"What'll I Do" is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1923. It was introduced by singers Grace Moore and

John Steel John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

late in the run of Berlin's third ''

Music Box Revue ''Music Box Revue'' was a series of four musical theatre revues by Irving Berlin, presented from 1921 to 1925 at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The first show was staged by Hassard Short with music by Irving Berlin, and featured contrib ...

'' and was also included in the following year's edition."American Classics - Music Box Revues 1921-1924" (history), webpage
AmClass-IBerlin

Background

"What'll I Do" is one of the few songs by Berlin that is clearly autobiographical. His fiancée, a society beauty named

Ellin MacKay Ellin Berlin (née Mackay, 22 March 1903 – 29 July 1988) was an American author. She was the wife of Irving Berlin and the daughter of Clarence Mackay and Katherine Duer Mackay. She met Irving Berlin in 1924, and her father opposed marriage from ...

, had been sent to Europe by her disapproving father, a very wealthy Long Island magnate, in the hopes that MacKay would forget Berlin. (She did not and eventually they married.) The song was written during McKay's "tour" of Europe. In the lyrics, the singer longs disconsolately for his love, imagining how he can go on without her.

Recordings

* Nat King Cole recorded a cover for his album ''

Unforgettable Unforgettable may refer to: Film * ''Unforgettable'' (1996 film), a thriller starring Ray Liotta * ''Unforgettable'' (2014 film), a Bollywood film * ''Unforgettable'' (2016 film), a South Korean film * ''Unforgettable'' (2017 film), an America ...

'' (1952). *

Julie London Julie London (née Peck; September 26, 1926 – October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress whose career spanned more than 40 years. A torch singer noted for her sultry, languid contralto vocals, London recorded over thirty albums ...

recorded her version of this song in 1955, released in 1956 on her album ‘’Lonely Girl’’. *

Johnny Mathis John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum s ...

included on his ''

Warm Warm, WARM, or Warmth may refer to: * A somewhat high temperature * Kindness Music * ''Warm'' (The Lettermen album), 1967, and the title song * ''Warm'' (Johnny Mathis album), 1958, and the title song * ''Warm'' (Herb Alpert album), 1969 * '' ...

'' album (1957). *

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

recorded a well-known cover for his album '' All Alone'' (1962). * Johnny Tillotson released his version on an LP, EP and B-side in 1962. * The Fleetwoods released a cover as a single in 1963. *

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

released a cover as a part of her 1974 album Dark Lady. * Nancy Sinatra released it on the album ‘’Sugar’’ in 1967. * Harry Nilsson included this song on his 1973 album of American standards, ''

A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night ''A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night'' is a 1973 album of classic 20th-century standards sung by American singer Harry Nilsson. The album was arranged by Frank Sinatra's arranger Gordon Jenkins, and produced by Derek Taylor. This album ...

'', arranged by Gordon Jenkins. * Linda Ronstadt and the

Nelson Riddle Orchestra Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Records, ...

covered the song on her album ''

What's New What's New may refer to: Entertainment Music * What's New? What's New?" is a 1939 popular song composed by Bob Haggart, with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was originally an instrumental tune titled "I'm Free" by Haggart in 1938, when Haggart was ...

'', produced by Peter Asher in 1983, with tenor sax solo by Bob Cooper. *

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano", ...

released a cover in 1984 on her album ‘’Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Irving Berlin’’. * Pink Martini included it in their album Get Happy (2013). * Bob Dylan covered it in his album ''

Shadows in the Night ''Shadows in the Night'' is the 36th studio album by Bob Dylan, released by Columbia Records on February 3, 2015. The album consists of covers of traditional pop standards made famous by Frank Sinatra, chosen by Dylan. Like most of his 21st ...

'' (2015). *The song was included on

Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane (; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, filmmaker, comedian, and singer. He is the creator and star of the television series ''Family Guy'' (since 1999) and ''The Orville'' (since 2017), and co-creator ...

’s fifth album, ''Once in a While''.

In popular culture

*The song was used as a generalized theme in

Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Records ...

's Academy Award-winning period score for the film '' The Great Gatsby'' (1974) starring

Robert Redford Charles Robert Redford Jr. (born August 18, 1936) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the List of awards and nominations received by Robert Redford, recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Awards, Academy Award from four nomi ...

and Mia Farrow, sung by character actor William Atherton. *It was sung by

Mary Steenburgen Mary Nell Steenburgen (; born February 8, 1953) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter. After studying at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse in the 1970s, she made her professional acting debut in 1978 Western comedy film ''Goin' ...

in the movie '' The Butcher's Wife'' (1991) * Bea Arthur sang it in

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White ...

episode, "Journey to the Center of Attention". *The song was used as the theme tune to the British sitcom ''

Birds of a Feather ''Birds of a Feather'' is a British sitcom originally broadcast on BBC One from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998, then revived on ITV from 2 January 2014 to 24 December 2020. The series stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, with Lesley Jos ...

'', performed by William Atherton and later its lead stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. *An instrumental version of the song was used under the closing scene of "

I Do, Adieu "I Do, Adieu" is the fifth-season finale of the American television sitcom '' Cheers'', written by Glen and Les Charles and directed by James Burrows. It aired on May 7, 1987, on NBC. During the fifth season, Sam Malone repeatedly proposes to D ...

" (1987), the fifth-season finale of the sitcom ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...

''. *The

version of the song was also used in the closing scene of "The Jet Set," the eleventh episode in the second season of '' Mad Men''. * Adam Hurrey performed a version of the song in the style of football supporters as part of the "Football Cliches" podcast in May 2022.

Notes

External links

* {{Authority control Songs written by Irving Berlin 1923 songs Pat Boone songs Cher songs Rosemary Clooney songs Nat King Cole songs Perry Como songs The Fleetwoods songs Judy Garland songs Johnny Mathis songs Rufus Wainwright songs Anne Murray songs Harry Nilsson songs Linda Ronstadt songs Frank Sinatra songs Liza Minnelli songs Songs about heartache Songs about loneliness