The Echo of Absence: A Heart’s Lament for a Lost Love and the Void Left Behind
Johnny Mathis‘s exquisitely tender and profoundly melancholic rendition of “What’ll I Do” is a testament to his unparalleled vocal artistry and his ability to infuse timeless standards with an almost unbearable depth of emotion. While “What’ll I Do” was originally written by Irving Berlin in 1923 and has been covered by countless artists, Johnny Mathis‘s version, released as a single in 1957, was a significant early hit that helped solidify his burgeoning career as one of the great romantic crooners. The single achieved remarkable success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart and number 3 on the Billboard Jukebox Plays chart, showcasing his immense popularity in a vibrant era of vocalists. This iconic track was also featured on his debut album, “Johnny Mathis” (released in 1956), which, despite not charting in the traditional sense due to the album charts being in their infancy, became a foundational record that cemented his appeal. “What’ll I Do” quickly became a beloved classic in his repertoire, cherished for its raw vulnerability and Mathis‘s effortlessly smooth yet deeply expressive vocal performance. It further solidified his reputation as a masterful interpreter of romantic ballads, appealing to millions who found solace and understanding in his heartfelt expression of love lost and the profound question of how to carry on.
The story behind “What’ll I Do” begins with its prolific and legendary composer, Irving Berlin. Written in 1923, the song was initially a standalone sheet music hit and quickly became a popular standard. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple, direct, and universally relatable portrayal of heartbreak and the existential crisis that follows the departure of a beloved. It speaks to the feeling of being utterly lost and purposeless when the central figure of one’s life is no longer present. Decades later, Johnny Mathis, a young singer with a captivating voice and an innate gift for emotional resonance, chose to interpret this classic. His version came at a time when he was rapidly establishing himself as a vocal sensation, known for his smooth delivery and his ability to convey profound sentiment without resorting to overt dramatics. Mathis‘s rendition brought a fresh, almost ethereal quality to the song, emphasizing the wistful melancholy and the haunting question posed by the lyrics. His decision to include such a timeless and emotionally resonant piece in his early discography was a clever move, demonstrating his versatility and his respect for the enduring power of classic songwriting, even as he made it uniquely his own.
The meaning of “What’ll I Do” is a deeply poignant and existential lament for a lost love, expressing the profound void and disorientation experienced when a cherished partner departs. It’s a song about the complete disruption of one’s world, where the absence of the beloved renders all actions and purposes meaningless. The lyrics convey an overwhelming sense of helplessness, despair, and an inability to envision a future without the presence of the one who is gone. The repeated question, “What’ll I do when you are far away / And I am blue, what’ll I do?” perfectly captures this desperate plea for guidance in a world suddenly devoid of meaning. It speaks to the universal human experience of profound heartbreak, the feeling of being utterly lost in the aftermath of a significant loss, and the agonizing struggle to redefine one’s existence when the cornerstone of one’s happiness has been removed. It’s a timeless portrayal of a heart grappling with an unbearable emptiness, questioning the very essence of its being without the light of its beloved.
Johnny Mathis‘s vocal performance on “What’ll I Do” is characterized by his signature silken smooth delivery and a remarkable ability to convey deep emotion with exquisite control. His voice, a pristine tenor, floats effortlessly over the melody, each note imbued with a fragile tenderness and a palpable sense of longing. He doesn’t need to strain or belt to convey the heartache; instead, he uses subtle inflections, a gentle vibrato, and his innate phrasing to draw the listener into the narrator’s quiet despair. The instrumentation, typical of the lush, orchestral arrangements of the era, is a beautiful complement to his voice, featuring gentle strings, a soft piano, and a delicate rhythm section that creates a dreamlike, melancholic backdrop. The production is clean and elegant, allowing Mathis‘s unparalleled vocal purity to be the undeniable focal point. This track, an early gem in his extensive catalog, perfectly showcases why Johnny Mathis became, and remains, one of the most beloved and enduring romantic singers of all time, his voice a balm for broken hearts.
Listening to “What’ll I Do” today, particularly Johnny Mathis‘s tender rendition, evokes a profound sense of nostalgia, transporting us back to an era of classic crooners and timeless melodies that spoke directly to the heart. It reminds us of Mathis‘s unique gift for interpreting emotions with such grace and sincerity, making every note resonate with universal truth. For those of us who recall its pervasive presence on the airwaves, whether from our parents’ record players or our own youthful discoveries, this song remains a cherished gem, a timeless anthem for the quiet agony of love lost and the haunting question of how one can possibly carry on. It’s a melody that, even after all these years, continues to resonate with its poignant truth, gently reminding us that some absences are so profound, they leave us forever wondering, “What’ll I do?”