"So What'cha Want?: A Break-up Song?"

[Mr. Juice]

As you know the Beastie Boys have very few songs (if any) about relationships.

Years ago, after memorizing the lyrics to "So What'cha Want?", I came up with a hypothesis:

It might actually be a break-up song about an unfaithful lover.

Here are some lyrics that support my hunch:

You're eatin' crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris.
Sounds like classic "gold digger" to me.

You know I get fly, you think I get high
You know that I'm gone and I'ma tell you all why
The female in question likes Adrock's good looks (who wouldn't?), and assumes he's smoking weed. When Adrock is out doing other things, it sounds like she has a lover on the side, possibly referenced in the next few bars...

So tell me who are you dissin'? Maybe I'm missin'
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
Adrock wants revenge.

So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want?
You're 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?
When the truth comes to light, the cheating girlfriend will be exposed.

You scream and you holler about my Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
Raggin' on Mike because of his car...damn that's cold.

Well, I think I'm losing my mind this time
We've all been there.

But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
Uh-oh, the girlfriend's cover is blown.

Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall if you're playing the wall
Dr. Spock was a well-known pediatrician. Adrock's talking about having kids. However, if his girlfirend is on the fence about it, he wants to know.

See I'm the long, leaner, Victor the Cleaner
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Mike D is just letting the girl know what's she's losing...one ill motherfucker with a long wiener.

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 leach
If you leave MCA (or any of the Beastie Boys) you'll regret it and come crawling back.

[brooklyndust]

Most Beastie Boys songs are like an episode of Seinfeld. They're about nothing.

[JoLovesMCA]

Maybe some their songs aren’t about anything but I think many of them are. Never thought of this one as a break up song. Interesting you mention this because I too thought about the fact that they never rapped about relationships although some of Yauch’s songs I can tell he’s talking about Dechen. Mike’s mentioned Tammy many times. In fact it’s Mike who talks about that stuff more than the other two. ;)

And isn’t the song OK about a bad relationship? I always thought it was.

[Bernard Goetz]

Netty's Girl is about the other girl.

[Jiberish]

]And isn’t the song OK about a bad relationship? I always thought it was. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I thought it was about obnoxious people talking on their cell phones in an obnoxiously digital/cellular age.

[abbott]

In the Hey Ladies song and MCA says that line about "maken love in the back......" i think he was refering to time where he and some lady got it on in the back of a Coupe de Ville

[JoLovesMCA]

I thought it was about obnoxious people talking on their cell phones in an obnoxiously digital/cellular age.

Yeah you’re right. I guess at the time when it came out I had different theories about it. :cool:

[Nicodemus]

This is the BEASTIE BOYS message board.

[Laver1969]

Most Beastie Boys songs are like an episode of Seinfeld. They're about nothing.

^I think this is pretty accurate.

Boomin' Granny could be considered a love song. And you can't forget my favorite Country Mike track, We Can Do This!

[Heather_D]

It's an interesting interpretation. I see most of the music as just fun. It can just mean what you want it to. I did find this very fascinating though

http://rapgenius.com/Beastie-boys-so-whatcha-want-lyrics

[brooklyndust]

I did find this very fascinating though

http://rapgenius.com/Beastie-boys-so-whatcha-want-lyrics

I'm going to be on that site all day at work tomorrow.

[paperdali]

The Spanish lyrics at the end of The Move translate to: "Once upon a time, there was a great king who had a lot of land, a castle, and a love too." I thought that was about Adrock's marriage breaking up. That was about the time, wasn't it? And it always makes me have a sad.

[LongDuckDong]

As you know the Beastie Boys have very few songs (if any) about relationships.

Years ago, after memorizing the lyrics to "So What'cha Want?", I came up with a hypothesis:

It might actually be a break-up song about an unfaithful lover.

Here are some lyrics that support my hunch:

You're eatin' crazy cheese like you would think I'm from Paris.
Sounds like classic "gold digger" to me.

You know I get fly, you think I get high
You know that I'm gone and I'ma tell you all why
The female in question likes Adrock's good looks (who wouldn't?), and assumes he's smoking weed. When Adrock is out doing other things, it sounds like she has a lover on the side, possibly referenced in the next few bars...

