What?
Soft Cell Lyrics


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Do you want me to
Get down on my knees
Beg you baby, please
Cry a million tears
Do you want me to
Call you on the phone
Beg you to come home
Think of all the years
When I once lived in paradise
When the love light shone in your eyes
Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
What can I do
What can I say
You'll never know this way
Do you want me to
Follow you around
Everywhere in town
Do you want a clown
Why do you
Treat me mean and cruel
Breaking every rule
Can I be your fool
We can make this a happy home
So come back where you belong
Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
What can I do
What can I say
You'll never know this way
Please forgive me, come back, and then
We can fall in love
Over and over and over and over again
Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
Won't you come back
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, what can I do
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, won't you come back
I said, won't you come back
I said, what can I do
I said, what can I say
I said, won't you come back
I said, won't you come back
Won't you come back
Oh baby, won't you come back
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, what, what, what...can I say
Won't you come back
Won't you come back
Won't you
Won't you come back
What can I say
What can I say
What can I do
What can I do
What can I say
What can I say
Won't you come back
Won't you come back
What can I do, do, do, do




What can I do
What, what, what

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Soft Cell's song, "What" tell the story of a person who is desperately seeking the love and affection of their significant other. The singer is willing to humiliate themselves and stoop to begging for their lover's attention in the hopes of rekindling their relationship. They are haunted by memories of when their love was strong and passionate and long for those moments once again. The singer begs for forgiveness and promises to make their home a happy one if only their lover would return to them.


The repetition of the phrase, "What can I do, what can I say" reveals the singer's desperation and feelings of helplessness. They are at a loss for how to gain their lover's acceptance and love once again. The singer is hoping that their pleas will resonate with their lover and bring them back to the relationship.


The lyrics to "What" are relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain of a failed relationship and the hope for reconciliation. The haunting melody and the sad lyrics make this song emotionally moving


Line by Line Meaning

Do you want me to
Asking if the person wants the singer to do something for them.


Get down on my knees
Asking if the person wants the singer to humble themselves as a sign of apology.


Beg you baby, please
Asking if the person wants the singer to plead with them to return.


Cry a million tears
Asking if the person wants the artist to show their sadness and remorse.


Call you on the phone
Asking if the person wants the artist to reach out to them over the phone.


Beg you to come home
Asking if the person wants the singer to ask them to return home.


Think of all the years
Asking the person to think about the time they spent together.


When I once lived in paradise
Reminiscing about a time when things were good between the couple.


When the love light shone in your eyes
Remembering the way the person looked at the artist when they were in love.


Oh baby
A term of endearment for the person the artist is addressing.


What can I do when I still love you
Stating that the singer still has feelings for the person and is unsure of what to do about it.


What can I say when I still want you
Stating that the artist still desires the person and is unsure of what to say to convey their emotions.


You'll never know this way
Suggesting that the person will never know how the singer truly feels if they continue to act distant.


Follow you around
Asking if the person wants the singer to constantly be near them.


Everywhere in town
Asking if the person wants the singer to follow them everywhere they go in the city.


Do you want a clown
Asking if the person wants the artist to act foolishly to make them laugh or to get their attention.


Why do you
Asking the person for an explanation of their behavior.


Treat me mean and cruel
Stating that the person has been treating the singer poorly.


Breaking every rule
Stating that the person's actions are going against what is considered acceptable or fair.


Can I be your fool
Asking the person if the artist can be humiliated or taken advantage of in order to save the relationship.


We can make this a happy home
Offering to work together with the person to create a happy and healthy home environment.


So come back where you belong
Asking the person to return to a place where they are loved and accepted.


Please forgive me, come back, and then
Asking the person to forgive the singer and return to the relationship.


We can fall in love
Proposing that the couple can fall in love again if they work together.


Over and over and over and over again
Suggesting that the couple can fall in love repeatedly if they make an effort to work together.


Won't you come back
Asking the person to return to the relationship.


I said, what can I do
Repeating the earlier question of what the singer can do to reconcile the relationship.


I said, won't you come back
Repeating the earlier plea for the person to return to the relationship.


I said, what can I say
Repeating the earlier question of what the artist can say to convey their emotions to the person.


Won't you
Asking the person to return to the relationship.


What
A repetition of the earlier questions of what the singer can do or say.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CRESWARD BRIAN BROUSSARD, CHARLES CARLISLE, JACOB FISCHER, JON FRY, WILLIAM HARGROVE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Allis Jacobo

Do you want me to
Get down on my knees
Beg you baby, please
Cry a million tears
Do you want me to
Call you on the phone
Beg you to come home
Think of all the years
When I once lived in paradise
When the love light shone in your eyes

Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
What can I do
What can I say
You'll never know this way

Do you want me to
Follow you around
Everywhere in town
Do you want a clown
Why do you
Treat me mean and cruel
Breaking every rule
Can I be your fool
We can make this a happy home
So come back where you belong

Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
What can I do
What can I say
You'll never know this way

Please forgive me, come back, and then
We can fall in love
Over and over and over and over again

Oh baby
What can I do when I still love you
What can I say when I still want you
Won't you come back
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, what can I do
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, won't you come back
I said, won't you come back
I said, what can I do
I said, what can I say
I said, won't you come back
I said, won't you come back
Won't you come back
Oh baby, won't you come back
Oh baby,what can I say
I said, what, what, what...can I say
Won't you come back
Won't you come back
Won't you
Won't you come back...



All comments from YouTube:

Blue Damsel

Oh my, so many memories of my teens...this is bringing tears to my eyes....I love, love, love this song!!!!!

Antonia Rendon

ME TOO 🎶🎶🖤♥️🖤

Prem Goyal

Can’t argue with the truth

Genomizer

Excatly the same here, so many beloved memories, in my teens. Such wonderful times they were, with this song. A longing in my heart!

Alexander Acsayan

Likewise here in Philippines so many memories

fuggy206

i wonder if this band knew just how good they really were .marc almond your a legend

C Carta

One of my favs by soft cell I still have this 12 inch single in my collection

kevin ska'd 4 life

1982 wouldn't have been as good without this amazing track the melody the back beat and the vocals absolutely legendary

Alexander James

Takes me back to the year itself, Kevin. Stunning track!

LFOVCF

A few old synths, an Eventide harmoniser, a nice studio, and a shed load of genius...Voila!

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