That’s What We’ll All Do

Song Meaning

Tom Jones's "That's What We'll All Do" isn't just a simple love song; it's a masterclass in subtly portraying the anxieties and insecurities that often lurk beneath the surface of even the most ardent declarations of love. The opening lines, "When you're near I feel so blue / Yes it's clear why I'm so blue," immediately set a tone of melancholic vulnerability. This isn't the confident crooner of "It's Not Unusual"; this is a man wrestling with his emotions, perhaps even questioning his worthiness of the love he so desperately desires. The repetition of "What can I do?" emphasizes this feeling of helplessness, a stark contrast to the assertive masculinity Jones often projects. The core of the song hinges on the repeated requests for reassurance: "Tell me that you love me... tell me that you need me." These aren't statements of fact, but rather pleas born from a deep-seated need for validation. The speaker isn't simply enjoying the moment; he's actively seeking confirmation that his feelings are reciprocated and that the impending marriage is built on mutual desire, not just obligation or convenience. The line, "Just to hear her name / Sets my heart aflame," underscores the intensity of his feelings, but it's an intensity tempered by the fear of unrequited love. The final verses, with their promise of marriage, offer a semblance of resolution, yet the underlying tension remains. "Nestling by my side / I'm glad you're satisfied" sounds less like a celebration of intimacy and more like a sigh of relief. The phrase "That's what we'll do," repeated almost like a mantra, suggests a commitment driven by expectation and perhaps a touch of resignation. It's as if the act of marrying is less a spontaneous expression of love and more a fulfillment of a preordained script. The song, therefore, becomes a poignant exploration of the fragile ego beneath the bravado, revealing the universal human need for love and acceptance, even when cloaked in the guise of confident certainty.