Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant & Bobby Brown
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant & Bobby Brown
Released May 13, 1991, “Do What I Gotta Do” was the third single from Ralph Tresvant’s self-titled debut album. Although the ballad about reluctantly ending a relationship did not register on the pop charts, it became a #2 R&B single nonetheless. The song was sampled by Fat Joe and Remy Ma in 20...
[Intro]
(Ah, ah) Oh no
(Ah, ah)
(Ah, ah) So, so hard, girl
(Ah, ah, I gotta do)
Mmm, I don't know how to do this
Oh, I guess it's one of those things a man just has to do
(I gotta do)
But I promise it'll work out for the better, baby
Trust me (Ah, ah)
It's gonna hurt, though
(Ah, ah, I gotta do)
[Verse 1]
I've been feeling lately
Like being single or just alone
To get into myself (I gotta do)
Love ain't easy making me crazy
Games that we play
Sometimes the rules have to change
[Pre-Chorus]
I don't wanna treat her cruel
But I like honesty
So what am I gonna do?
[Chorus]
I guess I'll do what I gotta do and break her heart
I don't wanna see her cry, but it's hard to live a lie
So I gotta do what I gotta do and break her heart
Though I love the girl I know
That the best thing is for us to be apart
[Post-Chorus]
Ah, ah
Ah, ah (Be apart, baby)
Ah, ah (Ooh-ooh)
Ah, ah, I gotta do
[Verse 2]
Any good relationship starts inside of a happy man
I think she will understand (I gotta do)
If I tell her straight up, then she can only respect me
Even if we don't agree
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, I don't wanna treat her cruel
But I like honesty, baby
So what am I gonna do?
[Chorus]
Oh, I've got to do what I gotta do and break her heart
I don't wanna see her cry, but it's hard to live a lie
So I gotta do what I gotta do and break her heart
(Break her little heart)
Though I love the girl I know
That the best thing is for us to be apart
[Bridge]
Listen, baby, hoo
Oh, sugar, no (Do what I gotta do)
I gotta do what I gotta do, oh baby
(What am I gonna do?)
Oh, let me break it to you gently
I don't want to hurt you, girl
(Do what I gotta do)
All that I can do, do
(What am I gonna do?) Hoo-hoo
Do ya do, do da do
(Do what I gotta do) Do, do
And I don't wanna see you cry, baby
But what am I gonna do?
[Chorus]
Oh, I've got to do what I gotta do and break her heart
(Her heart)
I don't wanna see her cry, but it's hard to live a lie
So I gotta do what I gotta do and break her heart
(Break her little heart)
And though I love the girl I know
That the best thing is for us is to be apart
(Do what I gotta do and break her heart)
Oh, her heart, girl
I don't wanna see you cry, baby
But you know that it's driving me crazy
Do what I gotta do and break her heart (Hoo)
And though I love the girl I know
That the best thing is for us to be apart
[Outro]
(Ah, ah, ah, ah) I know it's gonna work out for the better
(Ah, ah, ah) The best thing is for us to be apart
Do What I Gotta Do was written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
Do What I Gotta Do was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
Ralph Tresvant released Do What I Gotta Do on Mon May 13 1991.
There are many reasons why some songs don’t become big hits. It could be the timing of the song’s release making it compete with more popular artist’s songs. It could be the music video. The song might not have matched what was hot on radio at the time. There’s so much that goes into making a hit re...