What'll I Do
Johnny Mathis/Percy Faith & His Orchestra Lyrics
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When you are far away
And I am blue
What'll I do?
What'll I do?
When I am wondering who
Is kissing you
What'll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?
When I'm alone
With only dreams of you
That won't come true
What'll I do?
What'll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?
When I'm alone
With only dreams of you
That won't come true
What'll I do?
In "What'll I Do," Johnny Mathis and Percy Faith & His Orchestra explore the emotions of missing someone you love. The lyrics poetically express the anguish of being separated from someone you care about deeply - the pain of being away from them, the fear of not knowing what they are doing, and the despair of feeling alone. The song's primary message is one of loss and longing, compounded by the frustration of being without the one you love.
The opening lines, "What'll I do when you are far away and I am blue," establish the emotional context of the song, highlighting the fear of being apart from a loved one and the emotional struggle it creates. The second verse, "What'll I do when I am wondering who is kissing you," exemplifies the agony of loss and separation, linking the feeling of emptiness with the visibility of the loved one with someone else. Finally, the song deals with the physical reality of the situation, "What'll I do with just a photograph to tell my troubles to," painting a picture of a solitary figure, desperate for comfort yet with only memories to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
What'll I do?
What actions should I take given my current emotional and mental state?
When you are far away
When you are physically distant from me,
And I am blue
And I am deeply sad and depressed,
What'll I do?
What actions should I take given my current emotional and mental state?
When I am wondering who
When I am curious and anxious about the identity of the person
Is kissing you
Who is currently sharing physical intimacy with you,
What'll I do?
What actions should I take given my current emotional and mental state?
What'll I do with just a photograph
What am I supposed to do with a single picture of you,
To tell my troubles to?
In order to reveal and express my emotional struggles?
When I'm alone
When I am isolated and without companionship,
With only dreams of you
With only my thoughts and desires of being with you,
That won't come true
That will never be realized or fulfilled,
What'll I do?
What actions should I take given my current emotional and mental state?
What'll I do with just a photograph
What am I supposed to do with a single picture of you,
To tell my troubles to?
In order to reveal and express my emotional struggles?
When I'm alone
When I am isolated and without companionship,
With only dreams of you
With only my thoughts and desires of being with you,
That won't come true
That will never be realized or fulfilled,
What'll I do?
What actions should I take given my current emotional and mental state?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind