Who Needs Ya
Steppenwolf Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, it's sunrise on the freeway as I get back from town
Find you standin' in my boots, kicking my dog around
Empty bottles on the floor
Enough to build a monument
Then you've got the nerve to tell me
Somebody took the rent

Who needs ya?
Think about it baby, who needs you?
Now you can save your lip, just pack your grip
And leave a trail of smoke behind you
Who needs ya?
Can you tell me baby, who needs you?
Who needs you?
Think about it baby
Yeah who needs you?
Can you tell me please?

Last week you pulled another of your tricks
You let your brother move in here with a heard of freaks
They ate us out of house and home
Turned this place into a sty
Darlin' by tomrrow you'll be eatin' humble pie

Who needs ya?
Think about it baby, who needs you?
Now you can save your lip, just pack your grip
And leave a trail of smoke behind you
Who needs ya?




Can you tell me baby
Who needs you?

Overall Meaning

The song "Who Needs Ya" by Steppenwolf is a defiant and rebellious tune that speaks to the struggle and heartbreak of relationships. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has recently returned from town only to find his significant other disrespecting him and his possessions. He confronts her about it and even accuses her of letting her brother move in with a group of oddballs. The man has had enough of the disrespect, and he tells his partner that she can leave him in the dust, making it clear that he does not need her in his life. The chorus of the song poses a rhetorical question of "who needs ya?" to the audience, which serves as a call-to-arms for anyone who has experience being mistreated in a relationship.


The lyrics in Steppenwolf's "Who Needs Ya" speak to the larger societal issue of power dynamics and control in relationships. The man in the song feels as if he is being taken advantage of and disrespected by his partner, and he decides to take control. This song highlights the importance of self-respect and not tolerating being treated poorly in a relationship. The lyrics also create a sense of urgency and suggest that it is better to move on and leave behind the negativity.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, it's sunrise on the freeway as I get back from town
As dawn breaks and I return from the city, I find you wearing my shoes and mistreating my dog.


Find you standin' in my boots, kicking my dog around
You are wearing my footwear and harming my pet with your actions.


Empty bottles on the floor
Numerous liquor containers are strewn across the ground.


Enough to build a monument
The amount of bottles is sufficient to create a monument in their honor.


Then you've got the nerve to tell me
Despite this, you still have the audacity to inform me...


Somebody took the rent
...that someone else absconded with the lease payment.


Who needs ya?
Who requires your presence or assistance?


Think about it baby, who needs you?
Consider this, my dear, who truly benefits from your existence?


Now you can save your lip, just pack your grip
You can spare me your lip, just pack your belongings...


And leave a trail of smoke behind you
...and depart swiftly, leaving behind a stream of smoke.


Can you tell me baby, who needs you?
Can you inform me, my dear, who truly necessitates your presence?


Last week you pulled another of your tricks
The previous week, you engaged in yet another one of your schemes.


You let your brother move in here with a heard of freaks
You allowed your sibling to reside here alongside a group of oddballs.


They ate us out of house and home
The occupants consumed all of our provisions and left us with nothing.


Turned this place into a sty
They transformed this abode into a pigpen.


Darlin' by tomrrow you'll be eatin' humble pie
My love, tomorrow you will be forced to apologize and lower your pride.


Yeah who needs you?
Who truly benefits from your presence?


Can you tell me please?
Can you elucidate, if you may?




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN KAY, LARRY CLIFTON BYROM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@dannosoar2534

One of the absolute BEST bands of the sixties.

@turinruss

Jerry Edmonton was one of the tightest kick ass rock drummers ih his time...this tune really rocks!

@Amusiclover1954

This and "Move Over" are two songs which demonstrated how tight the band was. The lead guitar in this song and the drums in Move Over are phenomenal! John Kay was brilliant and he showed it in his live performances. One of the most underrated bands of all time......

@QMPhilosophe

I saw them in early '71 - right after Byrom joined the band...they were awesome.

@mikebowden5465

totally agree !

@thomasb1889

And they used a two lead singer set up for this song.

@freedomovereverything1776

I'm young so I'm jealous, you guys had great music.

@cesarnarro6013

@FreedomOverEverything🤝 Saw so many good band's live that i sort of took it for granted.

@randymcturnan2520

This tune is one of my favorites off that album. Loved it at the beginning where Jerry comes in with those drum licks and toward the end where he double snares it. One hell of a drummer. These guys knew how to blast a tune out...

@2010Kraftwerk

My Dad has turned me on to Steppenwolf, Grand Funk, BTO, and dozens of other great bands from the 70s and 80s. Now that I am learning to play guitar and other instruments, he explains how these great songs are blues-based rock. Of course, he also explains the theory and physics of sound waves, frequency, etc., etc. He's a walking encyclopedia of music information. He also has some great pictures of these old groups in song books he bought when he was a kid.

More Comments

More Versions