What Do I Have to Do? (Stabbing Westward song)

"What Do I Have to Do?" is a song by American industrial rock band Stabbing Westward. The song was released as the first single from the band's 1996 album Wither Blister Burn & Peel. The song is considered the group's first hit and breakout single.

"What Do I Have to Do?"
Single by Stabbing Westward
from the album Wither Blister Burn & Peel
Released1996
Recorded1995 in New York City
Length4:09 (album version)
3:37 (edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Christopher Hall, Walter Flakus, Jim Sellers, Andy Kubiszewski
Producer(s)John Fryer
Stabbing Westward singles chronology
"Nothing"
(1994)		 "What Do I Have to Do?"
(1996)		 "Shame"
(1996)

Composition

In a 2020 interview with Songfacts, lead singer Christopher Hall said:

It's a song of frustration. Just the willingness to do anything to try and make somebody love you again after they've fallen out of love with you. And I think I can tell you with great certainty that there's nothing you can do! I think Lyle Lovett said it best in a song: "She's Already Made Up Her Mind"... and there's nothing you can do to change that.[1]

Music video

The song's music video begins with a shot of vocalist Christopher Hall standing in a desert, before falling backwards. The song begins with a woman singing the first verse. When the chorus starts, the video cuts to a shot of the band performing in the desert. At the end of the chorus, a car drives off. During the second verse, the video cuts between shots of the band performing and the car driving. At the video's end, the camera pulls around and reveals that Hall and the woman have both died.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."What Do I Have to Do?"4:07
2."Falls Apart" (Powdered Cat Mix)5:27
3."Slipping Away" (Suicide Mix)7:03
4."Nothing"4:50
Total length:21:27

Personnel
  • Christopher Hall – lead vocals
  • Mark Eliopulos – guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Sellers – bass
  • Walter Flakus – keyboards, programming
  • Andy Kubiszewski – drums, backing vocals

Chart positions
Chart Peak
positions
US 60[2]
US Alt. 11[3]
US Main. 7[4]

References
  1. "Christopher Hall of Stabbing Westward". Songfacts. June 1, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. "Stabbing Westward - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  3. "Stabbing Westward - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  4. "Stabbing Westward - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
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