What Are You Gonna Do?
Background
"What Are You gonna Do?" is an album track on Mardi Gras, the seventh and the last long-player of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
On Mardi Gras, each member of the band contributed one-third of the original material. "What Are You Gonna Do?" is a song written, sung and produced by Creedence Clearwater drummer Doug Clifford. Reportedly, bassist Stu Cook plays the lead guitar.
Judging by the lyrics of the song, it seems to be a request to make his mind up for John Fogerty who was looking for a reason to stay in the opening track of the album. Clifford hasn't commented his lyrics.
Live versions
Creedence Clearwater never performed the song live in concert.
Critical reception
"Drummer Doug Clifford fares substantially better [than Cook]. He has been influenced by Fogerty himself, and at his best we can recognize something approaching Creedence's style. His "What Are You Gonna Do" is a listenable enough song, and one is left wondering how good it might have been if someone with a really good voice and a distinctive approach sang it — someone like Fogerty himself." -Jon Landau, The Rolling Stone, May 25th, 1972.
"Clifford fares a little better [than Cook] since his voice is warmer and he wisely channels it into amiable country-rock, yet these are pretty average songs by two guys beginning to find their own songwriting voice." -Thomas Erlewine, All Music.
Fans' views
"I have to admit, this song is catchy as hell. One of my favorite non-John CCR tunes."
Written by Doug Clifford.
Recorded at Studio C, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, USA, in January 1972.
Appears on the Mardi Gras album.
Released on April 11th, 1972.