Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer and songw… Read Full Bio ↴Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter, born in Brooklyn, NY.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]

Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.

Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.

In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.

What Will I Do
Neil Diamond Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dumb dumb dooby dooby
Dumb dumb dooby dooby
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
Dumb dumb dooby dooby
Dumb dumb dooby dooby
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
If you decide to say goodbye
You're gonna make my poor heart cry

Oh,what, what what can it be
But time will tell if you'll be true
Or if you gonna leave me blue
So I'll just wait-ait and see
If you never gonna kiss me again
And you never hug me again
Oh, oh
What will I do
Oh my dear, I really try
When you're out with another guy
But I can't help feeling sad
This hurt I have within my heart
Is there because you want to part
Why must you treat me bad
Why do you want to leave
You make my poor heart grieve
Oh, oh
What will I do
And if you do remain
You'll set me heart a flame
Sure as the stars above
You are the one I love
Oh my dear I really try
When you're out with another guy
But I can't help feeling sad
This hurt I have within my heart
Is there because you want to part
Why must you treat me bad
Why do you want to leave
You make my poor heart grieve
Oh, oh
What will I do
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
Dumb dumb dooby dooby,

Dumb dumb dooby dooby,
Dumb dumb dooby doo wop

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neil Diamond's song "What Will I Do" revolve around a heartbroken individual contemplating what they will do if their partner decides to leave them. The repetition of the phrase "dumb dumb dooby dooby" and "doo wop" in the chorus adds to the sadness and confusion that the singer is experiencing as they try to come to terms with their potential separation.

Throughout the verses, the singer expresses their fear of being left alone while acknowledging their partner's potential to hurt them. They question whether their partner will remain faithful and true or if they will leave them feeling blue. The song also highlights the singer's efforts to keep their relationship intact despite their partner's wandering eye.

Overall, "What Will I Do" is a poignant expression of heartbreak and the fear that comes with the possibility of separation. The use of repetitive lyrics and melancholic melody adds to the emotions conveyed in the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Dumb dumb dooby dooby
No meaning

Dumb dumb dooby doo wop
No meaning

If you decide to say goodbye
If you decide to end our relationship,

You're gonna make my poor heart cry
It will cause me emotional pain and sadness.

Oh,what, what what can it be
What is the reason for this decision?

But time will tell if you'll be true
Only time will reveal whether your decision is based on your genuine feelings or not.

Or if you gonna leave me blue
Or if it is just an attempt to make me unhappy.

So I'll just wait-ait and see
Therefore, I'll just wait patiently for an outcome.

If you never gonna kiss me again
If we're never going to share a kiss again,

And you never hug me again
And we're never going to share an embrace again.

Oh, oh
Expressing sadness about the implied breakup.