The Things We Have To Do

Song Meaning

The lyrics lay out a stark, almost resigned, list of human imperatives. The insistent "Yes we do" acts as a refrain, a constant affirmation of unavoidable actions and emotions. We "have to love," "have to cry," and "have to get up and walk" after falling, much like "rain." This establishes a tone that's less about choice and more about the fundamental, often difficult, requirements of existence. The central tension emerges in the pursuit of happiness and connection. The narrator acknowledges the effort required: "the things we have to do to be happy" and "the things we have to say / When you want your woman, your woman to stay." This suggests that maintaining relationships and achieving contentment aren't passive states but involve active, sometimes difficult, communication and action. The writing uses simple, direct imagery to convey complex emotional truths. The comparison of falling to "rain" grounds the experience in nature, while the idea of shining "like a star" offers a counterpoint of aspiration and resilience. The cyclical nature of "laugh" and "cry," "live" and "die," underscores the unavoidable duality of human experience, all punctuated by the recurring "Yes we do." Ultimately, the effectiveness lies in its unvarnished honesty. It doesn't offer easy answers but presents the raw, often challenging, list of what it means to be alive and to strive for happiness and connection. The repetition of "Yes we do" becomes a shared acknowledgment, a communal understanding of the burdens and beauties we all must carry.