What'll You Do About Me

"What'll You Do About Me"
Single by Doug Supernaw
from the album Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
B-side "Wishin' Her Well"
Released January 9, 1995
Format CD single
Genre Country
Length 2:41
Label BNA
Writer(s) Dennis Linde
Producer(s) Richard Landis
Doug Supernaw singles chronology
"You Never Even Called Me by My Name"
(1994)		 "What'll You Do About Me"
(1995)		 "Not Enough Hours in the Night"
(1995)

"What'll You Do About Me" is the title of a country music song written by Dennis Linde. Originally recorded by McGuffey Lane then by Steve Earle in 1984, it has also been released as a single by The Forester Sisters and Doug Supernaw, the latter of whom took it to Top 20 on the Billboard country charts in early 1995.

Content

"What'll You Do About Me" is an up-tempo describing a man who has just had a one-night stand with a woman. Having fallen in love with her ("But I fell in love and ruined all your plans"), he is still present the next day, standing on her porch, threatening to call the police and physically harm any other potential suitors[1] ("And what in the world are you planning to do / When a man comes over just to visit with you / And I'm on the porch with a two-by-two").

Recording history

McGuffey Lane was the first artist to record the song in 1984 on their album Day by Day for Atlantic Records. Steve Earle was the second artist to record the song, doing so in 1984 on Epic Records. Released as a single that year, Earle's rendition peaked at number 76 on the country charts that year. This version was not included on an album until 2005, when Koch Records included it on a re-issue of the 1987 compilation Early Tracks. John Schneider recorded it on his 1984 album Too Good to Stop Now, Randy Travis on his 1987 album Always & Forever, The Forester Sisters on their 1992 album I Got a Date, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1992 album Not Fade Away, and Doug Supernaw on his 1995 album Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind. The Forester Sisters and Supernaw both released their versions as singles also. Supernaw's rendition was the highest-peaking of the three, peaking at number 16 on the US country charts.

Reception

In his book Steve Earle: Fearleses Heart, Outlaw Poet, author David McGee describes Earle's rendition as having "a hard country edge and snarling, borderline confrontational vocal." He compared it to Travis's recording, saying that his interpretation showed a "cool, maybe even slightly goofy would-be paramour[…]treating it as a humorous depiction of all-consuming love—no harm, no foul."[1]

In Richard Carlin's book Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary, the author says that since Supernaw's version was released while the O.J. Simpson trials were underway, the trials "offered a somewhat creepy parallel to the song, which seemed to be sympathetic toward the abusive man."[2]

Chart history

Steve Earle

Chart (1984) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 76

The Forester Sisters

Chart (1992) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 74

Doug Supernaw

"What'll You Do About Me" debuted at number 62 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of January 14, 1995.

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 26
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 16

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McGee, David (2005). Steve Earle: Fearless Heart, Outlaw Poet. CMP Media. p. 69.
  2. ↑ Carlin, Richard (2003). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Taylor & Francis. p. 393.
  3. ↑ "The Forester Sisters Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for The Forester Sisters.
  4. ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9074." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 20, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Doug Supernaw Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Doug Supernaw.

External links