Mike & The Mechanics debuted with their stellar eponymous album in 1985 which highlighted Rutherford's innovative guitar work and the vocal talents of the two Pauls, amongst other guest vocalists. Initially, the group's albums were released between Genesis albums, all three Genesis members having solo projects of their own, most notable in the huge chart success of singer/drummer Phil Collins. This ended with the disbanding of Genesis in 1998.
The classic song "The Living Years" from the album of the same name was to be the height of their critical success to date; the #1 single was written by and about the dissension between singer BA Robertson and his father, a situation that was never rectified prior to his father's death, sung with great passion by Carrack. The album also featured the song "Nobody's Perfect" which received considerable airtime as the music to a successful television advertising campaign for Tennants bitter. Their third album "Word of Mouth" followed in 1991 with less commercial and critical success although the lead single, with vocals by Paul Young, reached the Top 20. The fourth album "Beggar On a Beach of Gold" was a high watermark in the quality of their material, with both the album and first single "Over My Shoulder" charting well with many considering the album the band's best work.
After a hiatus following Young's death from a heart attack on July 17, 2000, the band reformed in 2004 as Mike & the Mechanics featuring Paul Carrack releasing the album "Rewired".
A new Mike & the Mechanics album (titled "The Road") was released in the spring of 2011, supported by a 22-date UK tour. Replacing Carrack and Young as vocalists for the group are Andrew Roachford and Canadian actor/singer Tim Hower.
What Will You Do
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What will you do if you're left on your own
What will you do
What will you do when there's no one at home?
What will you do when I'm gone
What will you say when you're out with our friends
Will you just play them along
What will you do
What will you do with the life that we made
What will you say
What will you say as the memory fades.
What will you do when I'm gone
Will you admit that I'm not coming back
Will you just never let on?
You have to face it, it's nearly a fact
What will you do What will you do?
We said we'd always be together
You said we'd have the longest run
We found that nothing lasts forever
But you'll always be the one
What will you do
What will you do here when
I'm not around
What will you do
What will you do on the days when you're down?
What will you do when I'm gone
When I'll be wandering out of this world
Will you be acting so strong
Will I be losing the fight for this girl?
What will you do
What will you do when it's over and done
What will you say?
Say it was good when we played it for fun
What will you do
What will you do when you're no longer mine
What will you do
Will you be laughing pretending it's fine
What will you do
What will you do with the rest of your life?
The lyrics of Mike & The Mechanics's song "What Will You Do When I'm Gone" talk about what will happen to the person left behind when the singer dies or leaves. It is a reflection on the fragility of life, relationships, memories, and the inevitability of death. The song asks the person left behind what they will do when the singer is no longer there. It questions the emotions and actions that the person will take when they realize that the singer will not return. The song expresses uncertainty about the future and the unknown that the person left behind has to face alone.
The song also talks about the memories that the person left behind will have and how they will deal with these memories as time goes by. It questions if the memories will fade away or if the person left behind would hold on to them. It expresses doubts about whether the memories will be strong enough to keep the relationship and the love alive. The last few verses of the song ask the person left behind what they will do with their life now that the singer is no longer a part of it.
In summary, the song is a commentary on the inevitability of life, death, relationships, and the uncertainty that comes with it. It is a reminder that we are all mortal and that we must make the most of the time we have with the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
What will you do
Asking the listener what they will do in a certain situation
What will you do if you're left on your own
Asking the listener how they will cope if they are left alone
What will you do when there's no one at home?
Asking the listener what they will do when they are alone at home
What will you do when I'm gone
Asking the listener what they will do when the artist is no longer around
What will you say when you're out with our friends
Asking the listener what they will say when they are with mutual friends
Will you just play them along
Asking the listener if they will pretend everything is okay
And say it was better we quit in the end
Asking the listener if they will lie to their friends and say that it was better to end the relationship
What will you do with the life that we made
Asking the listener what they will do with the life they built with the artist
What will you say as the memory fades.
