What'll You Do About Me
Encyclopedia
"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.
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 ("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").
was the first artist to record the song in 1984 on their album, Day by Day on Atlantic America Division of Atlantic Recording Corporation. 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 #76 on the country charts that year. This version was not included on an album until 1987, when Koch Records
issued it on the compilation Early Tracks
. The band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did it for their album "Not Fade Away". The band McGuffey Lane
also recorded it on their 1984 album Day By Day, as did John Schneider
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, 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 #16 on the US country charts.
In Richard Carlin's book Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary, the author says that since it 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."
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by Dennis Linde
Dennis Linde
Dennis Linde was an American singer and songwriter whose work was primarily in country musicHe is best known for writing the 1972 Elvis Presley hit, "Burning Love"...
. Originally recorded by McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Columbus, Ohio. McGuffey Lane was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda...
then by Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
in 1984, it has also been released as a single by The Forester Sisters
The Forester Sisters
The Forester Sisters are an American country music vocal group consisting of sisters Kathy, June, Kim and Christy Forester. The quartet had commercial success in the 1980s, charting fifteen Top Tens on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including the Number Ones "I Fell in Love Again Last...
and Doug Supernaw
Doug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson "Doug" Supernaw is an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993, releasing his debut album that year.Supernaw has released four studio albums: Red and Rio Grande , Deep...
, the latter of whom took it to Top 20 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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 standOne-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
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 ("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 LaneMcGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Columbus, Ohio. McGuffey Lane was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda...
was the first artist to record the song in 1984 on their album, Day by Day on Atlantic America Division of Atlantic Recording Corporation. Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
was the second artist to record the song, doing so in 1984 on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. Released as a single that year, Earle's rendition peaked at #76 on the country charts that year. This version was not included on an album until 1987, when Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
issued it on the compilation Early Tracks
Early Tracks (Steve Earle album)
Early Tracks is a compilation album by Steve Earle. The album was released on 1987 capitalizing on the success of Guitar Town. The various rockabilly songs were recorded between 1982 and 1985; and includes songs from 1982's "Pink and Black" EP....
. The band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did it for their album "Not Fade Away". The band McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Columbus, Ohio. McGuffey Lane was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda...
also recorded it on their 1984 album Day By Day, as did John Schneider
John Schneider (television actor)
John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
on his 1984 album Too Good to Stop Now, Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
on his 1987 album Always & Forever, The Forester Sisters
The Forester Sisters
The Forester Sisters are an American country music vocal group consisting of sisters Kathy, June, Kim and Christy Forester. The quartet had commercial success in the 1980s, charting fifteen Top Tens on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including the Number Ones "I Fell in Love Again Last...
on their 1992 album I Got a Date, and Doug Supernaw
Doug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson "Doug" Supernaw is an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993, releasing his debut album that year.Supernaw has released four studio albums: Red and Rio Grande , Deep...
on his 1995 album Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind is the second studio album from country music artist Doug Supernaw. It was released on Sep 13, 1994 and it produced the singles "What'll You Do About Me", "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" , and "State Fair"...
. The Forester Sisters and Supernaw both released their versions as singles also. Supernaw's rendition was the highest-peaking of the three, peaking at #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."In Richard Carlin's book Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary, the author says that since it 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."
Steve Earle
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 76 |
The Forester Sisters
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 74 |
Doug Supernaw
"What'll You Do About Me" debuted at #62 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of January 14, 1995.| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 16 |
| Canada RPM Top Country Tracks | 26 |