When we talk about the golden age of country music duets, one pairing towers above the rest: Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Their chemistry was not manufactured in a studio—it was lived-in, believable, and emotionally charged. Among the many unforgettable songs they recorded together, “What Are We Gonna Do About Us” stands out as one of their most intimate and vulnerable performances.
Released in 1973 as part of their celebrated album Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, the song captures the aching uncertainty that sits at the crossroads of love and doubt. While many country hits of the era leaned into heartbreak or fiery passion, this duet lingers in a more complicated emotional space—the fragile moment when two people are still in love, but unsure how to fix what’s broken.
A Duet Built on Emotional Honesty
Conway Twitty’s smooth, resonant baritone has always carried a certain tenderness, but in this song, there’s an added layer of vulnerability. His delivery feels less like a performance and more like a confession. Loretta Lynn, with her earthy alto and unmistakable sincerity, doesn’t simply harmonize—she answers him. Together, their voices weave a musical conversation that feels deeply personal.
The central refrain—“What are we gonna do about us?”—is deceptively simple. It’s not dramatic. It’s not accusatory. Instead, it feels like a quiet question asked late at night, when pride has faded and only truth remains. That repetition becomes the emotional anchor of the song. It’s both a plea and an admission: we don’t have the answer, but we still care enough to ask.
Unlike duets where the singers take turns telling separate sides of a story, Twitty and Lynn overlap emotionally. You can hear hesitation. You can hear longing. Most importantly, you can hear hope—faint, but still alive.
The Sound of Simplicity Done Right
One of the reasons “What Are We Gonna Do About Us” remains powerful decades later is its restrained arrangement. The instrumentation never overshadows the message. Gentle acoustic guitar strums provide the backbone, while subtle pedal steel adds warmth and a touch of melancholy.
There’s no grand orchestration, no dramatic flourishes. The production trusts the singers—and that trust pays off. The simplicity creates space. Space for pauses. Space for breath. Space for emotion to resonate.
In many ways, the song serves as a masterclass in classic country songwriting: clear storytelling, relatable themes, and melodies that linger long after the final note fades.
A Reflection of Real Relationships
What elevates this duet beyond a typical love song is its emotional realism. It doesn’t glamorize love, nor does it declare it dead. Instead, it lives in the gray area—the in-between stage that so many couples experience but rarely articulate.
The song asks a universal question: What happens when love alone isn’t enough?
There are no villains here. No betrayal. No explosive arguments. Just two people standing in the aftermath of misunderstandings, trying to decide whether their bond is strong enough to survive.
That emotional nuance is part of what made Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn such a compelling duo. They didn’t just sing about romance—they explored its complications. They understood that lasting love requires work, humility, and sometimes painful self-examination.
For listeners in the 1970s—and even more so today—the song feels relatable. Relationships still falter under pressure. People still struggle with communication. And couples everywhere still ask that same quiet question: what are we going to do about us?
The Cultural Moment
The early 1970s were a transformative time for country music. The genre was expanding beyond its traditional boundaries while still holding onto its storytelling roots. Twitty and Lynn were at the forefront of that evolution. Their collaborations blended traditional country sounds with emotionally modern themes.
The album Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man itself became a defining project of their partnership. While the title track delivered energy and regional pride, “What Are We Gonna Do About Us” showcased their softer, more introspective side. It proved that their magic wasn’t limited to playful banter or upbeat rhythms—they could slow things down and capture something far more delicate.
Their partnership wasn’t just commercially successful; it was artistically meaningful. Each duet felt like a chapter in an ongoing conversation about love, loyalty, and life’s imperfections.
Why the Song Still Resonates Today
Decades have passed since its release, yet “What Are We Gonna Do About Us” continues to resonate for a simple reason: its message hasn’t aged.
Modern listeners, surrounded by fast-paced relationships and digital communication, may find even greater depth in its quiet sincerity. The song reminds us of something timeless—that real love involves difficult conversations.
In an era where breakups can happen with a single text, this duet feels almost radical. It suggests staying. Talking. Wrestling with uncertainty rather than running from it.
The emotional maturity of the song gives it longevity. It doesn’t promise fairy-tale endings. It doesn’t offer neat resolutions. Instead, it honors the process of trying.
The Power of Vocal Chemistry
Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of the song is the chemistry between Twitty and Lynn. There’s an unspoken understanding in their phrasing. When Twitty softens his tone, Lynn mirrors him. When Lynn’s voice carries a trace of sadness, Twitty meets her there.
It’s this interplay that transforms the song from a good country track into something unforgettable. Their harmonies don’t just blend—they lean on each other.
And that, in essence, is what the song is about.
A Legacy That Endures
“What Are We Gonna Do About Us” may not be the most flamboyant track in Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s catalog, but it is one of the most emotionally honest. It captures a fragile moment in love—the crossroads between giving up and holding on.
For fans of classic country music, this song remains a shining example of how simplicity, sincerity, and storytelling can create something timeless. For newer listeners discovering the golden era of duets, it serves as an invitation: slow down, listen closely, and let the voices carry you.
Because sometimes, the most powerful songs aren’t the ones that shout.
They’re the ones that quietly ask the question we’re all afraid to say out loud:
What are we gonna do about us?