What'll I Do

Album: Lessons Learned (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This country-tinged song is part of Robert De Leo's first solo album, Lessons Learned. Written largely during the pandemic, a lot of the album deals with regret and the struggle to move past a relationship that has ended. In a Songfacts track by track, he said of this song: "It's that feeling of being a little helpless and swimming around in that ocean of not really being there for yourself. I don't mean to sound so therapist-like, but kind of swimming and wondering what is going to happen. Another part of my journal."
  • The lead vocal is by Johnny Irion, who often performs with his wife, Sarah Lee Guthrie. De Leo says he "just nailed the sentiment" of the lyric.
  • De Leo's Stone Temple Pilots bandmate Eric Kretz played drums on the track. Matt Rohde contributed piano and organ, and Dave Eggar worked on the string arrangement.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."