“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
Ever found yourself completely lost in a relationship, unsure of which way to turn? That’s exactly the emotional territory Status Quo explores in their contemplative track “What to Do.” Unlike their more famous boogie rock anthems, this song reveals a more introspective side of the band that many casual listeners might miss.
Released on their landmark 1973 album “Hello!” (which became their first UK #1), “What to Do” captures a moment of profound uncertainty. The lyrics tell the story of fleeting connections—finding someone “in a nowhere” only to lose them again, conversations about different life paths, and the persistent confusion that follows. The repeated refrain “I didn’t know just what to do” perfectly encapsulates that universal feeling of indecision we’ve all experienced.
What makes this track special is how it stands apart from Status Quo’s signature high-energy rockers like “Caroline” and “Roll Over Lay Down” that dominated the same album. The band, consisting of Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, and John Coghlan at this time, was at their commercial peak, having fully embraced their denim-clad boogie rock identity after earlier psychedelic experiments.
The song’s understated arrangement allows the emotional vulnerability in the lyrics to shine through. There’s something deeply relatable about the protagonist’s confusion—caught between dreams of a “pre-arranged” life and the unpredictable reality of human connections. It’s this emotional honesty that gives the song its lasting power.
While “What to Do” might not be among Status Quo’s most celebrated hits, it demonstrates the band’s versatility and emotional depth beyond their reputation for straightforward rock anthems. For anyone who’s ever felt lost in the maze of relationships, this song offers a comforting reminder that even rock stars sometimes don’t know which way to turn.
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Lyrics
This shit is staffing it
We in
Wow
The sheriff is coming
I found her in a nowhere and I lost her
And I found her and I lost her in a way.
She told me of a life, of a great life
Of a fun life but a dumb life in a way
We took off to a somewhere, it was fun there
All along there but we left there in a way.
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do, to do
We started talkin easy ’bout the sleazy
And the easy things that people do
I told her of a life, of a strange one
Pre-arranged one that I dreamt of anyway
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do, to do
I found her in a nowhere, and I lost her
And I found her and I lost her in a way
I told her of a life, of a strange one
Pre-arranged one that I dreamt of anyway
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do
I didn’t know just what to do