The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Yeah, c'mon
Ooh, oh yeah, oh yeah
I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe
Like a rock, you waited so patiently
While I got it together, oh
While I figured it out (yeah-yeah)
I only looked but I never touched
'Cause in my heart was a picture of us
Holdin' hands, makin' plans
And it's lucky for me you understand
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me
What I want, is what you got
And what you got, is what I want
There was a time I was blind, I was so confused (yeah-yeah)
Run away just to hide it all from you
But baby, you knew me better than I knew myself
They say if you love something, let it go
If it comes back it's yours
That's how you know
It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure
And you're ready and willin' to give me more than
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me, yeah
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Somebody sensitive, courageous, sexy, cool, like you
What a girl wants, what a girl needs, oh yeah
What a girl wants (you're so right)
What a girl needs (you're so right)
You let a girl know how much you
Care about her, I swear
You're the one who always knew
You knew, you knew, you knew, you knew
Ooh, I'm thanking you for being there for me
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
Whatever keeps me in your arms, that's what I need
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me
Oh baby, oh darling
Thank you, thank you for giving me what I what
And what I need
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
I turn around there
Whenever you're not there
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Yeah, c'mon
Ooh, oh yeah, oh yeah
I wanna thank you for giving me time to breathe
Like a rock, you waited so patiently
While I got it together, oh
While I figured it out (yeah-yeah)
I only looked but I never touched
'Cause in my heart was a picture of us
Holdin' hands, makin' plans
And it's lucky for me you understand
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me
What I want, is what you got
And what you got, is what I want
There was a time I was blind, I was so confused (yeah-yeah)
Run away just to hide it all from you
But baby, you knew me better than I knew myself
They say if you love something, let it go
If it comes back it's yours
That's how you know
It's for keeps, yeah, it's for sure
And you're ready and willin' to give me more than
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me, yeah
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Somebody sensitive, courageous, sexy, cool, like you
What a girl wants, what a girl needs, oh yeah
What a girl wants (you're so right)
What a girl needs (you're so right)
You let a girl know how much you
Care about her, I swear
You're the one who always knew
You knew, you knew, you knew, you knew
Ooh, I'm thanking you for being there for me
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
Whatever keeps me in your arms, that's what I need
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for knowing exactly
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever keeps me in your arms
And I'm thanking you for giving it
What a girl wants, what a girl needs
Whatever makes me happy sets you free
And I'm thanking you for giving it to me
Oh baby, oh darling
Thank you, thank you for giving me what I what
And what I need
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
I turn around there
Whenever you're not there
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
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love the song and the vid. i perfer christina over britney anyday of the week. but a few lyrics were left out