"Do What I Gotta Do" is a song by former GOOD artist John Legend that released on November 22, 2024 as a part of his 20th anniversary edition of his debut studio album, Get Lifted (2005).[1] The song serves as the twenty-first track of the reissue and features production done by Kanye West and Dave Tozer.[2]
Production[]
The song features a prominent instrumental sample of Aretha Franklin's 1973 song "Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)".[3] The song has a tempo of 95 BPM and a key of D major.
Background[]
The song was initially made in 2004 and featured a much different beat with different drums and a verse from Kanye West that was later cut and replaced.[4] The song appeared on a demo CD tapes used as promo for John's album Get Lifted, though the song was ultimately scrapped. The song was later found on a 2004 mixtape.
Some time in 2024 the song was briefly picked back up and the production was heavily tweaked and Kanye's verse had been removed. The song released on November 22 as the 21st track to John Legend's 20th anniversary copy of his debut Get Lifted.[5]
Lyrics[]
[Intro: John Legend]
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah
[Verse 1: John Legend]
It seems like every time I come around
You say, "J, where have you been?"
(I've been sitting over here waiting for you all night)
'Cause you can't get your mind off all
The things you hear from your friends, no
(Ah girl, I seen him in the club wylin' out)
But I don't give a damn
'Cause they don't understand the things that we do, no
And they don't even know me
How they gonna know what's best for you? Uh
[Chorus: John Legend]
So, so, I'll do what I gotta do
I'm gonna get through to you
I'm yours, no doubt (I'm yours, I'm yours), yeah
I'll do what I gotta do
I'm tryna get through to you right here, right now
(Right here, right now)
[Verse 2: John Legend]
Living in the city can be so hard to stay on your feet
(This job is killing me. I'm tired of this.)
And girl, that's why it's good to know
I'm there for you and you're there for me, oh, oh
We're tired of chasing paper
Tired of struggling just for us to get by, oh yeah, uh
But if we stick together, we gon' make it, baby
We'll be alright
[Chorus: John Legend]
And I'll do what I gotta do
I'm gonna get through to you
I'm yours, no doubt (I'm yours, I'm yours), yeah, yeah
I'll do what I gotta do
I'm trying to get through to you right here right now
(Right here, right now) Hey
I'll do what I gotta do
I'm gonna get through to you
I'm yours, no doubt (I'm yours, I'm yours), hey, yeah
I'll do what I gotta do
Said I'm trying to get through to you right here right now, oh
[Outro: John Legend]
I've got you babe
I got you baby
I'll hold you down, hey, yeah, yeah
I'll do what I gotta do
Oh, oh, I'm yours right now, oh, oh, oh, oh
I've got you, baby
I've got you, baby
I'll hold you down
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh yeah, yeah
Trivia[]
- This marks John Legend and Kanye's first released collaboration in over 9 and almost 10 years, the duo last appearing together on the Big Sean song "One Man Can Change The World".[6]
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/7evc0CBi3ASwhBxAHBPUaZ?si=tc6L_jOQQTq3s88-5ks6AA
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/7h0k0F5P9XjF8OHK8Xvvnq?si=01300380d2f94ae8
- ↑ https://genius.com/John-legend-do-what-i-gotta-do-lyrics
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/4eda4ddbae4a7b06d517b302510b9293
- ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/get-lifted-20th-anniversary/1779401981
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/731Pa6Gt7GAdADATMSEL0N?si=5d44705d0d3c4616