What’ll I do?
When you are far away
And I am blue
What’ll I do?
What’ll I do?
When I am wond’ring who
Is kissing you
What’ll I do?
What’ll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?
When I’m alone
With only dreams of you
That won’t come true
What’ll I do?
"What'll I Do" came to Berlin
when he was slightly drunk on champagne and feeling sorry for himself
at a birthday party. It seems Berlin wasn't good enough for Clarence
Mackay, the industrialist father of Ellin Mackay, Berlin's intended.
Eventually, Berlin got the girl and a hit song in the bargain.
From: Alexander’s Ragtime Band 1938
From: Music Box Revue of 1923
From the Film: Big City 1948