Gary Troxel (b. November 28, 1939, Centralia, Washington) and Gretchen Christopher (b. February 29, 1940, Olympia, Washington) were two high school students waiting for Christopher's mother to pick them up after school. They started singing and humming a song together, and liked it enough to ask Christopher's friend and singing partner, Barbara Ellis (b. February 20, 1940, Olympia, Washington), to join them as a trio to perform it.
They performed the song twice at school functions, and their classmates wanted recordings of it so they could learn the song. After six months, they got the track recorded. They sang it a cappella, then dubbed the instrumental accompaniment, consisting only of Latin-styled acoustic guitar and the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. "Come Softly to Me" was also recorded by Frankie Vaughan and The Kaye Sisters, who had a chart hit in the United Kingdom with the song. The Fleetwoods' version of "Come Softly To Me" can be heard on a portable radio at one point in the 1986 movie, Stand By Me, which was set in Washington state.
Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records (later changed to Dolton Records), was responsible for the changes to the group name and song title. He thought that the title was too risque and not commercial-sounding enough, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me". He also thought that the group's original name wasn't commercial-sounding enough. The new name of the group, The Fleetwoods, was based on the telephone exchanges in the areas where the three members lived, Fleetwood2-xxxx and Fleetwood7-xxxx.
The Fleetwoods continued to record into the 1960s, with a number of other successes, although none so big as "Come Softly to Me". Their second hit, "Mr. Blue," was one of the few recordings by a white singing group to make the rhythm & blues chart. The beginning of the end for the group came when Troxel was drafted into the U.S. Navy. Additionally, the British Invasion of the mid 1960s ended the public's taste for sweet, melodic music.
By the late 1970s, Troxel was working in a plywood plant, Ellis was managing a trailer park in Canada, and Christopher was a housewife and modern dance teacher. In 2000, Troxel and his wife Jenifer lost a landmark grandparents' rights case before the Supreme Court of the United States. The court held that under the United States Constitution, non-parents seeking custody or visitation rights of a child against the wishes of the child's parents must prove that the parents are not acting in the best interest of the child in refusing custody or visitation.
What'll I Do
The Fleetwoods Lyrics
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Now and always
Though the seasons come and they go
Nothing will ever change
Well I took a little chance
And I laid my heart down
Thought you'd be the one
I took a little time
Though I knew it would be
That we had a date with destiny
Well out of the darkness (oh and I know)
And out of the long black night (yes I know)
You have given me heart, yes
And you showed me the light (and I know)
And I do, I do
I love you for what you are
Well this heart of mine, I know it so well
There are so many strange stories
That I could tell
Many is the time, I went out on a limb
You reached out for me baby
And you brought me back again
A lot of stormy nights
I've seen many a full moon, but darling
This is love in the afternoon
Well out of the darkness (oh and I know)
And out of the long black night (yes I know)
You have given me heart, yes
And you showed me the light (and I know)
And I do, I do
I love you for what you are
So out of the darkness (oh and I know)
And out of the long black night (yes I know)
You have given me heart, yes
And you showed me the light (I know)
And I do, I do
I love you for what you are
Yes, I love you for what you are
I love you for what you are
I do love you for what you are
Yes I do love you for what you are
I do love you for what you are
Yes I do love you for what you are
The Fleetwoods's song "What'll I Do" is about a deep and unchanging love for someone. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer declares that their mind is made up about their lover and that nothing will ever change, no matter the passing of time or the changing of seasons. They took a chance and laid their heart down, believing that their lover would always stick around. The singer acknowledges that there have been stormy nights and strange stories, but their lover has always reached out for them and brought them back again.
The chorus emphasizes that the lover has given the singer heart and shown them the light, and that they love them for who they are. The repetition of the words "out of the darkness" and "long black night" adds to the sense that the singer has been through difficult times and has emerged with their love intact.
Overall, "What'll I Do" is a deeply romantic and heartfelt song, expressing a love that endures no matter the trials or challenges. It highlights the power of love to transform and sustain us even in the darkest times.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my mind is made up about you
I am completely sure about my feelings for you
Now and always
I will love you forever
Though the seasons come and they go
No matter what happens over time
Nothing will ever change
My love for you is constant
Well I took a little chance
I took a risk
And I laid my heart down
I opened up to you
Thought you'd be the one
I had high hopes for our relationship
Who would always stick around
I believed you would be loyal to me
I took a little time
I waited patiently
Though I knew it would be
Despite the fact that it would be difficult
That we had a date with destiny
I felt that fate brought us together
Well out of the darkness (oh and I know)
Despite difficult times
And out of the long black night (yes I know)
Even when everything seemed hopeless
You have given me heart, yes
You have made me feel alive
And you showed me the light (and I know)
You gave me hope and guidance
And I do, I do
I really do
I love you for what you are
I love you just the way you are
Well this heart of mine, I know it so well
I am familiar with my own heart
There are so many strange stories
I have experienced many unusual things
That I could tell
That I could share with you
Many is the time, I went out on a limb
There were many instances where I took a risk
You reached out for me baby
You supported me and helped me when I needed it
And you brought me back again
You helped me get back on my feet
A lot of stormy nights
I have faced many difficult situations
I've seen many a full moon, but darling
I have experienced many things in life
This is love in the afternoon
This moment of love is special
So out of the darkness (oh and I know)
Despite difficult times
And out of the long black night (yes I know)
Even when everything seemed hopeless
You have given me heart, yes
You have made me feel alive
And you showed me the light (I know)
You have given me hope and guidance
And I do, I do
I really do
I love you for what you are
I love you just the way you are
Yes, I love you for what you are
I love and accept you completely
I do love you for what you are
My love for you is unconditional
Yes I do love you for what you are
I really do love you for who you are
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christine McVie, Eddy Quintela Mendonca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind