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John Hiatt — What Do We Do Now
Album: Crossing Muddy Waters
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 714









Released: 2000
Length: 2:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now

When it's lying there with a busted heart
Like a piece of glass where do you start
Do we pick it up or say goodbye
Is there one tear left for us to cry

What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now

What if I can't stay
What if you can't stay
What if I can't leave
What if you can't leave

What if I believed
Every word you say
What if you believed
Until today

Do we call the kids
Or call the cops
Can you hold me 'till
This howling stops

What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now

Gimme back my steel,
Gimme back my nerve
Gimme back my youth
For the dead man's curve
For that icy feel when
You start to swerve
Give us back the love
We don't deserve

'cause we rode it long,
We drove it hard
And we wrecked it
In our own backyard

What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now
What do we do now
Comments (40)add comment


I love the music on RP and always appreciate the positive comments and stories that folks share, and love exposure to new (to me) regardless of the 'when' the music as created.
But also have to come to love the images / photographs that go along with each piece of music, yet never see a comment on those . . .
My best wishes and deepest gratitude to Bill and Rebecca for all that you do!!
Honey in the heart, 13 thank yous, Long Life!

Posted 1 year ago by B4D3neaker3    [ Reply ]
 ckevin63 wrote:
'cause we rode it long,
We drove it hard
And we wrecked it
In our own backyard

I love that part.
One of his best of a long line of excellent songs.
 

Me too.  It's sublime and 100% accurate for many of us.
Posted 4 years ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
Hiatt is a brilliant songwriter & performer. I catch him every time he comes through & he never disappoints. 
Posted 4 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
 ChicoCyclist wrote:
Love this song! Most powerful on the album, which is outstanding, IMHO. Gonna see Mr. Hiatt and the Mississippi All Stars at Strawberry this weekend! Woooohooooo!
 

That was a great tour.  I still remember how well the All Stars (a great band) fit in as Hiatt's backing band.
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
This album takes the listener on a heart felt journey through loss, despair, pain and finally hope. I love the entire  journey.
Posted 5 years ago by chinacat    [ Reply ]
 MrsAustin wrote:
I didn't use to like John Hiatt's voice, though I thought he was a masterful songwriter...it seems now that I cannot get enough of his ethereal sound. This song and 'Crossing Muddy Waters' transport me to a world I don't know now, but have known in some previous past...
 
Yes, this man's voice is not the best.  But as I was fortunate to see, listen and watch him in a small venue with Lyle Lovett in February, I saw the full person.  He has given us a gift of so many songs.  And he sings with every inch of his heart.  He is lovely in all respects, a humble man of music, giving his gift to the world.  Thank you Mr. Hiatt.
Posted 5 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
 ckevin63 wrote:
'cause we rode it long,
We drove it hard
And we wrecked it
In our own backyard

I love that part.
One of his best of a long line of excellent songs.
 



For that icy feel when
You start to swerve
Give us back the love
We don't deserve

I love that part better.  But yes, among the best in an excellent line of songs of life.
Posted 5 years ago by dziebell    [ Reply ]
'cause we rode it long,
We drove it hard
And we wrecked it
In our own backyard

I love that part.
One of his best of a long line of excellent songs.
Posted 5 years ago by ckevin63    [ Reply ]
Answer:

He and Lucinda need to get outta town. Yikes. (Won't say hate, but a super strong dislike) 
Posted 8 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
I can't decide if I love or hate this song.

