In the late 1980s Brickell was the lead singer with the (now renamed) folk-rock group Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, whose 1988 debut album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars was a critical and commercial success. The band's follow-up album, Ghost of a Dog (1990), fared less well. As a solo artist, Brickell released Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). In 2006 she reunited with some of the original members of the New Bohemians and they released the Stranger Things album.
Brickell had a role as a folk singer in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July. Her version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is featured on the film's soundtrack. Many computer users know her from the "Good Times" video which was included as part of the multimedia samples on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM.
Brickell married songwriter Paul Simon in 1992. They have three children.
What Would You Do
Edie Brickell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She took off in her stepmothers van.
A restlessness that blew her over the line.
Like the wind inside an aluminum can.
At a pay phone in a donut shop.
She called a friend back home.
Were all worried they've called the cops.
Are you crazy? Where have you gone?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave.
She ran out of gas down in New Mexico.
And got a job at a local cafe.
Friday nights they featured live rock and roll.
She fell in love with a boy who played.
He had soulful eyes and Indian blood.
No intention of staying around.
All he took was his harmonica and her heart when he left town.
He said what would you do if you were me?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave?
She never married but she did have a child.
A sweet young girl by the name of Sioux.
She had spirit and a heart breaking smile.
And some beat up moccasin boots.
And they had nothing but each others love.
An apartment by the tracks.
And when the day came that Sioux grew up. She said someday Ill be back.
Oh now.
What would you do, if you were me?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave?
The song "What Would You Do" by Edie Brickell tells the story of a young woman who is trying to find her place in the world. She drives her stepmother's van to escape the monotony of her life and the people who are holding her back. She feels like it's suicide to stay where she is, and murder to leave those who love her behind. She is searching for answers and guidance, so she calls a friend who is worried about her safety. She asks her friend: "What would you do if you were me?" but her friend doesn't have an answer.
As the woman drives through the desert, she runs out of gas in New Mexico and gets a job at a local café. She falls in love with a boy who is a musician, but he leaves without her. She has a child named Sioux and they live in a small apartment by the tracks. As Sioux grows up, she tells her mother that she will come back someday. The song ends with the question: "What would you do, if you were me? When it's suicide to stay, and murder to leave?"
The song has a few interpretations, but it seems to be about the challenges and choices of life. The woman in the story is trying to find her place in a world that isn't always kind. She is willing to take risks and make sacrifices to find her way. The song is also about the people we meet along the way who influence our lives and the choices we make. The woman's friend, the boy she falls in love with, and her daughter are all important parts of her story.
Line by Line Meaning
Barely old enough to legally drive.
She was young and inexperienced in the world.
She took off in her stepmothers van.
She left her old life behind without any plan or direction.
A restlessness that blew her over the line.
An undefinable feeling pushed her to leave and start a new life.
Like the wind inside an aluminum can.
The feeling of restlessness was intense and difficult to contain.
At a pay phone in a donut shop.
She reached out to loved ones for guidance while searching for direction.
She called a friend back home.
She needed someone to talk to and console her during her journey.
Were all worried they've called the cops.
Her family and friends were concerned for her safety and wellbeing.
Are you crazy? Where have you gone?
They were worried and scared for her and questioned her choices.
She said what would you do if you were me?
She was looking for guidance and empathy from others who could relate.
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave.
She felt trapped in her old life and needed to make a drastic escape for her own survival.
She ran out of gas down in New Mexico.
Her journey had unexpected obstacles and hurdles that she needed to overcome.
And got a job at a local cafe.
She was resourceful and found ways to support herself in her new environment.
Friday nights they featured live rock and roll.
She found solace and joy in the music scene of her new city.
She fell in love with a boy who played.
She found love and passion in another person who shared her passion for music.
He had soulful eyes and Indian blood.
Her partner had a unique and captivating personality that drew her to him.
No intention of staying around.
Her partner was a wanderer who did not want to settle down in one place for long.
All he took was his harmonica and her heart when he left town.
Her partner left her heartbroken and alone when he continued on his journey without her.
She never married but she did have a child.
Despite heartbreak, she found love and happiness in raising a child.
A sweet young girl by the name of Sioux.
Her daughter brought joy and purpose to her life.
She had spirit and a heart-breaking smile.
Her daughter embodied the same sense of adventure and purpose that she had always sought.
And some beat-up moccasin boots.
She raised her daughter with few material possessions, but with an abundance of love.
And they had nothing but each other's love.
Their love for each other was the most valuable thing in their lives.
An apartment by the tracks.
They lived modestly, but happily and contentedly, with little expectation of material wealth.
And when the day came that Sioux grew up. She said someday Ill be back.
Her daughter expressed the same desire for adventure and growth that she herself had always sought.
Oh now.
An expression of realization or understanding.
What would you do, if you were me?
A rhetorical question, where she once again seeks understanding and empathy from others who can relate.
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave?
She still struggles with the same sense of restlessness and a feeling of being trapped, but recognizes that every decision has a cost, and must be made with that knowledge in mind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: EDIE BRICKELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fulki habibilah
Barely old enough to legally drive.
She took off in her stepmothers van.
A restlessness that blew her over the line.
Like the wind inside an aluminum can.
At a pay phone in a donut shop.
She called a friend back home.
Were all worried they've called the cops.
Are you crazy? Where have you gone?
She said what would you do if you were me?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave.
She ran out of gas down in New Mexico.
And got a job at a local cafe.
Friday nights they featured live rock and roll.
She fell in love with a boy who played.
He had soulful eyes and Indian blood.
No intention of staying around.
All he took was his harmonica and her heart when he left town.
He said what would you do if you were me?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave?
She never married but she did have a child.
A sweet young girl by the name of Sioux.
She had spirit and a heart breaking smile.
And some beat up moccasin boots.
And they had nothing but each others love.
An apartment by the tracks.
And when the day came that Sioux grew up. She said someday Ill be back.
Oh now.
What would you do, if you were me?
When its suicide to stay, and murder to leave?
Shane MacIntyre
I saw her in the late 80's, and more recently, the Valcano tour. She has only gotten better with age. She will always have a place in my heart. Now if she would just do a duet with Tom Waits I would die happy.
kevykev38
A very underrated song writer. She needs to get recognized again. Great talent.
1965Vintage
One of the greatest singer song writers to ever live. Never could understand why she was always looked over. She makes me think with her lyrics. A true troubadour.
Jaime Hill
Charlie with the perfect guitar work 👌, both are spot on ❤
Doug Killgore
This one (and several others of hers) never fail to get me right in the heart.
90twiggy
I have every album Edie Brickell has ever made, nad I can honestly say she is the voice I want to listen to for the rest of my life. Her songs and her soul are so joyfully simplistic, yet so complex at the same time. She sings life, no doubt about it.<3
JeffreyDebra1
She is quite a talent and, yes, not recognized by the mainstream. What a voice!
Charles White
Currently going through a divorce, I've heard this song hundreds of thousands of times over the years. But this is the first time I've fully understood. Thank you Edie.
Pacerized
I love Edie Brickell's voice. I'm glad to see she's making new music again although I'd prefer it to be with New Bohemians.
StopMoColorado
Pacerized - They still play together, sometimes a couple of times a year...but usually only in Dallas or New York. Do you have "Montauk Sessions" and "Stranger Things"?