Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Sa… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on 9 December 1950) and brought up in Birmingham, England, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.

She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.

What Do You Want
Joan Armatrading Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What do you want
What do you want
You're messing up everybody else
By being so cool
What is it you need
What is it mmm
You confuse a lot of people's minds
By being undecided

Said you loved me once
The way you made me feel
Now why does it hurt so bad
Oh baby please don't go
I'm begging you to stay
You know that break up
Is so sad

Where do you go
Who do you now
There's a face
I can't recall
And I'm wary of most strangers
Am I the fool
Have you blinded me
You're breaking up a heart
So bad but the bruise
Draws out real slow

Said you loved me once
The way you made me feel
Now why does it hurt so bad
Oh baby please don't go
I'm begging you to stay
You know that break up

Is so sad
Oh baby please don't go

Overall Meaning

In Joan Armatrading's song "What Do You Want," the singer is addressing a person who is very undecided and unclear about what they want. The repeated question "What do you want?" is a plea for the person to make a decision and stop causing confusion and chaos for others around them. The singer suggests that the person's indecisiveness has caused them to be "cool" and distant, which has affected others around them negatively.

The singer also addresses a personal relationship with the person, stating that they once said they loved them and made them feel good. However, the pain of the recent breakup is causing the singer to question whether the love was real or just a temporary feeling. The ambiguity in the person's feelings is causing the singer to feel confused and wary of new relationships.

The lyrics of "What Do You Want" reveal the emotional turmoil of a person who is struggling with indecision and the heartbreak that follows. The repeated question of "What do you want" is symbolic of the singer's desire for the person to give them a clear answer about their feelings and intentions. The song is a reminder that being indecisive and unclear about your intentions not only affects you but also those around you.

Line by Line Meaning

What do you want
I'm asking you to be honest about what you truly desire

What do you want
I need you to communicate your needs and wants clearly

You're messing up everybody else
Your actions are negatively impacting those around you

By being so cool
You are being aloof and distant toward others

What is it you need
I want to know what you require to be satisfied

What is it mmm
I sense that you are uncertain or hesitant in expressing yourself

You confuse a lot of people's minds
Your indecision and lack of clarity causes confusion among others

By being undecided
Your inability to make a decision is causing problems

Said you loved me once
You expressed your love for me in the past

The way you made me feel
Your actions toward me generated positive emotions in the past

Now why does it hurt so bad
But now, your current actions are causing me great pain