For What It's Worth
The Cardigans Lyrics


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One, two, three, four

Hey baby come round
Keep holding me down
And I'll be keeping you up tonight.

The four letter word got stuck in my head
The dirtiest word that I've ever said
It's making me feel alright.

For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do
Oh what is worse I'm gonna run run run
'Till the sweetness gets to you
And what is worse I love you!

Hey please baby come back
There'll be no more loving attack
And I'll be keeping it cool tonight.

The four letter word is out of my head
Come on around get back in my bed
Keep making me feel alright.

For what it's worth I like you
And what is worse I really do
Things have been worse
And we had fun fun fun
'Till I said I love you
And what is worse I really do!

For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh

For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh





For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.

Overall Meaning

The Cardigans’ song “For What It’s Worth” opens with a countdown and a catchy rhythm, leading into lead singer Nina Persson’s intimate delivery. The song’s lyrics, while simple, effectively express the feelings of love and desire that can be both exciting and terrifying. The singer of the song is torn between wanting to express her love and fearing the consequences. The refrain “For what it’s worth, I love you / and what is worse, I really do” highlights the singer’s self-awareness that loving someone can be both beautiful and painful.


The chorus’s closing line, “‘Til the sweetness gets to you,” adds another layer of meaning to the track. It suggests that the sweetness and intensity of love can be so overwhelming that it might be difficult for the object of the singer’s affection to handle. While some might interpret this as a warning, others might see it as an invitation to dive in.


Overall, “For What It’s Worth” is a powerful song that explores the complexities of love and intimacy. The slow and steady build of the song’s instrumentation draws the listener in and perfectly complements the impassioned lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

One, two, three, four
The song is about to start.


Hey baby come round
The singer is inviting someone over.


Keep holding me down
The singer wants their partner to stay close to them.


And I'll be keeping you up tonight.
The singer will make sure their partner has an enjoyable night.


The four letter word got stuck in my head
The singer has been thinking about a certain word.


The dirtiest word that I've ever said
The word in question is vulgar.


It's making me feel alright.
Despite the vulgarity, the word makes the singer feel good.


For what it's worth I love you
The singer expresses love for their partner, but unsure if it means anything.


And what is worse I really do
The singer confirms that they truly love their partner.


Oh what is worse I'm gonna run run run
The singer is conflicted and considering running away.


'Till the sweetness gets to you
The singer is waiting to see if their partner responds positively.


Hey please baby come back
The singer wants their partner to return.


There'll be no more loving attack
The singer promises not to be overly affectionate.


And I'll be keeping it cool tonight.
The singer will be more reserved in their actions tonight.


The four letter word is out of my head
The singer is no longer fixated on the vulgar word.


Come on around get back in my bed
The singer wants their partner to come back to bed with them.


Keep making me feel alright.
The singer wants their partner to keep doing things that make them happy.


Things have been worse
The singer reflects on past struggles in their relationship.


And we had fun fun fun
Despite the struggles, the couple has had enjoyable moments together.


Till I said I love you
Saying 'I love you' may have complicated things.


And what is worse I really do!
Despite the complications, the singer truly loves their partner.


For what it's worth I love you
The singer reiterates their love for their partner.


And what is worse I really do.
Again, the singer confirms their true love for their partner.


Oh
An interjection to express emotion - likely frustration or exasperation.


For what it's worth I love you
The song ends with the singer reiterating their love for their partner one last time.


And what is worse I really do.
The final confirmation of love.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NINA PERSSON, PETER ANDERS SVENSSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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