For What It's Worth

Album: As You Were (2017)
Charted: 33
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Liam Gallagher met up with Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost, who also helped pen Sam Smith's "Leave Your Lover" and Avicii's "Waiting for Love." Liam asked Aldred to write him a song of apology that was regretful but not desperate. Hearing the opening lines of Aldred's demo - "In my defence so my intentions were good. And heaven knows a place somewhere for the misunderstood" – the ex-Oasis frontman was instantly in.

    "I'm not really that good at apologizing," Liam pointed out to Q Magazine. "So I got someone else to do it for me."
  • Speaking to Noisey about the song, Gallagher said:

    "Obviously I've made a lot of mistakes. That's life. I guess [the track] is an apology to whoever. I've pissed a lot of people off. But I'm certainly not gonna write a song for each and every one of them. There's one there. F---in' deal with it and move on."
  • Liam Gallagher told The Sun about the song: "I can say sorry. I am not shy at saying sorry and I've said it on numerous occasions and we've all moved on, " he said. "It's nice to say it in a song in that kind of way. That is the most Oasis-y kinda of tune on the record. I love it."

    Gallagher added: "A lot of people are going, 'Oh, it's about Noel'. Like I said before, I haven't got anything to apologise for to Noel. I haven't done anything wrong. He split the band up. There you go."
  • Simon Aldred explained to Mojo magazine he's from a similar working class background to Gallagher. The songwriter was born in Bolton, not too far from where the singer grew up, and they are similar ages.

    Aldred added: "We met in London and he said he could do with an 'apology song – but not to worry.' I said, who are you apologizing to? He said: Everybody! That was all I needed. I spent two or three weeks writing "For What It's Worth.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.