Jimmy Webb is responsible for writing numerous popular and Top 10 hits sung by a disparate group of artists, including Glen Campbell ("Galveston"); Art Garfunkel ("All I Know"); Donna Summer and many others.
Webb's father was a Baptist minister and a former Marine. His mother died when he was a teenager. His most popular songs were all composed when he was between 19 and 21 years of age.
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.
He is noted for having written songs that were hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and is the only person to receive Grammy Awards in all three categories: music, lyrics and orchestration. Webb has also written the music for the animated film The Last Unicorn.
Webb is also a performer of his own music, although his solo output has never matched the commercial success of recordings of his work by other performers.
He was elected to the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.
Do What You Gotta Do
Jimmy Webb Lyrics
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Kind of hard to love a girl 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
But you just do what you gotta do
My wild sweet love
Though it may mean I'll never kiss your sweet lips again
Pay that no mind
Just find that dappled dream of yours
Come on back and see me when you can
Well, I know they make you sad
They make you feel so bad
They say you don't treat me like you should
Folks got ways to make you feel no good
I'd guess they've got no way to know
I've had my eyes wide open from the start
And boy, you 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
Though it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
Pay that no mind
Just find that dappled dream of yours
Come on back and see me
Come on back and see me when you can
The song Do What You Gotta Do by Jimmy Webb is a heartfelt ballad about a woman coming to terms with the end of a relationship. The song is narrated from the perspective of the woman, who admits that she understands why her partner wants to leave her, as she realizes that loving her might not be an easy feat. She acknowledges that she loves him better than his own family ever did, but she knows that their time together has come to an end because she always knew he would leave. Despite this realization, the woman encourages her partner to follow his dreams and do what he must, even if it means they may never be together again.
The lyrics are filled with raw emotion as the woman grapples with her feelings of loss and heartbreak. She reveals that other people have made her partner feel inadequate in their relationship, but she knows that he has never lied to her and that there's a part of him that others will never understand. The woman's vulnerability is palpable as she urges her partner to find his dappled dream, come back to see her when he can, and pay no attention to their past love.
The song's message is bittersweet and relatable, making it a classic ballad. Its graceful melody and touching lyrics have been covered by various artists, including Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. The song's timeless quality has continued to resonate with audiences across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, I can understand how it might be
I comprehend that it may be challenging
Kind of hard to love a girl like me
It's difficult to love a person like me
I don't blame you much for wanting to be free
I don't hold you responsible for wanting to be independent
I just wanted you to know
I simply want you to be aware
I loved you better than your own kin did
I loved you more than your own family did
From the very start
From the very beginning
It's my own fault for what happens to my heart
It's my error for what transpires in my heart
You see I've always known you'd go
I've always anticipated that you'd depart
But you just do what you gotta do
However, you must do what you need to do
My wild sweet love
My passionate affection
Though it may mean I'll never kiss your sweet lips again
Although it may indicate that I won't kiss your lips again
Pay that no mind
Pay no attention to it
Just find that dappled dream of yours
Pursue your own visions and aspirations
Come on back and see me when you can
Make time to revisit me when possible
Well, I know they make you sad
I'm aware they cause you sorrow
They make you feel so bad
They cause you to feel unworthy
They say you don't treat me like you should
They say you don't treat me appropriately
Folks got ways to make you feel no good
People have methods of making you feel horrible
I'd guess they've got no way to know
I assume they lack the means to comprehend
I've had my eyes wide open from the start
I've been attentive since the beginning
And boy, you never lied to me
And you never deceived me
And the part of you they'll never see
And the aspect of you they won't ever perceive
Is the part you've shown to me
Is the aspect you've revealed to me
So you just do what you gotta do
Therefore, you must do what you need to do
My wild sweet love
My intense affection
Though it may mean I'll never kiss those sweet lips again
Even though it may indicate that I won't kiss your lips again
Pay that no mind
Ignore that fact
Just find that dappled dream of yours
Pursue your own aspirations and goals
Come on back and see me
Make time to visit me once more
Come on back and see me when you can
Revisit me when possible
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jimmy Webb, JIMMY L WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind