About the song
The Everly Brothers’ “Baby What You Want Me To Do”. A delectable slice of early rock and roll pie, released in 1960 and finding its home on their album, A Date with the Everly Brothers. This song, though seemingly simple on the surface, is a prime example of the Everly Brothers’ magic – their tight harmonies, infectious energy, and ability to weave a tale of youthful frustration and yearning into a two-and-a-half-minute masterpiece.
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Composed by blues legend Jimmy Reed, “Baby What You Want Me To Do” falls squarely in the realm of what’s known as “swamp blues.” This genre, birthed in the southern United States, blended elements of blues, country, and even Cajun music, resulting in a sound that was both raw and strangely hypnotic. The Everly Brothers, however, took this foundation and injected it with a youthful exuberance that resonated perfectly with the burgeoning rock and roll scene.
The song opens with a simple, driving guitar riff, setting the stage for the brothers’ signature vocal interplay. Don Everly’s tenor floats effortlessly above Phil Everly’s baritone, creating a sense of tension and release that’s as captivating as it is effortless. The lyrics themselves are a study in relatable simplicity.
Our unnamed narrator finds himself completely under the spell of his woman, utterly devoted to her every whim. “Going down, yeah, yeah / If you got me high, got me beat up / Got me doing what you want me to do”. He’s caught in a cycle of highs and lows, dictated entirely by her desires. There’s a touch of playful exasperation in his voice, a hint of “whatever it takes to keep you happy, baby.”
Yet, beneath the surface of this lighthearted surrender, there’s a subtle current of unease. “Baby, what you want me to do?” The repetition of this question throughout the song hints at a deeper yearning for understanding, a desire to know if this constant emotional rollercoaster is truly the path to love. Is he simply a pawn in her game, or is there a genuine connection beneath the turmoil?
“Baby What You Want Me To Do” is a song that captures the essence of young love in all its messy glory. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the Everly Brothers’ talent – taking a simple blues structure and imbuing it with a youthful urgency and emotional complexity that continues to resonate with listeners today.
So, put on your dancing shoes, crank up the volume, and let the Everly Brothers whisk you away to a simpler time, where love may be confusing, but the music is always exhilarating.