So tell me who are you dissin'? Maybe I'm missin'
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
Adrock wants revenge.

So what'cha, what'cha, what'cha want?
You're 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?
When the truth comes to light, the cheating girlfriend will be exposed.

You scream and you holler about my Chevy Impala
But the sweat is getting wet around the ring around your collar
Raggin' on Mike because of his car...damn that's cold.

Well, I think I'm losing my mind this time
We've all been there.

But in the meantime, I'm wise to the demise
I've got eyes in the back of my head so I realize
Uh-oh, the girlfriend's cover is blown.

Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall if you're playing the wall
Dr. Spock was a well-known pediatrician. Adrock's talking about having kids. However, if his girlfirend is on the fence about it, he wants to know.

See I'm the long, leaner, Victor the Cleaner
I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Mike D is just letting the girl know what's she's losing...one ill motherfucker with a long wiener.

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 leach
If you leave MCA (or any of the Beastie Boys) you'll regret it and come crawling back.

I give you credit for giving yourself and accomplishing a fun, Beastie "homework" assignment if you will. This is fun to break it down and see your interpretation of it and had a few hmmmm/aha! moments. Whether it's the case or not who knows, but it's an interesting read. Thanks man.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

I thought it was a song about literacy.

[Heather_D]

I'm going to be on that site all day at work tomorrow.

I am not responsible for any action taken against you by the powers that be at your workplace :D
But I can't say I blame you.

[fonky pizza]

This is the BEASTIE BOYS message board.

:cool:

[beasties#1fan]

Most Beastie Boys songs are like an episode of Seinfeld. They're about nothing.
Lol(y)

[FLO MASTER]

Lol(y)



what about the check writing part? alimony?

[beasties#1fan]

what about the check writing part? alimony?
No...he's got a point...most beastie songs are about random things.

[Heather_D]

No...he's got a point...most beastie songs are about random things.

The check part could refer to his skillz. Meaning, other MCs write rhymes that don't stick- they just bounce. Could refer to the Pee Wee Herman phrase, "I'm rubber & you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me & sticks to you.". Meaning, whatever others say about them is just a reflection on the other MCs.

Anyone know if any Unis are offering a course in this?

[FLO MASTER]

The check part could refer to his skillz. Meaning, other MCs write rhymes that don't stick- they just bounce. Could refer to the Pee Wee Herman phrase, "I'm rubber & you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me & sticks to you.". Meaning, whatever others say about them is just a reflection on the other MCs.

Anyone know if any Unis are offering a course in this?

that phrase didnt originate from pee wee!:D

[TimDoolan]

Well, I'm Dr. Spock, I'm here to rock, y'all
I want you off the wall if you're playing the wall
Dr. Spock was a well-known pediatrician. Adrock's talking about having kids. However, if his girlfirend is on the fence about it, he wants to know.

Had to laugh it that one.

[FLO MASTER]

I thought it was about obnoxious people talking on their cell phones in an obnoxiously digital/cellular age.

1992 the cell phone craze hadnt been that popular yet.

[Bernard Goetz]

1992 the cell phone craze hadnt been that popular yet.

OK is from 2011.

[WhoMoi?]

I give you credit for giving yourself and accomplishing a fun, Beastie "homework" assignment if you will. This is fun to break it down and see your interpretation of it and had a few hmmmm/aha! moments. Whether it's the case or not who knows, but it's an interesting read. Thanks man.

Co-signing this ^
I had definitely never interpreted SWW in that way before, so it was cool to read that, Mr. Juice!

Maybe most of their songs are about "nothing," but they definitely have more than a few songs that have a very obvious message/focus, and then some others that may have a less obvious one...
I remember after TT5B came out, someone on here was saying that they thought "Oh Word?" was about respecting animals, and I hadn't noticed that at all. Then when I really listened, I realized that that theme was definitely in parts of the song; it's not pervasive throughout it, but one of Yauch's verses is definitely about that, and there's a line or two from Mike on that topic as well.

Anyways...I have the sudden urge to go watch some Seinfeld now. :)