When I'm Gone
Mary Wells Lyrics
What are you gonna do when I'm gone?
Whose shoulder are you gonna cry on?
What are you gonna do on the day
When I turn my head & just walk away?
What are you gonna say to your friends
When the talk around town begins?
Will you tell them how you treated me bad?
Will you tell them how you made me so sad?
You make some people think that you love me a lot
We're happy in the public eye
They think you're such a wonderful guy
But they don't know how much you've lied
& they don't know how much I've cried
You're a real Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
You make a pass at every girl that you see
Then when they hurt you, you come runnin' & crying to me
I comfort you whenever you're low
& you don't have no place you can go
You put your head on my shoulder to cry on
& then you turn around & tell me a lie
& I just can't take it, I've gotta make it, now
(repeat & fade):
What are you gonna do when I'm gone
Writer(s): ROBINSON WILLIAM
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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This was supposed to be the follow-up single to Mary Wells' 1964 hit, "My Guy". There was apparently a contract dispute and she went to 20th Century Fox Records, where she recorded a minor hit "Me Without You" in 1965. "When I'm Gone" was recorded and released on the Tamla label by Brenda Holloway in the summer of 1965. She of course had her own Tamla (Motown) hit, "Every Little Bit Hurts" in 1964. That was a play on the '60's anti litter commercial "Every Litter Bit Hurts". Read Full BioThis was supposed to be the follow-up single to Mary Wells' 1964 hit, "My Guy". There was apparently a contract dispute and she went to 20th Century Fox Records, where she recorded a minor hit "Me Without You" in 1965. "When I'm Gone" was recorded and released on the Tamla label by Brenda Holloway in the summer of 1965. She of course had her own Tamla (Motown) hit, "Every Little Bit Hurts" in 1964. That was a play on the '60's anti litter commercial "Every Litter Bit Hurts". Holloway's version was a big hit where there were black radio stations, but it didn't cross over like "My Guy" which may have been the case if Mary Wells' version had been released.
It was a pleasure to hear this for the first time.
It was a pleasure to hear this for the first time.
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R P
What are you gonna do when I’m gone?
Whose shoulder are you gonna cry on?
What are you gonna do on the day
When I turn my head and just walk away?
What are you gonna say to your friends
When the talk around the town begins?
Will you tell them how you treated me bad?
Will you tell them how you made me so sad?
You make some people think that you love me a lot
They just don’t know you, and what they say is, oh
You’ve got me happy in the public eye
They think you’re such a wonderful guy
But they don’t know how much you lie
And they don’t know how much I cry
You’re a real Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde
You make a pass at every girl that you see
Then when they hurt you, you come running back crying to me
I comfort you whenever you’re low
And you don’t have no place you can go
You put your head on my shoulder and cry
And then you chose not to tell me why
And I just can’t take it, I got a need to know
What are you gonna do when I’m gone?
What are you gonna do when I’m gone?
What are you gonna do when I’m gone?
What are you gonna do when I’m gone?
Mason Martinez
This was to be Mary's next release following MY GUY . . . but she didn't renew her contract with Motown and left the Company. BG gave it to Brenda who had a huge hit out of it. This is stated in the liner notes in one of Mary Well's BEST OF cds.
Mary Emerich
Love Mary Wells, always have, she is one of the GREATEST !!! OLDIES WILL NEVER DIE !!!!
Linda Head
Mary Wells is truly before her time no one has such terrific lyrics like her. We truly miss her voice and writing skills. Mary Wells is my favorite artis. The world miss you.
Anita Cooper
The lyricist on a lot of Mary Wells song are from Smokey Robinson
robbk1
Writing skills? She only wrote her first song, "Bye, Bye Baby". This and most of her hits were written by Smokey Robinson.
Richard Willis
Kim Weston has a version of this song as well as Brenda Holloway. All three versions are winners..it's another GREAT Motown classic!!
Linda Head
Mary Wells is truly before her time no one has such terrific lyrics like her. We truly miss her voice and writing skills. Mary Wells is my favorite artis. The world miss you.
Bob
@Brutha Dnubian Yes, except for "Bye Bye Baby".
Brutha Dnubian
Smokey Robinson wrote her Hits!
Sharon Chisholm
This a great lady with a great Voice with many great Hits.