Laleh now lives in Los Angeles where she mainly writes and produces music for other pop artists, working on her own music in parallel. She is driven by the fact that the pop industry is dominated by men, and wants to be an example for younger women getting into the pop world.
She studied music and drama at Hvitfeltska Gymnasiet.
She had a major acting role in the Swedish movie Jalla! Jalla!, directed by Josef Fares, which was a big success at the Swedish box office in 2000.
What You Want
Laleh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my o-own money now
And the train is runnin′ on
Just outside my house
And I take it to my job
You know I just just got one
And I got up your heart
'Cause my girlfriend said so
You know I got these strange thoughts
That everything is an illusion but.
I could be happy facing it
I should be happy, I ask myself.
What you want, baby? And why do you want it?
What you want?
Oh. Why you want it?
Oh. What you want, babe?
Oh. And why you want it?
Oh. What you want, babe?
Oh. And why you want it?
Oh...
If you can do it, I can do it
I got to get my sorted out
It's gonna take some time
And it can take forever
If you can do it, If you can. I...
I got to get my sorted out
It′s gonna take some time but
I′m gonna do my best now
You know the suffer-filling profecies
They were the ones that really got me here
And now their gonna get me out of this
So everytime I'm gonna ask myself...
What you want, babe?
Oh.And why you want it?
Oh. What you want, babe?
And now I′m gonna get me out of this
So everytime I'm gonna ask myself...
Oh. And why you want it?
Oh. What you want, babe?
Oh. And why you want it? Why you want it?
Why, why, why, why?
What you want? What you want? What you want?
Oh... What you want. What you want...
The song "What You Want" by Laleh is a reflection on personal struggles as the singer tries to figure out what she wants in life. The opening lines of the song "I'm a big girl holding on, I got my own money now" suggest that the singer has reached a point in her life where she no longer needs help from others, and has found financial stability. The mention of the train running outside her house represents the passage of time, and the idea that life moves on, with or without her.
As the song progresses, Laleh sings about her desire to be happy, despite having strange thoughts that everything is an illusion. She realizes that in order to be happy, she must confront her inner struggles and sort herself out, but it is not going to be an easy or quick journey. The line "if you can do it, I can do it" suggests the singer is trying to find strength and motivation in others' success stories.
The chorus of the song "What you want, baby? And why do you want it?" is repeated several times and acts as a reminder for the listener to reflect on their own aspirations and motivations. Overall, the song is about self-discovery, figuring out what you really want, and finding the strength and motivation to pursue your dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a big girl holdin' on
I am a mature person who is holding onto things that are important to me.
I got my o-own money now
I have become financially independent and can support myself.
And the train is runnin' on
The train symbolizes life and is constantly moving forward.
Just outside my house
This is a reminder that life is always moving forward no matter where you are.
And I take it to my job
I am on a journey to achieve success in my career.
You know I just just got one
I have recently acquired a job, which is a significant achievement for me.
And I got up your heart
I have captured your attention and affection, probably by being charming and attractive.
'Cause my girlfriend said so
I am doing this because one of my girlfriends recommended it.
You know I got these strange thoughts
Sometimes I have unconventional thoughts about the world and how it works.
That everything is an illusion but.
I believe that everything in the world may not be as it seems, and that reality may be an illusion.
I could be happy facing it
I could find happiness by accepting this worldview and embracing the uncertainty of reality.
I should be happy, I ask myself.
I should try to find happiness within myself and not depend on external factors.
What you want, baby? And why do you want it?
I am questioning the motivations behind your desires and asking you to reflect on them.
If you can do it, I can do it
I can achieve anything that you can, and I am up to the challenge.
I got to get my sorted out
I need to get my life sorted out and figure out what I want.
It's gonna take some time
I understand that this process will take time and cannot be rushed.
And it can take forever
I acknowledge that this process may never truly be complete and could take a lifetime.
I'm gonna do my best now
I am committed to doing my best to achieve my goals.
You know the suffer-filling prophecies
I am aware of the negative predictions about my future.
They were the ones that really got me here
These negative predictions may have contributed to my current situation in life.
And now they're gonna get me out of this
I will use these negative predictions as motivation to improve my life and find success.
Oh. And why you want it?
I implore you to reflect on why you want what you want, and whether it will truly bring you happiness and fulfillment.
Why you want it?
I continue to encourage introspection and reflection on your desires.
Why, why, why, why?
I persist in encouraging you to reflect on your motivations.
What you want? What you want? What you want?
I relentlessly ask you to question what you want in life and why.
Oh... What you want. What you want...
I continue to persist in asking you to question what you want and why.
Writer(s): Laleh Pourkarim
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.