Status Quo - Whatever You Want - Live 2009

Written by Rick Parfitt and Andy Bown, it was released on the album of the same name in 1979 and has become one of the band's better-known works. It originally appeared on the band's 1979 album Whatever You Want and was later re-recorded for their 2003 album Riffs.

The song commences with a quiet introduction, containing a guitar playing notes from chords. Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi used chorus, fuzz and flanging effects on their guitars. This lasts for approximately 26 seconds, and fades out towards the end. After this, the guitar picks up once more with a D-minor riff, and 40 seconds into the piece, the familiar D-major riff of the song begins, accompanied by drums from the 56 second mark.

At 1 minute, 11 seconds, all audio pauses for approximately half a second; at this point, the lyrical portion commences. The music returns as soon as the first lyrics are heard. This pause creates a short-lived dramatic start to the song, which lasts for a total of four minutes.

Lyrics

Whatever you want Whatever you like Whatever you say You pay your money You take your choice

Whatever you need Whatever you use Whatever you win Whatever you lose

You're showing off You're showing out You look for trouble Turn around, give me a shout

I take it all You squeeze me dry And now today You couldn't even say goodbye

I could take you home On the midnight train again I could make an offer you can't refuse

Whatever you want Whatever you like Whatever you say You pay your money You take your choice

Whatever you need Whatever you use Whatever you win Whatever you lose

You're showing off You're showing out You look for trouble Turn around, give me a shout

I take it all You squeeze me dry And now today You couldn't even say goodbye

I could take you home On the midnight train again I could make an offer you can't refuse

Whatever you want Whatever you like Whatever you say You pay your money You take your choice

Whatever you need Whatever you use Whatever you win Whatever you lose Whatever you want

Whatever you want

Songwriters: Rick Parfitt / Andy Bown

Whatever You Want lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC