The Yardbirds are mostly known to the casual rock fan as the starting point… Read Full Bio ↴The Yardbirds are mostly known to the casual rock fan as the starting point for three of the greatest British rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Undoubtedly, these three figures did much to shape the group’s sound, but throughout their career, the Yardbirds were very much a unit, albeit a rather unstable one. And they were truly one of the great rock bands; one whose contributions went far beyond the scope of their half dozen or so mid-’60s hits (“For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” “I’m a Man,” “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago”). Not content to limit themselves to the R&B and blues covers they concentrated upon initially, they quickly branched out into moody, increasingly experimental pop/rock. The innovations of Clapton, Beck, and Page redefined the role of the guitar in rock music, breaking immense ground in the use of feedback, distortion, and amplification with finesse and breathtaking virtuosity. With the arguable exception of the Byrds, they did more than any other outfit to pioneer psychedelia, with an eclectic, risk-taking approach that laid the groundwork for much of the hard rock and progressive rock from the late ’60s to the present.

No one could have predicted the band’s metamorphosis from their humble beginnings in the early ’60s in the London suburbs as the Metropolis Blues Quartet. By 1963, they were calling themselves the Yardbirds, with a lineup featuring Keith Relf (vocals), Paul Samwell-Smith (bass), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar), Jim McCarty (drums), and Anthony “Top” Topham (lead guitar). The 16-year-old Topham was only to last for a very short time, pressured to leave by his family.

What Do You Want
Yardbirds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want somebody here to tell me why,
There's always smoke up in the sky.
Please don't make me want to cry,
Detail has not been seen.
Summer trees should all be green,
Plain and green as they have been,
Sun don't ever change the scene,
Please never let them die.

What do you want? [Repeat: x4]

Sounds which soar above my ears,
Will naturally precede in years,
They only cause a flood of tears,
I want to turn and run.
Don't need someone to make my fun,
Only need to see the sun,
I will not go and cause harm,
I cannot think that way.

What do you want? [Repeat: x4]

Sit spellbound by a flickering screen,
Watch the ever changing scenes,
Listen to the rising screams,
Of children of today.
Lock your doors and stay within,
Upon your face the stupid grins,
Penalty for unrealized sins,
Committed on your way.

What do you want? [Repeat: x6]

Overall Meaning

The Yardbirds' song What Do You Want is questioning the current state of the world and the actions of humanity. The singer is asking for someone to explain why there always seems to be smoke in the sky, potentially referencing air pollution or fires. This image makes them want to cry, but they haven't seen any action taken to prevent it. The singer notes that the trees should be green like they always have been, and the sun never changes, indicating that nature remains constant amid human destruction. The repeated plea to never let them die could be interpreted as a plea to protect and care for the environment.

The next verse discusses the sounds that the singer hears that cause them to weep. These sounds will continue to exist for years and make the singer want to run away. They don't need someone to make their fun but want to bask in the sun's essential warmth. The singer expresses that they cannot think in a harmful way, possibly implying that they are naturally compassionate and peaceful.

In the final verse, the singer's attention shifts to television screens and modern society. They criticize people's silly grins and the penalty they will pay for their unrealized sins, potentially hinting at the consequences that will come from not taking care of the environment. The rising screams of children of today could be a reference to a lack of action to stop climate change that will have devastating effects on future generations.

Line by Line Meaning

I want somebody here to tell me why,
I am seeking an explanation for the recurring presence of smoke in the sky.

There's always smoke up in the sky.
I have noticed that there is a consistent presence of smoke in the sky, which troubles me and prompts me to ask why.

Please don't make me want to cry,
I am emotional and do not want to become upset or feel the need to cry.

Detail has not been seen.
I have yet to see a detailed explanation or understanding of the smoke in the sky.

Summer trees should all be green,
I believe that during the summer, trees should be green and full of life.

Plain and green as they have been,
I expect trees to be simple and unchanged, as they have been in the past.

Sun don't ever change the scene,
I hope that the sun's presence does not harm the natural scene of trees and vegetation.

Please never let them die.
I do not want the trees and natural environment to die or be harmed in any way.

Sounds which soar above my ears,
I hear sounds that rise above the level of my ears.

Will naturally precede in years,
These sounds are likely to become more frequent in the future.

They only cause a flood of tears,
These sounds provoke a strong emotional response and make me cry.

I want to turn and run.
I feel overwhelmed and desire to escape the source of the sounds.

Don't need someone to make my fun,
I do not require anyone to entertain me or make me happy.

Only need to see the sun,
My only desire is to see the sun and natural light.

I will not go and cause harm,
I do not intend to cause any harm, regardless of the circumstances or my emotions.

I cannot think that way.
It is not in my nature to consider behaving in a harmful manner.

Sit spellbound by a flickering screen,
I am captivated by a flashing screen or digital entertainment.

Watch the ever changing scenes,
I am observing a dynamic and constantly changing visual display on the screen.

Listen to the rising screams,
I am hearing increasing levels of noise or distress, possibly coming from the screen or elsewhere.

Of children of today.
These screams may be attributed to the younger generation or children of this time period.

Lock your doors and stay within,
I am advising others to lock their doors and remain inside, possibly due to danger or external threats.

Upon your face the stupid grins,
It would be foolish to smile or appear carefree in the midst of potential danger.

Penalty for unrealized sins,
Perhaps there will be consequences or punishment for mistakes or sins that were not previously recognized.

Committed on your way.
These penalties or consequences may be for actions taken in the past or on one's journey through life.

What do you want?
This recurring question is a plea for understanding, explanation, or a call to action.

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: JEFF BECK, JIM MCCARTY, JIMMY PAGE, KEITH RELF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Jon Rogers

4y↑8

Paul Samwell Smith's baselines in this song are amazing! He was very underated at a bass player in that era.

William de Jesús Ayala Cera

I've always thought the same, pal. Greetings. 🤙🏽 5-4

Lawrence Jose Sinclair

8y↑10

first rock band I ever liked and still the best!

David Zimmerli

This sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when I first heard it more than a half century ago (with the vocals).....

BrianStocking

12y↑1

I have these old albulms but its nice to see there here on youtube for others to hear. This is a forgotten band of the 60's. A major player that had up and coming stars like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. I feel the singer Keith Relf needs to be recognized also. Good stuff!