Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
Do What You Gotta Do
Al Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
kinda hard to love a guy like me
I don't blame you much for wanting to be free
I just wanted you to know
I loved you better than you own kin did
from the very start
it's my own fault for what happens to my heart
you see I've always known you'ld go
So you just do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
Now I know they make you feel sad
umm... make you feel soo bad
say you don't treat me like you should
they got ways to make you feel no good
I guess they've got no way to know
I've had my eyes wide open from the start
and girl you've never lied to me
and the part of you they'll never see
is the part you've shown to me
So you just Do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
So you just Do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
The song "Do What You Gotta Do" is a poignant ballad sung by Al Wilson that speaks to the pains of a broken heart and the complexities of love. The lyrics of the song are directed towards a girl, as Al explains how he understands why she might find it challenging to love someone like him. He doesn't blame her for wanting to break free and pursue her dreams, but he wants her to know that he loved her better than her own family did from the beginning.
Al then goes on to describe how he always knew that she would leave him, and that it's his own fault for what happens to his heart. He acknowledges the sadness that the girl is feeling, and how people might be making her feel inadequate, but he reassures her that he has always seen the best in her. Al encourages the girl to do what she needs to do to pursue her dreams and come back to him whenever she can.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the line "So you just do what you gotta do, my wild sweet love," where Al is reminding the girl to stay true to herself and not let anyone else influence her decisions.
Overall, "Do What You Gotta Do" is a melancholic and bittersweet song that encapsulates the complexities of relationships and how heartbreak can be inevitable.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl I can understand how it might be
kinda hard to love a guy like me
I comprehend why it is challenging for you to love someone like me.
I don't blame you much for wanting to be free
I just wanted you to know
I loved you better than your own kin did from the very start
it's my own fault for what happens to my heart
you see, I've always known you'd go
I do not hold it against you for wanting to be free, but I need you to know that I loved you more than your family did from the beginning. If something happens to my heart due to this situation, it is solely my fault. Despite everything, I always knew that you would leave me someday.
So you just do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
You must do whatever you feel is right, my untamed and affectionate love. Even if it means that I will never get to kiss your tender lips again, do not worry about me and go chase your dreams. You may return to me whenever it suits you.
Now I know they make you feel sad
umm... make you feel soo bad
say you don't treat me like you should
they got ways to make you feel no good
I guess they've got no way to know
I've had my eyes wide open from the start
and girl you've never lied to me
and the part of you they'll never see
is the part you've shown to me
I understand that they make you feel unhappy and undeserving, saying that you do not treat me properly. They may have methods to make you feel unworthy, but they cannot fathom the kind of person you are. I have always been aware of your true nature, and you have never lied to me. The part of you that they will never understand is the part you have revealed to me - the real you.
So you just Do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
You must do whatever you feel is right, my untamed and affectionate love. Even if it means that I will never get to kiss your tender lips again, do not worry about me and go chase your dreams. You may return to me whenever it suits you.
So you just Do what you gotta do
my wild sweet love
Thou it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
pay that no mind and find that dapper dream of yours
and come on back and see me when you can
You must do whatever you feel is right, my untamed and affectionate love. Even if it means that I will never get to kiss your tender lips again, do not worry about me and go chase your dreams. You may return to me whenever it suits you.
Contributed by Aaron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TPMI GROUP
girl you can understand how it might be
Kinda hard to love a guy like me
I don't blame you much for wanting to be free
I just wanted you to know
I've loved you better that your own kin did
From the very start it's my own fault for What happens to my heart
You see I've always known you'd go
So you just do what you gotta do... My wild sweet love
Though it may mean that I'll never kiss Those sweet lips again
Pay that no mind
Just chase that dappled dream of yours
Come on back, come on back and see me when you can
Now I know it'll make me sad
And make you feel so bad
They say you don't treat me like you should
They got ways to make you feels no good
I guess they got no way to know
I've had my eyes wide open from the start
Oh And girl you never lied to me
That's The part of you they'll never never never see
Is the part you've shown to me
So you just do what you do what you gotta to do
My wild sweet love
Though it may mean that I'll never kiss
Those sweet lips again
Pay that no mind
Just chase that dappled dream of yours
Come on back, come on back and see me when you can
Yes you just do, do what you gotta do
My wild sweet love
Though it may mean that I'll never kiss
Those sweet lips again
Pay that no mind
Just chase that dappled dream of yours
Come on back, come on back and see me when you can
Paul James
This song was written in 1967 by Jimmy Webb and this version by Al Wilson was from '68. The Four Tops had a Top 20 hit with it in the UK in 1969 and it's been covered by scores of artists over the years. Webb finally got to record it himself in 2010 on his 'Just Across the River' album.
Edouard Ballureau
A superb version by Tom Jones
thesegotoeleven
Gorgeous song. Deserves a much larger audience.
Billy Douglas
You're so right.
Annie 53
thesegotoeleven I’ve loved this song for years and years. 😊
Jane SYorks.
I referred to this song to make my mind up about a relationship, I wasn’t wrong. I love love this song and it’s my anthem
Take care folks x
Bernie Shaughnessy
Wow, this is the first time I've heard this version. Such powerful lyrics, Al Wilson sings it right form the heart. I love it
Bubblegum 1
Just beautiful. Don’t know how to describe amply in words, the utter power of this song.
Norm Gray
Great voice singing with real soul & feeling. Voices of this caliber are few & far between nowadays. Thanks!
123reletive123
This is the very reason why Al wilson will forever be the best. To take such a soulful classic, add a country twist to it an still make it sound amazingly beautiful and soulful really just baffles me. What cant this man do honestly