What Do I Do Now
New single out and there's something unique about it
A few years ago, when we were getting married, Jason and I spent some time hanging out at American Legion Post 82. It was near our house and it ended up being our wedding venue, and they gave it to us for song. This is that song.
We planned the wedding very quickly. All in the same year we moved in together, adopted our dog Baba G, got engaged and married. Quite a year! As we were making our plans and scoping out the Legion, we gravitated toward Friday night karaoke in the front lounge. We’d go have a beer and sing a few songs with the regulars. It was a modest affair, but believe me there were some great singers hanging out.
We got to know many of them, but were especially enamored with ‘Commander’ Don and his wife Joann. The first thing I noticed was Joann’s impeccable intonation, and there was something amazingly pure about the tone of her voice. As I focused in on her as she sang multiple country classics, I noticed something else. She was using braille while singing because she was blind. I had never seen this before. It was fascinating. Don, her spouse, was the ever supportive partner gently helped her get where she needed to go to get her songs requested. He also was a gem and sang the country classics himself, and sometimes they sang together as well.
They befriended us and we discovered that we were actually neighbors and walked our dog past their house almost daily. They were so sweet and encouraging and Jason and I always loved seeing them and hearing them.
When the pandemic hit, obviously we did not see them very often besides a wave as we walked the dog by their house sometimes. I heard in 2021 unfortunately Don fell ill with possible Covid pneumonia and ended up passing away.
A few days later I received this song as I was cleaning the house. I sat down at my old piano and it came out in a few minutes. It came in the form of a duet between Don and Joann.
What Do I Do Now
What Do I Do Now
No more Friday karaoke
Singing Okie from Muskogee
Reading Patsy Cline on braille
Holding hands all the way home
What do I do now
That you’re gone
It wasn’t even how
This was supposed to work out
You are the love of my life
I’ll never leave you alone
I mighta been your eyes
You are my heart and soul
What do I do now
That you’re gone
It wasn’t even how
This was supposed to work out
I had a plan
Needed more time to understand
Our love will never end
Will never end
What do I do now
That you’re gone
It wasn’t even how
This was supposed to work out
What do I now now
That you’re gone
Wasn’t even how this was
Our love will never end
Our love will never end
Our love will never end
Our love will never end.
We recorded this song with Dexter Green and it was part of the SlowForce sessions, but it seemed to stand alone as its own single. It was also fitting to have my husband Jason Quicksall sing the male vocal part, in tribute to this wonderful couple that gave us advice, wisdom and love at a crucial moment in our journey.
It’s the first time Jason and I have released a song together! After all these years of making music, it’s my joy to share it with you here. It is up on the places you get music, including Bandcamp, where you can purchase a download.
Recorded at 3 Sirens Studio in East Nashville
Dexter Green - producer, engineer, mixing
Megan Palmer - vocals and acoustic guitar
Jason Quicksall - vocals
Robert Kearns - bass
Joe Pisapia - pedal steel guitar
Bob Lewis - electric guitar
Bryan Owings - drums
Mastering Chris Frasco
Please take a listen and let me know what you think!
xoxo mp
This song is so beautiful, Megan Palmer! xoxo from Sarah in Studio
Wonderful story xoxo