His family was in the cinema business, but it was during his National Service that he began performing as a musician. After taking a correspondence course and arranging for some of the bands of the day, he formed The John Barry Seven. Barry then met Adam Faith, and composed songs and film scores on the singer's behalf.
It was this notoriety that caught the attention of the producers of Dr. No, who were dissatisfied with the score given to them by Monty Norman. Barry and the JB7 were hired and their recording of Norman's "James Bond Theme" would go on to be one of the most famous signature tunes in film history.
This would be the turning point for Barry, as he would go on to become one of the most celebrated film composers of modern times, winning five Academy Awards and four Grammys, with such memorable scores as The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves.
Barry is often cited as having had a distinct style which concentrated on lush strings and extensive use of brass. However, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to employ synthesizers in a film score (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and to make wide use of pop artists and original songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Living in his native England until the mid 1970s, Barry spent some time in Spain (for tax purposes) before spending much of his life in the United States, mainly in Oyster Bay, outside of New York.
Barry died of a heart attack on 30 January 2011, at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77 years.
What Do You Want
John Barry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do you want if you don't want gold
Say what you want and I'll give it you darling
Wish you wanted my love baby
What do you want if you don't want ermine
What do you want if you don't want pearls
Say what you want and I'll give it you darling
Well I'm offering you this heart of mine
But all you do is play it cool
What do you want
Oh boy you're making a fool of me
One of these days when you need my kissing
One of these days when you want me too
Don't turn around coz I'll be missing
Then you'll wanta my love baby
Well I'm offering you a diamond ring
But all you do is turn me down
What do you want
Oh boy you're goin' to town on me
One of these days when you need my kissing
One of these days when you want me too
Don't turn around coz I'll be missing
Then you'll wanta my love baby
Well then you'll wanta my love baby
The song "What Do You Want" is a classic love song where the singer is trying to understand the desires of their partner. The song starts off with a set of questions about what they could possibly want besides material things like money, gold, ermine, and pearls. The singer offers their love and heart as an ultimate gift to their partner in return. However, even after putting it out there, the partner seems to be playing it cool and not reciprocating the love that the singer is offering.
The chorus of the song repeats the same question as the first set of verses of the song, but this time, the questions are asked in a more pleading manner as the singer offers a diamond ring in the hopes that the partner would accept it as a gesture of their love. The song ends with a hopeful note, as the singer suggests that one day their partner will want their love and will come looking for it.
In essence, "What Do You Want" is a song that expresses the desire for love and the frustration of unrequited love. The singer's plea for their partner's love is palpable in the lyrics and the tone of the song, making it a classic love song that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you want if you don't want money
If you don't want money, what is it that you desire?
What do you want if you don't want gold
If you're not after gold, then what is it that you seek?
Say what you want and I'll give it you darling
Tell me what you desire and I'll make it yours, my beloved.
Wish you wanted my love baby
I sincerely desire that you yearn for my love, my sweet one.
What do you want if you don't want ermine
If you don't desire luxury fur, then what else do you yearn for?
What do you want if you don't want pearls
If pearls are not what you desire, then what else do you long for?
Well I'm offering you this heart of mine
I'm giving you my heart as a pledge of my love and devotion.
But all you do is play it cool
You are treating my love as if it doesn't matter, you are being indifferent and detached.
What do you want
What is it that you truly aim to achieve?
Oh boy you're making a fool of me
You are causing me to look ridiculous and silly in front of others with your indifference.
One of these days when you need my kissing
There will come a time when you crave my embrace and want me close to you.
One of these days when you want me too
There will come a time when you yearn for my affection and love as well.
Don't turn around coz I'll be missing
Do not leave me, for I will be heartbroken and lost without you.
Then you'll wanta my love baby
At that point, you will yearn for my love, my sweet darling.
Well I'm offering you a diamond ring
I'm presenting you with a symbol of my love and commitment in the form of a diamond ring.
But all you do is turn me down
You are refusing my love and rejecting my offer, despite its sincerity.
Oh boy you're goin' to town on me
You are embarrassing me and making me look foolish with your rejections.
Then you'll wanta my love baby
Eventually, you will yearn for my love and affection, my dearest beloved.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: LES VANDYKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind