NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Jon Bon Jovi takes to the barren streets of pandemic-struck Manhattan in the video for "Do What You Can," released Tuesday, to illustrate the resilience of New Yorkers and the toll coronavirus has had on the city.
In the video, the mask-wearing New Jersey native offers an eyewitness account of Manhattan's new reality: Empty streets, an empty subway car, a "closed" sign on a business, an empty Yankee Stadium and masked grocery store workers are among the video's visuals.
The song's lyrics also speak to the pandemic, with verses such as "They turned off the Broadway lights" and "I saw a Red Cross on the Hudson."
"Shooting a video on nearly empty streets of Manhattan amid a global crisis really told the story of 'Do What You Can' from the place where I lived it," Bon Jovi said. "And I know those empty streets look similar to so many parts of America battling this pandemic. But the story of everyday heroes showing amazing courage was inspiring to see and the video, much like the song, has a great deal of hope in it too."
The new single will be on the album "2020," set for release October 2.
"DO WHAT YOU CAN" LYRICS
(Verse 1)Tonight they're shutting down the bordersAnd they boarded up the schoolsSmall towns are rollin' up their sidewalksOne less paycheck comin' throughI know you're feelin' kinda nervousWe're all a little bit confusedNothing's the same, this ain't a gameWe gotta make it through(Chorus)When you can't do what you doYou do what you canThis ain't my prayer, it's just a thought I'm wanting to send'Round here, we bend but don't breakDown here, we all understandWhen you can't do what you doYou do what you can(Verse 2)The chicken farm from Arkansas brought workers PPENot before five hundred more had succumbed to this diseaseHonest men and honest women workin' for an honest wageI got a hundred point one fever, and we still got bills to pay(Chorus)When you can't do what you doYou do what you canThis ain't my prayer, it's just a thought I'm wanting to send'Round here, we bend but don't breakDown here, we all understandWhen you can't do what you doYou do what you can
(Bridge)They built a hospital on East Meadow in Central Park last nightDoctors, nurses, truckers, grocery store clerks manning the front linesI saw a Red Cross on the HudsonThey turned off the Broadway lightsAnother ambulance screams byThere by the grace of God go I(Verse 3)Although I'll keep my social distanceWhat this world needs is a hugUntil we find the vaccinationThere's no substitute for loveSo love yourself and love your familyLove your neighbor and your friendAin't it time we loved a stranger?They're just a friend you ain't met yet(Chorus)When you can't do what you doYou do what you canThis ain't my prayer, it's just a thought I'm wanting to send'Round here, we bend but don't breakDown here, we all understandWhen you can't do what you doYou do what you canWhen you can't do what you doYou do what you can
