"
What It Takes" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was released in 1990 as the third single from Aerosmith's critically and commercially successful 1989 album
Pump.
Lyric
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.
Oo. 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,
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,
Music video by Aerosmith performing What It Takes. (C) 1990 Geffen Records