Written by David Gedge
Recorded 1987

Personnel
David Gedge - v… Read Full Bio ↴Written by David Gedge
Recorded 1987

Personnel
David Gedge - vocals, guitar
Peter Solowka - guitar
Keith Gregory - bass
Shaun Charman - drums

Notes The working title for the song was 'The Day That This Letter Came' which David Gedge was never happy with. Therefore shortly before they recorded the Peel Session in 1986, bassist Keith Gregory suggested the alternative title 'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?'. To avoid confusion with the Jimmy Ruffin song of the same name, it was retitled It's What You Want That Matters when the band recorded it properly the following year for their debut album George Best.

It's What You Want That Matters
The Wedding Present Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is for you, you must know it's for you, what else can I think about?
I knocked on your door until my fingers were sore, although I'd guessed you were out
What do I need? is it hunger or greed that has brought me here?& what will I find? aren't we two of a kind?
Oh I take back everything, I didn't mean a thing & when you pull the strings I don't think you feel a thing
Don't forget what I say, we can be back in one day, we can borrow your mother's car
Don't sing me that song, I've been here for too long
Oh you couldn't have looked that far, did you look very far?
I seem to recall you said nothing at all the day that this letter came

It must have been sent by the friend of a friend, oh now I forget his name, I'm really not to blame!
When you pull the strings I don't think you feel a thing

Oh do you feel a thing?
When you pull the strings I don't think you feel a thing

Overall Meaning

The Wedding Present's "It's What You Want That Matters" is a song that tells a story of unrequited love. From the first line of "This is for you, you must know it's for you," the singer is addressing someone they desire. Despite knocking on their door until they hurt their fingers and assuming they were out, the singer is desperate for this person's attention. The lyrics are introspective, questioning the singer's motivations and desires: "What do I need? Is it hunger or greed that has brought me here?" The singer craves the attention of the person they are singing to and is willing to do anything to gain it. The song's title is a nod to the idea that in love and relationships, what you desire is what's important, even if it's at the cost of another's feelings. The repetition of the line, "When you pull the strings, I don't think you feel a thing," is a poignant reminder that the singer's feelings are unrequited.

The song's melancholic tone is accentuated by the instrumentation. The guitars and drums drive the song at a frenetic pace, an ode to the urgency of the singer's desire. However, the guitars are more subdued during the verses, giving the lyrics room to breath. The chorus, where the singer promises that they can be back in one day and can borrow a car, is a daydream, a promise that they will do anything for this person. However, the song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, with the question, "Did you look very far?" leaving the listener unsure if the singer ever gets the attention of the person they desire.

Line by Line Meaning

This is for you, you must know it's for you, what else can I think about?
I am doing this for you and you alone, as nothing else occupies my thoughts.

I knocked on your door until my fingers were sore, although I'd guessed you were out
I tried to reach out to you despite knowing that you might not be around to receive my message.

What do I need? is it hunger or greed that has brought me here?& what will I find? aren't we two of a kind?
I'm uncertain if it's desire or necessity that brought me to you. However, I believe we share something in common, and that might be what I'm looking for.

Oh I take back everything, I didn't mean a thing & when you pull the strings I don't think you feel a thing
I regret everything I said and did, and I feel like my actions are futile since you're unmoved by them.

Don't forget what I say, we can be back in one day, we can borrow your mother's car
Remember this: we can reunite quickly if we use your mother's car and plan accordingly.

Don't sing me that song, I've been here for too long
Please don't try to sway me with familiar appeals, as I've been stuck in this situation for a while now.

Oh you couldn't have looked that far, did you look very far?
It appears you didn't make much of an effort as it's highly unlikely that you searched thoroughly enough for what you claim you couldn't find.

I seem to recall you said nothing at all the day that this letter came
I have a distinct memory of you being silent when my message arrived at your doorstep.

It must have been sent by the friend of a friend, oh now I forget his name, I'm really not to blame!
Perhaps the letter came from someone who knew someone we both know. Regardless, I'm not to blame for the confusion surrounding its origins.

When you pull the strings I don't think you feel a thing, Oh do you feel a thing?
It's as if your emotions are disconnected from your actions, and I wonder if you feel anything at all.

Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID GEDGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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