Hey, What You Gonna Do?

Song Meaning

Matt Sharp's "Hey, What You Gonna Do?" drips with the paranoia of a man convinced his past is not just catching up, but actively trying to dismantle him. The breezy, almost nonchalant delivery clashes violently with the lyrical content, creating a tension that's central to the song's unsettling power. Sharp isn't just facing consequences; he's wrestling with a full-blown karmic onslaught, fueled by a past that includes "twenty women" and their "twenty-three" vengeful boyfriends. This isn't a simple tale of regret; it's a descent into a personal hell of his own making. The question he poses – "Hey, what you gonna do?" – is less an invitation to a duel and more a desperate plea for an escape route that seemingly doesn't exist. The almost off-hand confession of "twenty-one alibis" and the stark line "Only one gonna pay for it" throws a dark shadow on everything. The song's core anxiety stems from a fear of professional ruin, a "career" threatened by the weight of past actions. This isn't just about reputation; it's about identity. The curse, seemingly concocted by the collective ire of those he's wronged, represents the psychological burden of his actions manifesting as a tangible force. The mention of "accounting friends" who've "left" hints at financial instability, compounding the sense of impending doom. It is the feeling that all his past behavior is now coming back to haunt him. The song implies that his best days are long gone. But the most unsettling element of "Hey, What You Gonna Do?" is its parasitic quality. The singer isn't just afraid for himself; he's terrified that his "curse" will spread, endangering the one he addresses as "honey." The repeated warning, "The curse on me might get you too," transforms the song from a lament into a chilling premonition. The repeated phrase "learn to love" acts almost like a mantra, that may be the only way he can fight his personal demons. It's a dark, self-aware confession of guilt and a desperate attempt to shield someone from the fallout, solidifying the song's unsettling blend of bravado and vulnerability.