WHAT FOR

First released 1988

What For began life with Tim's phonetic singing of "Bonjour, bouncy, bouncy bonjour" as the chorus.  The lyrics also referred to Sellafield seas in relation to the pollution from the nuclear reprocessing centre on the North West coast. 

The meaning of the song is about a man feeling down on his luck in Manchester City Centre and looking up at the birds ("square starlings dancing on air") circling above him and making him think the world isn't as bad as he first thought.

Sire refused to heavily promote the single when it was finally released in March 1988, claiming that it was too indie for Radio 1. 

WHERE TO GET

Single / Album Version : What For 7" (NEG 31), CASS (NEG 31C), 12" (NEG 31T)

Single / Album Version : James Who? – A Talk With US promo 12" (PRO-A-3127)

Single / Album Version : Strip-Mine (JIMLP 2), CAS (JIMC 2), CD (JIMCD 2)

Single / Album Version : Fresh As A Daisy - The Singles (2 disc version)

Album Version : The Gathering Sound boxset USB stick

Acoustic Version (GLR 6.3.98) : Sit Down Apollo 440 Mix CDS2 (JIMDD 21)

Live Version : Come Home Live Video (083 092-3)

Live Version : The Gathering Sound boxset - Come Home Live DVD

Live Acoustic Version (Glasgow 1999) : The Gathering Sound boxset CD2

GUITAR TABS

LYRICS

What For

Today, I won't think of any sad things

Will not think of torture, or the rape of nature

Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers

Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

The sunset tonight is beyond all words

In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

I will pass through the glass into air past those birds

In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye

Today, I will dive into foaming seas

Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

What for, tell me tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

I will pass through the glass into air past those birds

In the square I am sun I am sky

What for, tell me tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for