Aerosmith – ‘What It Takes’ Live 1997 (Reelin’ In The Years Archives)

Aerosmith – ‘What It Takes’ Live 1997 (Reelin’ In The Years Archives) | Society Of Rock Videos

Fresh From The Vault…

In ’97, Aerosmith’s ‘What It Takes‘ was filmed at the Paradiso Club in Holland for a Dutch television show, and lucky for us, there’s footage of this incredibly intimate performance!

The acoustics in this venue were outstandingSteven Tyler sounds the best he’s ever sounded, and my favorite part is the first minute or so where there’s no backing music behind him. All you can hear is that powerhouse voice at full volume, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

A Little Bit…Country?

‘What It Takes’ had a lovelorn, country twang to it when it was first written. Once the boys added Joe Perry’s gritty electric guitars to it, it took form as an amazing power ballad.

Steven Tyler always wears his heart on his sleeve – whether it’s performing or writing, what you see is very much what you get with him. ‘What It Takes’ is him asking the genuine question of, “how do I get over the greatest love of my life?” and not finding the answers he needs to move on.

All in all, we love this one and this video is incredibly special to us. It’s not one of the tunes mentioned when we talk about Aerosmith’s biggest hits or even the ones that have changed our lives, but it should be!

+ What It Takes lyrics +

There goes my old girlfriend, there’s another diamond ring.
And, uh, all those late night promises, I guess they don’t mean a thing.
So baby, what’s the story?
Did you find another man?
Is it easy to sleep in the bed that we made?
When you don’t look back I guess the feelings start to fade away.
I used to feel your fire but now it’s cold inside.
And you’re back on the street like you didn’t miss a beat, yeah.

Tell me what it takes to let you go.
Tell me how the pain’s supposed to go.
Tell me how it is that you can sleep
In the night
Without thinking you lost ev’rything that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?
Tell me what it takes to let you go. Yeah.

Girl, before I met you I was F.I.N.E. Fine.
But your love made me a prisoner, yeah my heart’s been doing time.
You spent me up like money then you hung me out to dry.
It was easy to keep all your lies in disguise.
‘Cause you had me in deep with the devil in your eyes.

Tell me what it takes to let you go.
Tell me how the pain’s supposed to go.
Tell me how it is that you can sleep
In the night
Without thinking you lost ev’rything that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?
Tell me what it takes to let you go.
Guitar!

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.

Tell me what it takes to let you go.
Tell me how the pain’s supposed to go.
Uh, tell me how it is that you can sleep
In the night
Without thinkin’ you lost ev’rything that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?
Tell me who’s to blame for thinkin’ twice.
No no no no.
‘Cause I don’t wanna burn in paradise.
Let go. Let go. Let go. I don’t wanna burn in paradise.
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
I don’t wanna burn, I don’t wanna burn
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go,

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