Chris Duarte could be described in a number of different ways, but to keep … Read Full Bio ↴Chris Duarte could be described in a number of different ways, but to keep it simple: he's one hell of a guitarist. Keeping an open mind, Chris reflects his style and music in a very authentic way citing John Coltrane and John McLaughlin as major influences as his blues roots. He is a must-see live, performing everything with his own "Chris Duarte" approach.

Duarte was first inspired by music at age 8 after seeing Fiddler On The Roof on television. Duarte began playing his brother's guitar, and got his first electric guitar at the age of 14 and played with bands in San Antonio. In 1979, Duarte moved to Austin, Texas and purchased a 1963 Fender Stratocaster guitar for $500. Duarte began exploring the jazz music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

Duarte won a label recording contract with Silvertone Records and released Texas Sugar/Strat Magik in 1994, and was named "Best New Talent" in Guitar Player’s 1995 Reader's Poll.[citation needed] He finished fourth in the magazine’s "Best Blues Guitarist" category behind Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

Though Duarte has played a limited number of U.S. dates in recent years with the Japanese band Bluestone Company backing him, he performs primarily as a power trio, the 'Chris Duarte Group'. Originally formed with long-time friends and collaborators John Jordan on bass and Jeff Hodges on drums, the current incarnation features Matt Stallard on bass and Chris Burroughs on drums. Apart from his band, Duarte has performed with Julie Burrell, Diana Cantu, Bobby Mack, Tracy Conover, Indigenous, and Omar & the Howlers.

Duarte's concert dates in Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville were filmed for "The PBS Project". This side-project featured Steve Bailey on bass and Jeff Sipe on drums.

What Can I Do
Chris Duarte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, here I am
What can I do?
You got a strange man
Hangin' onto you

Now there I go
Out on the road
You've run up bills

So I've got to make me some dough

What can I do?
What can I do?
'Cause over you
You know that I love you

('Cause)
Only you
I'd do anything for you

And now I'm home
A brand new day
And here you come
Askin' me for my pay

I wonder why
You treat me this way
I think I'll lay me head down
And cry all night and day

What can I do?
What can I do?
'Cause over you
You know that I love you

('Cause)
Only you
I'd do anything for you

Our life is wrecked
Our love is through
And I am so, so tired
Of cryin' over you

You hurt my head
You've hurt me so
But I love you so much
I never ask you to go

What can I do?
What can I do?
'Cause over you
You know that I love you

('Cause)
Only you
I'd do anything for you

Oh, you know that's true
So, so true

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chris Duarte's "What Can I Do" tell the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who is no good for him. He finds himself in a difficult situation because he is struggling to make ends meet while his partner is spending money recklessly. The song has a melancholic tone, reflecting the sadness of loving someone who is not reciprocating the feeling.

The opening lyrics - "Yeah, here I am, what can I do? You got a strange man hanging onto you" - reveal the man's helplessness in the situation. Despite his love for her, he knows that he cannot change her or her choices. He then goes on to sing about his struggles to make money and keep up with the bills due to his partner's behavior. The lyrics "out on the road, you've run up bills, so I've got to make me some dough" reflect his attempts to fix the financial mess that his partner has created.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the man is aware of the toxic nature of his relationship, but he still cannot bring himself to leave. He sings lines like "our life is wrecked, our love is through, and I am so tired of crying over you" and "you hurt my head, you've hurt me so, but I love you so much, I never ask you to go". The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the man expressing his willingness to do anything for his partner, despite the pain she causes him.

In summary, "What Can I Do" is a poignant reminder that love can sometimes be painful, and it is important to recognize when it is time to let go.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, here I am
I am present and ready.

What can I do?
What actions can I take to change this situation?

You got a strange man
There is another man in your life who I don't know.

Hangin' onto you
He is holding onto you in a way that concerns me.

Now there I go
Now I must leave.

Out on the road
I must travel to make money.

You've run up bills
You have spent a lot of money that we do not have.

So I've got to make me some dough
I need to make money to pay our bills.

'Cause over you
Because I love you.

You know that I love you
I am deeply in love with you.