Asking the listener what they will say as their memories of the artist start to fade
Will you admit that I'm not coming back
Asking the listener if they will accept that the artist is not coming back
Will you just never let on?
Asking the listener if they will keep the truth a secret
You have to face it, it's nearly a fact
Telling the listener that they have to accept the reality of the situation
We said we'd always be together
Reminding the listener of a past promise
You said we'd have the longest run
Reminding the listener of another past promise
We found that nothing lasts forever
Acknowledging that nothing lasts forever
But you'll always be the one
Telling the listener that they will always hold a special place in the artist's heart
What will you do here when I'm not around
Asking the listener what they will do when the artist is not around
What will you do on the days when you're down?
Asking the listener how they will cope on the days when they feel down
When I'll be wandering out of this world
Imagining the singers impending death
Will you be acting so strong
Asking the listener if they will try to put up a strong front
Will I be losing the fight for this girl?
Asking if the artist's death will be the end of the fight for the girl they both desire
What will you do when it's over and done
Asking the listener what they will do after everything is finished
Say it was good when we played it for fun
Asking the listener to remember the good times they had together
What will you do when you're no longer mine
Asking the listener what they will do when they are no longer together
Will you be laughing pretending it's fine
Asking the listener if they will put on a brave face and pretend that everything is okay
What will you do with the rest of your life?
Asking the listener what they will do with the time they have left
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tom Gray
When the world stops loving you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
When your friends stop calling you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
Would you turn and run away, would you?
Or would you fight another day, would you?
Or would you try to understand,
Would you take it like a man,
What would you do?
What could you do?
What would you do?
'Cause friends come
And friends go
And sometimes
You've got to stand alone
And that's when
You'll find out
Just who you really are
When the world stops loving you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What will you do?
When the days bring nothing new
What would you do?
What would you do?
What will you do?
'Cause friends come
And friends go
And sometimes
You've got to stand alone
And that's when
You'll find out
Just who you really are
Whoa-oh
Whoa-oh
When the world stops loving you
(Would you turn and run away?)
Tell me what would you do?
(Would you fight another day?)
Would you fight another day?
What would you do, baby?
What would you?
What would you do?
Would you turn and run away, yeah
(Would you turn and run away?)
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
When the days bring nothing new
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
(Or would you try to understand?)
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
(Would you turn and run away?)
When the world stops loving you
Nicholas Goodrum
Great Song ~ the words so 'hit home' . . . 🖤
dean corbett
They just keep getting better and better
ian aspin
Andrew roachford gets better everytime i hear him he blends in perfectly with the mechanics
Karen jenkins
They're playing this song on the tour. Sounds great live too. Love it.
Calling14
Brilliant and sounded great live as well.
Karen Nicholls
Bloody beautiful band. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
L77kim77l
Brilliant song!
sinister geek
Thank you for the song!!!! THis really hit me!!
When your friend stop calling
What will you do?
What will you do?
What will you do?
Katie
I've been looking for this song ever since I heard it on the radio; I love it! 😄❤🙌⭐
Tom Gray
When the world stops loving you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
When your friends stop calling you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
Would you turn and run away, would you?
Or would you fight another day, would you?
Or would you try to understand,
Would you take it like a man,
What would you do?
What could you do?
What would you do?
'Cause friends come
And friends go
And sometimes
You've got to stand alone
And that's when
You'll find out
Just who you really are
When the world stops loving you
What would you do?
What would you do?
What will you do?
When the days bring nothing new
What would you do?
What would you do?
What will you do?
'Cause friends come
And friends go
And sometimes
You've got to stand alone
And that's when
You'll find out
Just who you really are
Whoa-oh
Whoa-oh
When the world stops loving you
(Would you turn and run away?)
Tell me what would you do?
(Would you fight another day?)
Would you fight another day?
What would you do, baby?
What would you?
What would you do?
Would you turn and run away, yeah
(Would you turn and run away?)
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
When the days bring nothing new
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
(Or would you try to understand?)
What would you do?
What would you do?
What would you do?
(Would you turn and run away?)
When the world stops loving you