloud Nine, a successful comeback album for the ex-Beatle released in 1987 featuring the popular single "(Got My Mind) Set On You." In 1989, Lynne co-produced the acclaimed album Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty, which included the hit singles "Free Fallin'," "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down A Dream," all co-written by Lynne. This album and Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, also co-produced by Lynne, both received nominations for the Grammy as Best Album Of The Year in 1989.
In 1990 Lynne released his first solo album Armchair Theatre, featuring the singles "Every Little Thing" and "Lift Me Up." The album received some positive critical attention but little commercial success.
In February of 1994, Lynne fulfilled a lifelong dream by working with the three surviving Beatles on Anthology album series, and reunion tracks "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" (overdubbing John Lennon's demos for the songs). He has also produced records individually for George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and worked extensively on the Roy Orbison album Mystery Girl.
In 2001, Lynne released a new ELO album, Zoom, which--save for original ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy on one track--featured none of the original members of the Electric Light Orchestra, but attempted to "return to the classic ELO sound" [1]. The album received positive reviews but had no hit singles. While a concert of the album was filmed and shown on PBS stations, a planned concert tour was cancelled, although the concert was released on DVD. Also that year, Lynne appeared on a VH-1 Storytellers show filmed in New York, and EMI and Sony released remastered editions of part of ELO's catalog.
Lynne went back to the recording studio as a producer in 2002, co-producing and helping complete George Harrison's posthumously-released album, Brainwashed. He was also heavily involved in the memorial Concert for George, held at London's Royal Albert Hall in November 2002, and subsequently produced the Surround Sound audio mix for the Concert For George DVD released in November 2003. The DVD received a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video.
Also in 2002, a tribute to Lynne called Lynne Me Your Ears was released [2], featuring two CDs full of artists performing Lynne/ELO songs, including Todd Rundgren, SWAG (featuring members of Wilco, The Mavericks and Cheap Trick), Sixpence None The Richer, Doug Powell, PFR, Jason Falkner, Fleming and John, Jerry Chamberlain of Daniel Amos, Rick Altizer and others.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine Tom Petty revealed that fellow Wilbury and Full Moon Fever producer Jeff Lynne will reunite with Petty on his upcoming solo album, due in 2006.
Jeff Lynn co-wrote, with John Farrar, the lyrics and music for the 2007 Broadway musical Xanadu. The show used several ELO songs, including "I'm Alive," "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic."
In 2012 Lynne's second solo album, a covers album entitled Long Wave, was released on 8 October 2012. A greatest hits collection of re-recorded ELO songs by Lynne titled Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra was also released under the ELO moniker on the same day.
On September 24, 2015, under the name Jeff Lynne's ELO, "When I Was a Boy", the first single from Alone in the Universe was released on the internet with a music video released not long after. The album was released on November 13, 2015 and was followed by promotional shows including the first ELO shows in the United States in 30 years. A 2016 European tour has been scheduled.
What Would It Take
Jeff Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you would always be there
If you change your mind now
Oh, what would it take to save me
What would it take to save me now
Here comes another night
Could I make it right
Whoa, what would it take to save me
What would it take to save me now
Oh, What would it take
Woo, What would it take
To save me
What would it take to save me
What would it take to save me now
Oh, What would it take
Woo, What would it take
To save me
Of all the things I do
And everywhere they take me
You know what I go through
What would it take to save me
What would it take to save me now
What would it take to save me
What would it take to save me now
The lyrics to Jeff Lynne's song What Would It Take express a deep longing for someone's support and their commitment to being there for you, even when life gets difficult. The singer seems to be addressing someone who previously made a promise to always be there for them, but circumstances may have changed. The repeated question "What would it take to save me?" shows the desperation and urgency of the need for this person's support.
The song is poetic in its use of imagery, with references to stars shining in the night sky and the singer's travels. These elements add to the sense of isolation and the feeling of searching for a way to overcome struggles. The lyrics, coupled with Lynne's emotive vocal delivery and the haunting melody, create a melancholic atmosphere that perfectly captures the emotional state of someone searching for a lifeline.
Overall, the song presents a relatable theme of the need for support during difficult times, expressed with metaphors and imagery that create a vivid emotional landscape.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember what you told me
Recalling a past conversation where the other party promised to always be there for him/her.
That you would always be there
The other party had promised to be there in any situation.
If you change your mind now
Asking if the other party still intends to keep their promise.
Oh, what would it take to save me
Wondering what he/she needs to do to be helped or rescued.
What would it take to save me now
Repeating the question in hope of getting an answer.
Here comes another night
Another day is over and night is approaching.
And all the stars are shining
The stars in the sky are visible and shining brightly.
Could I make it right
Questioning if he/she can correct the situation.
Whoa, what would it take to save me
Expressing urgency and desperation for an answer to what needs to be done to be helped or rescued.
Oh, What would it take
Repeatedly asking for a solution to the problem.
Woo, What would it take
Adding emphasis and urgency to the question.
To save me
Asking for rescue or assistance.
Of all the things I do
Reflecting on all the activities he/she engages in.
And everywhere they take me
Thinking about all the different places he/she goes.
You know what I go through
Believing that the other party understands what he/she deals with on a regular basis.
What would it take to save me
Repeating the question as it remains unanswered.
What would it take to save me now
Repeating the question in hope of receiving a response.
What would it take to save me
Reiterating the question as it is the central theme of the song.
What would it take to save me now
Asking for a solution to the ongoing problem while hoping for a timely response.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind