Lead vocalist Danny Wilde began his musical career as the lead singer of The Quick, an L.A.-based punk and power pop inspired combo briefly popular in the late 70s, breaking through with their song "Pretty Please Me". The musical duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem had roots in an early 80s new wave/power pop band, called Great Buildings, which released a single critically-lauded album on Columbia in 1981. Although spawning minor hits in "Hold On To Something" and "Maybe It's You", major success eluded the outfit.
After they disbanded, Wilde released a series of slick 80s solo albums before rejoining with his former partner to form the Rembrandts. Initially, the band was heavily indebted to simplistic guitar pop reminiscent of early work from The Beatles and The Everly Brothers. They also took serious inspiration from pop contemporaries such as Squeeze and Crowded House. Their first, self-titled album, released in 1990, featured the surprise #14 hit "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which managed to claw its way onto top 40 playlists despite sounding out of place for the time. Follow-up singles "Someone" and "Save Me" also garnered some airplay.
Their second record, released two years later (and titled, humorously, 'Untitled') also spawned minor hits in the brooding, violin-spiked "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and the breezy "Rolling Down the Hill". Both songs showed the band's partial influence from alternative rock groups. In 1995, however, the Rembrandts became a surprise, seemingly-overnight success when they recorded the theme song to the program 'Friends', a ditty reminiscent of British invasion groups called "I'll Be There For You",
The song became an instant smash based on its thirty-second TV version. Interestingly enough, they recorded the full-length version of "I'll Be There For You" only after the shorter version was recorded specifically for the TV show. The band was busy prepping their third release, 'L.P.', at the time that "I'll Be There For You" became so successful, and it was shoehorned last minute onto the end of the track order (initial pressings omit the song on the track list). Unfortunately, much of the new audience generated by the hit didn't take a shine to the rest of the low-key pop rock on the disc. The album went platinum and picked up supportive critical reviews, but it has become something of a lost 90s classic. A few follow-up singles, notably "This House Is Not a Home", generated a small amount of interest, but nothing compared to that of the 'Friends' theme.
The sudden shift in the band's fanbase-- where they had gone from being a low-flying critical success to a discarded 'one-hit-wonder' in the popular consciousness-- took its toll on the band, especially Solem. He outright quit several years later. Danny Wilde produced another Rembrandts album without him, but it was a commercial failure. In 2001, however, the duo reunited for 'Lost Together', their fourth album as a duo and fifth overall. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2006, displaying that the band did in fact have a singles history far deeper than the 'Friends' theme. As time has gone on, they've also had a cult following among power pop fans.
What Will It Take
The Rembrandts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lonely-forever something in our way
But deep in my soul, your light, is all that I'm prayin' for
Salvation is in your eyes, but not for me
What will it take to make you want me?
What will it take to make you mine?
What will it take to make you love me, for all time?
It's funny, how nothing ever stays the same
Helpless-never knowin' who's to blame
There once was a time when my love, was somethin' worth fightin' for
And now it's all I can do to remind you, of what could be
[Chorus]
Baby I'd cross the darkest valley-I would ford the river wide
If that's what it takes, to make you love me, for all time
But I've been chasin' you too long...to think you'd rather I were gone
But I will wait for you forever-yes I will
You know it's true-I'll wait until you come around
But deep in my soul, your light, is all that I'm prayin' for
Salvation is in your eyes, but not for me
[Chorus]
Baby I'd cross the darkest valley-I would ford the river wide
If that's what it takes, to make you love me, for all time
What will it take?...what will it take?..what will it take?
Baby I'd cross the darkest valley-I would ford the river wide
If that's what it takes, to make you love me, for all time
What will it take?
The lyrics of The Rembrandts' song "What Will It Take" describe a person who feels unloved, but still holds onto hope that they can win the affections of their beloved. They feel like something is missing in their life and that the person they desire could offer salvation for them. They are willing to do anything to make their love interest reciprocate their feelings, even if it means crossing the darkest valley or fording a river. They have been chasing this person for a long time, but they still hold onto the belief that they will eventually come around.
The overall tone of the song is melancholic, as the singer is longing for something that they cannot have. The lyrics use powerful imagery to emphasize the depths of the singer's feelings. For example, the line "lonely-forever something in our way" suggests that there is an insurmountable obstacle that is preventing the singer from being with the person they love. This metaphorical obstacle is preventing them from achieving happiness.
Despite the hopeless tone of the lyrics, there is still a sense of determination and perseverance in the singer's words. They are willing to wait indefinitely for their love interest to come around, and they are willing to go to great lengths to win their affection. This determination is what gives the song its emotional weight.
Line by Line Meaning
These days, flyin' off an empty page
Times are passing by and nothing seems to be happening.
Lonely-forever something in our way
There is a sense of loneliness that is making it hard for things to progress.
But deep in my soul, your light, is all that I'm prayin' for
Despite the obstacles, the only thing that keeps the hope alive is the love that is felt deep down.
Salvation is in your eyes, but not for me
The salvation that is sought can be found in the person's eyes, but unfortunately it is not for the singer.
What will it take to make you want me?
The singer is wondering what it would take for the person to reciprocate the feelings.
What will it take to make you mine?
The singer is questioning what actions need to be taken in order for the person to become the singer's partner.
What will it take to make you love me, for all time?
The singer desires the person's love to be everlasting and is wondering how to make that happen.
It's funny, how nothing ever stays the same
The unpredictability of life is evident, as things are constantly changing.
Helpless-never knowin' who's to blame
Feeling helpless and not knowing who is at fault for the situation.
There once was a time when my love, was somethin' worth fightin' for
There was a time when the singer's love was seen as something valuable and worth fighting for.
And now it's all I can do to remind you, of what could be
The singer is struggling to make the person see what could be, in terms of a possible relationship.
Baby I'd cross the darkest valley-I would ford the river wide
The singer is willing to do anything to make the person love them, even if it requires great sacrifice.
But I've been chasin' you too long...to think you'd rather I were gone
The singer has been pursuing the person for too long to believe that the person would rather be without them.
But I will wait for you forever-yes I will
Despite the difficulties, the singer is willing to wait for the person forever.
You know it's true-I'll wait until you come around
The singer is confident that the person will eventually come around and reciprocate the love.
What will it take?...what will it take?..what will it take?
The singer is repeating the question of what it will take, emphasizing the desperation and longing for the person's love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY C. WILDE, PHIL SOLEM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind