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What Can I Do

from Every Little Thing by Jeremey Frederick

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about

"What Can I Do" is a song I had the great pleasure of writing with one of my musical heros, John Spinks of The Outfield. I was 14 when "Play Deep" came out, and "Your Love" was on every Walkman and every radio during that summer. It was the textbook summer pop song, with a riff that immediately grabs you by the heart, and one of the most compelling male pop vocals of the decade (and possibly since) by Tony Lewis. That the song has persevered over the years, being covered by so many contemporary artists to this day, is a testament to John's melodic gifts and Tony's refined, soaring delivery. What makes the song so great to me though, is how Tony's confidence at the beginning of the song belies his desperation to make a lasting connection with this girl. "Come around and talk it over" - the words of a player to be sure. You can almost hear the smirk in Tony's voice as he admits that he "likes his girls a little bit older." But by the bridge, this facade has broken down amidst trembling hands and stammered words. When the final coda takes flight, it's clear that this is one last desperate plea to a lost love, and he'd do or say anything to capture that magic one last time.

I met John through his manager in 2008, after the dust had settled on my Journey experience and we wrote a few songs together before our respective businesses diverted our attentions elsewhere. "What Can I Do" is the song I always hoped I could write, with one of my biggest heroes and musical influences. I'd take one "What Can I Do's" over 100 "Never Walk Away's," any day, any time. Over the past few years I've been blessed to grow my friendship with John. They say you're better off never meeting your heroes, but in this case, they are wrong. The music business is a jaded, cynical, cutthroat industry. And then there's people like John. And that's enough to keep my faith both in people and in music alive.

lyrics

YOU NEVER FILL ME WITH CONFIDENCE
YOU ONLY LEAVE ME IN PAIN
FOREVER ACTING SO NONCHALANT
IT HAPPENS TIME AND AGAIN

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU WANT ME?
WHO CAN I BE SO YOU’LL LET ME KNOW?
SOME PART OF YOU’S ALREADY LONELY
AND PART OF YOU WON’T LET ME GO

IT WASN’T LIKE THIS SO LONG AGO
YOU’D ALWAYS BE BY MY SIDE
BUT LATELY YOU’VE BEEN INVISIBLE
NO MATTER HOW HARD I’VE TRIED

YOU’RE TURNING YOUR BACK ON ME EVER AGAIN
I’M WAITING ON YOU TO DECIDE

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU WANT ME?
WHO CAN I BE SO YOU’LL LET ME KNOW?
SOME PART OF YOU’S ALREADY LONELY
AND PART OF YOU WON’T LET ME GO

YOU’RE TURNING YOUR BACK ON ME EVER AGAIN
I’M WAITING ON YOU TO DECIDE

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU WANT ME?
WHO CAN I BE SO YOU’LL LET ME KNOW?
SOME PART OF YOU’S ALREADY LONELY
AND PART OF YOU WON’T LET ME GO

credits

from Every Little Thing, released March 6, 2012
Vocals: Jeremey Frederick
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards: John Spinks
Drums: Vic Rivera
Written by Jeremey Hunsicker & John Spinks
© 2012 All rights reserved

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Jeremey Frederick Roanoke, Virginia

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