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

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.