What It Takes

Album: Pump (1989)
Charted: 9
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about breaking up with a girlfriend and wanting to know what it takes to get over it. When they started putting it together, is sounded like a lovelorn, twangy country song, which they remedied by adding electric guitars.

    Steven Tyler and Joe Perry wrote it with Desmond Child, who had written a few other songs with the band, including "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)." Child has a tremendous hit rate when it comes to songwriting - he's also charted with songs for Bon Jovi, Cher, Alice Cooper and many others.
  • The lyrics, "Girl, before I met you I was F.I.N.E - fine," are a reference to another song on the album: F.I.N.E..

Comments: 21

  • 13 from CaliforniaAt the end he is giving the ultimate closure advice in repeating “let go” over and over. It’s powerful.
  • Sebrina Biscardi from Santa Maria, CaI first heard this song in the early 90's, when I was going through a horrible divorce, with my daughter's father; not a good time in my life and I still don't like this song because of it, but I LOVE Aerosmith.
  • Pak Bonesteel from Oregon , D.s. Of A. ,earth , Milky Way , Kozmos......YES , but I feel that there is another, more personal message from Steven that needs to be confirmed by Mr. Tyler himself.
  • Segarra from WvLoser I agree with your comment. Best lyrics ever I can listen to this song on repeat.

    Especially the part when Steven Tyler belts out “Tell me that you're happy, that you're on your own
    Yeah yeah, yeah
    Tell me that it's better when you're all alone
    Tell me that your body doesn't miss my touch
    Tell me that my lovin' didn't mean that much
    Tell me you ain't dyin' when you're cryin' for me”. So brutal but so so so so so good.
  • Cbs from The Right Side Of RightI would love to hear the twangy country song it sounded like before they "fixed" it. That would sound awesome too. Aerosmith unplugged is an awesome thing.
  • Loser from New York I can listen to this song on repeat. Especially the part when Steven Tyler belts out “Tell me that you're happy, that you're on your own
    Yeah yeah, yeah
    Tell me that it's better when you're all alone
    Tell me that your body doesn't miss my touch
    Tell me that my lovin' didn't mean that much
    Tell me you ain't dyin' when you're cryin' for me”. So brutal but so so so so so good.
  • Loriannie from Orlando FlThis is my favorite band ever...everytime they played in Orlando I was there. I named my youngest son after Steven Tyler and I'm proud of it. You guys made me happy with all your songs. I'm 55 yrs. old and still have all your albums and 8 track tapes too. And I love to play them for the grandkids. I will listen to you guys til I'm 6 feet under, keep the music coming. Love love you guys always.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhNo one, and I mean no one, wails like Steven Tyler. His passion breathes the ever livin' life into this tune. The raw emotion just builds as the song continues. You can easily picture a guy crying over his beer at the loss of his girlfriend, getting drunker and drunker, and saying/screaming all these things to her. This is a fabulous song to sing along to. All those words just flow together. That accordion throughout the song adds a terrific counterpoint to Steven Tyler's voice, and adds to the 'life is an out of control circus' feeling that the song conjures up.
  • Corey from Ede, Bhutani love this song steven tyler is so cute and joe isnt so bad himself
  • Adi from Kathmandu, Nepalmy all time fav song.....love the part when he says - I used to feel your fire, but now its cold inside...simply amazing
  • Homer from Springfield, KyThis is my dad's favorite Aero song. And to answer your question Luke, he's saying "let go" over and over again.
  • Luke from Dayton, OhReally awesome song, but what are they say over and over at the end?
  • Michelle from Bristol , PaFINE stands for F--ked up Insecure Neurotic Emotional. It states that in the album's artwork
  • Michelle from Cincinnati, OhGreat song! My favorite part is: "Tell me that you're happy that you're on your own. Tell me that it's better when you're all alone. Tell me that your body doesn't miss my touch, tell me that mylovin' didn't mean that much. Tell me that you ain't dying when you're cying for me."
    Good stuff!
  • Dan from Boston, MaF I N E STANDS FOR F UCKEN I NSECURE N EUROTIC AND E MOTIONAL
  • Beth from Columbia, MdThis song is awesome in concert. Love these guys
  • Hans Andreas from Grimstad, NorwaySteven Tyler actually called his x girlfriend and asked her to forgive him after shooting this video! She wouldent come back:S
  • Marcelo from San Jose, Othertell me how it is that you can sleep in the night without thinking you lost everything that was good in your life...wow...I hope my girl take advantage of what I do for her...otherwise she's gonna lose me! great song...excellent
  • Michael from San Diego, CaFantastic, emotional tune....one of my favorites by this band, and I like alot of their music!
  • Melanie from Seattle, WaThis is probably my favourite Aerosmith song. love it. and the third time he says "Tell me how it is that you can sleep in the night without thinking you lost everything that was good in your life to the toss of the dice"... that gives me chills.
  • Ozzi from Brookhaven, PaGreat song from Aerosmith, they really kno how to rock even when they're doing slower songs.
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