 
Here, I'll decide for you. :D

This guy sucks!
Posted 8 years ago by Athyrius    [ Reply ]
I can't decide if I love or hate this song.
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
I didn't use to like John Hiatt's voice, though I thought he was a masterful songwriter...it seems now that I cannot get enough of his ethereal sound. This song and 'Crossing Muddy Waters' transport me to a world I don't know now, but have known in some previous past...
Posted 17 years ago by MrsAustin    [ Reply ]
Simple and deep at the same time...Powerful!!! Call the kids or call the cops? WOW!!!
Posted 17 years ago by Farquwaar    [ Reply ]
What are we going to do now???
Posted 17 years ago by parrothead    [ Reply ]
Love this song! Most powerful on the album, which is outstanding, IMHO. Gonna see Mr. Hiatt and the Mississippi All Stars at Strawberry this weekend! Woooohooooo!
Posted 17 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
How am I supposed to work with all these sad songs Bill is playing filling my eyes up... John hits the mark on capturing this feeling... the relationship is over... how do you deal with the wreckage?
Posted 17 years ago by KKeith    [ Reply ]
... Wundershon! ...
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
beutiful song
Posted 18 years ago by 67nj    [ Reply ]
Wonderful
Posted 18 years ago by Moak    [ Reply ]
heeb wrote:
Glad most of you like it! My upload!!!
Thanks, heeb!!! I was sitting here, trying to figure out the more complicated aspects of HTML, and as soon as I heard the first four chords, I just knew it was John Hiatt! (Notice I switched from HTML-thinking to UBB for the word "knew"? I can be taught! Oh, and I put bold type on the word "can" in UBB instead of HTML. Dang, I'm good. So are you, for uploading this.) I love John Hiatt. He can be twangy, and he can be rough and raw, but he's always himself.
Posted 18 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Well, it looks like I am in the monority here. Don't like the vocals or lyrics. Sorry.
Posted 18 years ago by Drummer4soul    [ Reply ]
Glad most of you like it! My upload!!!
Posted 18 years ago by heeb    [ Reply ]
must be one of his best 'cause usually I want to smash a lamp when his uptempo, overly written stuff comes on.
Posted 19 years ago by moshevelvul    [ Reply ]
Bodhisattva wrote:
Great song off a great album
My thoughts exactly!
Posted 19 years ago by Chunnamark    [ Reply ]
Brad_Eleven wrote:
Give us back the love We don't deserve 'Cause we rode it long, We drove it hard And we wrecked it In our own back yard That's about as straight as straight talk gets, even with the metaphors. I've heard that the most effective marriage counseling consists of a simple question, repeated until the answer is "Nothing." The question is: "What are you hiding?" I guess it's only effective when the person answering the question is willing to really look, to go beyond simply answering to best of one's knowledge. I reckon Mr. Hiatt got a good look before he wrote this song (if not during)!
WHAT DO WE DO NOW? Nothing. Just sit back and enjoy...
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
laladex wrote:
The first time I heard this song was at a benefit and the audience was absolutely silent. I was left with a lump in my throat, close to tears, and completely moved.
Hiatt has that effect on me too! This is fantastic song!
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
ChicoCyclist wrote:
See him perform this live and I think you'll change your opinion...very moving.
The first time I heard this song was at a benefit and the audience was absolutely silent. I was left with a lump in my throat, close to tears, and completely moved.
Posted 19 years ago by laladex    [ Reply ]
I think this is the ONLY song in which I like Hiatt's voice.
Posted 19 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
Great song off a great album
Posted 19 years ago by Bodhisattva    [ Reply ]
And now the wheels are coming off over at KPIG.
Posted 19 years ago by barndweller    [ Reply ]
red5_bc wrote:
Lyrics and music are great. I've never liked Hiatts voice though. It just doesn't match the rest of the song... doesn't sound "serious" enough... hard to explain.
See him perform this live and I think you'll change your opinion...very moving.
Posted 19 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
This is an amazing song, one of my favorites from this album. Someone said his voice doesn't go with the lyrics... instead, I think it's very soothing, the low timbre like cream poured over very sharp gravel. There's a sadness there that's very poignant. Then again, I'm a Hiatt-head, so take what I just said with a grain of salt ;)
Posted 20 years ago by Rael_1975    [ Reply ]
Give us back the love We don't deserve 'Cause we rode it long, We drove it hard And we wrecked it In our own back yard That's about as straight as straight talk gets, even with the metaphors. I've heard that the most effective marriage counseling consists of a simple question, repeated until the answer is "Nothing." The question is: "What are you hiding?" I guess it's only effective when the person answering the question is willing to really look, to go beyond simply answering to best of one's knowledge. I reckon Mr. Hiatt got a good look before he wrote this song (if not during)!
Posted 20 years ago by Brad_Eleven    [ Reply ]
Lyrics and music are great. I've never liked Hiatts voice though. It just doesn't match the rest of the song... doesn't sound "serious" enough... hard to explain.
Posted 20 years ago by red5_bc    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by alanb: simple, but profound somehow
"gimme back my steel, gimme back my nerve gimme back my youth for the dead man's curve for that icy feel when you start to swerve give us back the love we don't deserve" This CD is actually a ride from hitting a relational and spiritual rock bottom to a tone of incredible hope at the end. It's really a type of story, and a very powerful one at that.
Posted 20 years ago by chinacat    [ Reply ]
Posted 20 years ago by Heathen954    [ Reply ]
simple, but profound somehow
Posted 20 years ago by alanb    [ Reply ]
I just downloaded this album from MP3.com\'s Emusic program. They are offering a 14 day/50 song trail period, so I jumped up there and grabbed the whole album. Glad I did, it is a great album.
Posted 20 years ago by Sarge    [ Reply ]
Love tuning my low E string down to a D , and play and sing this song!
Posted 21 years ago by heeb    [ Reply ]