The Unexpected Voice on Creedence’s Final Studio Album
When listeners think of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one voice usually arrives first: John Fogerty’s unmistakable combination of grit, urgency, and Southern-rock authority. His vocal presence defined some of the most enduring songs of the late 1960s and early 1970s, from “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising” to “Fortunate Son” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” Yet on Creedence’s final studio album, Mardi Gras, one of the most unexpected voices belongs to the band’s drummer, Doug “Cosmo” Clifford.
Clifford takes the lead on “What Are You Gonna Do,” a song that feels deliberately different from the grand, dramatic singles associated with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Released on April 11, 1972, Mardi Gras was an unusual final chapter for the group. Rather than relying almost entirely on Fogerty’s songwriting and vocals, the album gave all three remaining members space to contribute material. That decision produced an uneven but historically fascinating record, and “What Are You Gonna Do” stands out because of the personality Clifford brings to it.
His voice is not polished in the conventional pop-star sense, and that is precisely the point. Clifford sings with a conversational directness that makes the track feel less like a performance from a distant stage and more like advice from someone sitting beside you after the room has emptied. There is no attempt to overpower the listener. Instead, he offers a question, lets the groove carry it forward, and leaves the answer in the hands of whoever is listening.
A Song Built Around a Simple Question
“What Are You Gonna Do” gets much of its strength from its central idea: eventually, every excuse runs out. The song does not need an elaborate narrative or a towering chorus to communicate that feeling. Its title functions almost like a friendly challenge. What happens next? Which direction will you choose? Will you keep explaining the past, or will you finally move?
That question gives the track an enduring quality. Many songs about personal responsibility arrive with a clenched fist, a dramatic declaration, or a heavy moral lesson. Clifford chooses another path. His delivery is relaxed, slightly rough around the edges, and full of understated confidence. The groove seems to shrug at life’s complications without dismissing them. It acknowledges that people get stuck, make mistakes, and hesitate, but it also suggests that forward motion remains possible.
That balance makes “What Are You Gonna Do” more engaging than its modest presentation might initially suggest. The song does not preach from above. It sounds like a friend nudging you to stop rehearsing the same explanation and start making a decision. The message is simple, but the simplicity gives it room to become personal. Each listener can hear the question differently depending on what they are facing.
Doug Clifford’s Drummer’s Instinct Shapes the Performance
Clifford’s role as a drummer is important to understanding the song’s character. His musical identity was rooted in rhythm, and “What Are You Gonna Do” carries the sense of someone who understands how much can be communicated through momentum. The track does not rush toward a showy climax. Instead, it moves with a steady pulse, allowing the arrangement to breathe while the vocal delivers its message.
That rhythmic foundation gives the song a physical quality. Even when the lyrics are reflective, the music keeps its feet on the ground. There is no atmosphere of exaggerated tragedy. The performance feels lived-in, practical, and almost casually determined. Clifford’s vocal does not pretend to have all the answers, but it does insist that indecision cannot last forever.
His delivery also offers a striking contrast with Fogerty’s more forceful style. Fogerty often sounded as if he were testifying, warning, or reporting from the center of a storm. Clifford sounds more like the person who remains after the storm, looking around at the damage and asking what everyone plans to do now. That distinction gives “What Are You Gonna Do” its own emotional space within the Creedence catalog.
The Context of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras occupies a complicated place in Creedence Clearwater Revival’s history. By the time the album was recorded, the original lineup had changed dramatically. Tom Fogerty had left the band in 1970, leaving John Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook, and drummer Doug Clifford to continue as a trio. Tensions over creative control and the group’s future had also become increasingly visible.
For Mardi Gras, Cook and Clifford were given more songwriting and vocal responsibilities than they had received on earlier Creedence albums. The result was a record that revealed the individual personalities of the remaining members, even as it exposed the difficulties of operating without the unified formula that had powered the band’s earlier success.
John Fogerty remained responsible for several of the album’s most recognized tracks, including “Someday Never Comes” and “Lookin’ for a Reason.” Cook and Clifford, meanwhile, contributed songs that broadened the album’s perspective. “What Are You Gonna Do” is particularly notable because it does not try to imitate Fogerty’s voice or writing style. Instead, it presents Clifford on his own terms, with a sound that is more intimate and less theatrical.
That independence makes the song valuable beyond its place on Mardi Gras. It serves as a reminder that Creedence Clearwater Revival was never only the John Fogerty show, even if Fogerty’s brilliance understandably dominated the public image of the band. Clifford and Cook were central to the group’s muscular, economical rhythm section, and their contributions helped create the tension and drive behind Creedence’s best-known recordings.
Why the Track Still Connects
More than five decades after Mardi Gras arrived, “What Are You Gonna Do” remains an intriguing deep cut because it speaks in an unusually human voice. It does not depend on nostalgia, historical drama, or a familiar anthem. Its appeal comes from its emotional directness. The song understands that the most important decisions in life are often not accompanied by a spotlight. They happen quietly, after the crowd has gone home, when a person has to face the next step alone.
That is where Clifford’s vocal becomes especially effective. His imperfections make the performance feel closer, not weaker. He sounds like someone who has been through enough to understand that certainty is rare, but action is still necessary. There is humor in the relaxed tone, yet there is also a subtle seriousness. The song smiles, but it does not let the listener off the hook.
For longtime Creedence fans, “What Are You Gonna Do” offers a chance to hear a different side of the band. For newcomers, it is an ideal entry point into Mardi Gras, an album that captures Creedence at a moment of transition and strain. The track may not have the explosive hooks of “Green River” or the sweeping emotional force of “Long as I Can See the Light,” but it rewards close listening in a different way.
A Small Song with a Lasting Echo
“What Are You Gonna Do” is not a grand finale in the traditional sense. It does not announce the end of Creedence Clearwater Revival with a towering statement. Instead, it leaves behind a quiet question, delivered by the drummer who helped keep the band moving. That restraint is part of its charm.
Doug “Cosmo” Clifford’s performance transforms a straightforward idea into something reflective and surprisingly intimate. The groove keeps rolling, the vocal stays grounded, and the song turns its title into a mirror. Long after the final note, the question remains: what are you going to do?
Sometimes the most powerful message is not the loudest one. Sometimes it is the voice that appears unexpectedly, speaks plainly, and refuses to make the decision for you. On Mardi Gras, Clifford found exactly that kind of power.