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.
(To Mario C, you can't front on that)
Well, just plug me in just like I was Eddie Harris
You're eating crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris
You know I get fly, you think I get high
You know that I'm gone and I'm-a tell you all why
So tell me who are you dissing, maybe I'm missing
The reason that you're smilin' or wildin', so listen
In my head, I just want to take 'em down
Imagination set loose and I'm gonna shake 'em down
Let it flow like a mud-slide
When I get on, I like to ride and glide
I've got depth of perception in my text, y'all
I get props at my mention cause I vex, y'all
So, so what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I get so funny with my money that you flaunt
I said, "Where'd you get your information from" huh?
You think that you can front when revelation comes?
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
Well they call me Mike D, the ever-loving man
I'm like Spoonie Gee, well I'm the metropolitician (yeah-yeah-yeah)
You scream and you holler 'bout my Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
But like a dream I'm flowing without no stopping
Sweeter than a cherry pie with Reddi-wip topping
From mic to mic, kickin' it wall to wall
Well, I'll be calling out to people like a casting call
Ah, well, it's wack when you're jacked in the back of my ride
With your know, with your flow, when you're out getting by
Believe me, what you see is what you get
And you see me, I'm comin' off as you can bet
Well I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time I'm losing my mind, that's right
Said I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time, I'm losing my mind
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
But little do you know about something that I talk about
I'm tired of driving, it's due time that I walkabout
But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall, if you're playing the wall
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Y'all suckers write me checks and then they bounce
So I reach into my pocket for the fresh amount
See, I'm the long-leaner, Vincent the Cleaner
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Well, I'm as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce
You've got the rhyme and reason, but got no cause
But if you're hot to trot, you think you're slicker than grease
I've got news for you crews, you'll be sucking like a leech
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Well, just plug me in just like I was Eddie Harris
You're eating crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris
You know I get fly, you think I get high
You know that I'm gone and I'm-a tell you all why
So tell me who are you dissing, maybe I'm missing
The reason that you're smilin' or wildin', so listen
In my head, I just want to take 'em down
Imagination set loose and I'm gonna shake 'em down
Let it flow like a mud-slide
When I get on, I like to ride and glide
I've got depth of perception in my text, y'all
I get props at my mention cause I vex, y'all
So, so what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I get so funny with my money that you flaunt
I said, "Where'd you get your information from" huh?
You think that you can front when revelation comes?
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
Well they call me Mike D, the ever-loving man
I'm like Spoonie Gee, well I'm the metropolitician (yeah-yeah-yeah)
You scream and you holler 'bout my Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
But like a dream I'm flowing without no stopping
Sweeter than a cherry pie with Reddi-wip topping
From mic to mic, kickin' it wall to wall
Well, I'll be calling out to people like a casting call
Ah, well, it's wack when you're jacked in the back of my ride
With your know, with your flow, when you're out getting by
Believe me, what you see is what you get
And you see me, I'm comin' off as you can bet
Well I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time I'm losing my mind, that's right
Said I think I'm losing my mind, this time
This time, I'm losing my mind
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
But little do you know about something that I talk about
I'm tired of driving, it's due time that I walkabout
But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall, if you're playing the wall
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Y'all suckers write me checks and then they bounce
So I reach into my pocket for the fresh amount
See, I'm the long-leaner, Vincent the Cleaner
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Well, I'm as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce
You've got the rhyme and reason, but got no cause
But if you're hot to trot, you think you're slicker than grease
I've got news for you crews, you'll be sucking like a leech
(Yeah, you can't front on that)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
I said, what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want? (what'cha want?)
Lyrics submitted by The Marine
So What'cha Want Lyrics as written by Adam Nathaniel Yauch Adam Horovitz
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Just a freestyle rap, no real deep "meaning" so here's some explanation of the references:
-Eddie Harris: jazz musician, introduced the electric tenor sax ("plug me in") -Spoonie Gee: one of the first rap artists on vinyl ('79) -Dr. Spock: child psychologist and author -Victor the Cleaner: Jean Reno's character from La Femme Nikita -Gardena: a city in the "South Bay" of Los Angeles
@JimmyJazz68 not bad except Gardena is in New York. Typical west coast mentality to think you're as big as the rest of the world.