Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
Whadaya Want
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(What do you want?)
(What do you want?)
Don't want no caviar
(What do you want?)
Don't wanna be no movie star
(What do you want?)
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
(What do you want?)
Don't want no aeroplane
(What do you want?)
Don't want no house in Spain
(What do you want?)
Don't wanna drink no pink champagne
(What do you want?)
(Bee-dah-buh-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
You don't want this, you don't want that
Tell me why
You've got plenty of money
Yeah, but I want something money can't buy
(What do you want?)
I don't want no motorboat
(What do you want?)
Don't want no cashmere coat
(What do you want?)
Here's a story that you can quote
(What do you want?)
I just want a little girl to love
(A jug of wine?)
No, no, no!
(A silver mine?)
No, no, no!
(A moon to shine?)
No, no, no!
(What do you want?)
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
You don't want this, you don't want that
Tell me why
You've got plenty of money
Yeah, but I want something money can't buy
(What do you want?)
I don't want no motorboat
(What do you want?)
Don't want no cashmere coat
(What do you want?)
Here's a story that you can quote
(What do you want?)
I just want a little girl to love
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, ooh!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Ooh, woo!
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
The Coasters' song "Whadaya Want" features the singer rejecting the traditional markers of success like a classy car, caviar, and a house in Spain. The singer declares that they don't want these material possessions, no matter how fancy they may be. The singer acknowledges that they have plenty of money, but they want something that money can't buy. The only thing the singer wants is a little girl to love.
The lyrics of this song explore the idea that true fulfillment cannot be found in material possessions or financial wealth. While these things may provide temporary satisfaction, they do not ultimately bring happiness. Instead, the song suggests that meaningful connections with others are what truly matter in life.
Line by Line Meaning
(What do you want?)
Asking the listener what it is that they desire
I don't want no classy car
I have no interest in owning a fancy car
Don't want no caviar
I am not interested in eating expensive caviar
Don't wanna be no movie star
I have no desire to become a famous actor
(What do you want?)
Repeating the question about what the listener desires
Don't want no aeroplane
I do not need to own an airplane
Don't want no house in Spain
I am not interested in owning a house in Spain
Don't wanna drink no pink champagne
I have no desire to drink expensive pink champagne
(What do you want?)
Asking the listener once again what it is that they want
You don't want this, you don't want that
Noticing that the listener does not seem to want any of the things that have been mentioned so far
Tell me why
Asking the listener to explain their desires
You've got plenty of money
Acknowledging that the listener has plenty of money to buy whatever they want
Yeah, but I want something money can't buy
Explaining that their desire is for something that cannot be bought with money
(What do you want?)
Once again asking the listener what they want
I don't want no motorboat
I have no desire to own a motorboat
Don't want no cashmere coat
I am not interested in owning a luxurious cashmere coat
Here's a story that you can quote
Sharing a story that summarizes their desire
I just want a little girl to love
Revealing that their desire is to find love with a significant other
(A jug of wine?)
Rejecting the idea of desiring a simple thing like a jug of wine
(No, no, no!)
Emphasizing that they do not want that particular thing
(A silver mine?)
Rejecting the idea of desiring a valuable silver mine
(No, no, no!)
Emphasizing that they do not want that particular thing
(A moon to shine?)
Rejecting the idea of desiring something as grand and impossible as the moon
(No, no, no!)
Emphasizing that they do not want that particular thing
(What do you want?)
Asking the listener once again what they want
You don't want this, you don't want that
Noticing that the listener still seems to have no desires
Tell me why
Asking once again for an explanation of their desires
You've got plenty of money
Acknowledging once again that the listener has the financial means to buy what they want
Yeah, but I want something money can't buy
Reiterating that their desire is for something that cannot be bought with money
(What do you want?)
Asking one final time what it is that the listener wants
I just want a little girl to love
Confirming that their desire is simply to find someone to love
(Bee-dah-bee-day-doh, bee-dah-doh-day)
Repeating the musical motif from the beginning of the song
Writer(s): Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Contributed by Tyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.