Carly Pearce – What He Didn’t Do (Official Music Video)
Inspiration Behind What He Didn’t Do:
The lyrics to What He Didn’t Do was spawn during the emotional journey of divorce that Carly Pearce experienced. Carly entered her marriage with musician Michael Ray having certain preconceived expectations that were never met. Subsequently, Carly devotes this entire song to how she and other women want to be loved and treated in a relationship.
Biblical Application:
ollow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, Ephesians 5:1-2.
Exegesis of What He Didn’t Do:
Everybody’s asking what the hell happened
Wonderin’ why it all went wrong
Mama always said, “If you can’t say something nice
Then don’t say anything at all”
Carly isn’t the first woman to not have her expectations of marriage met. When asked, what really went wrong, Carly mentions things that Michael Ray didn’t do. This is how she skirted what her mom taught her about focusing on the positive aspects of human beings growing up.
And I’ve got my side of the story
And he’s got his side too
So I ain’t gonna go and tell you what he did
But I’ll tell you what he didn’t do
In marriage, no one is perfect. Subsequently, each side will make valid points to what went wrong. Yet Carly focuses on how she expected to be treated as a married woman.
Treat me right, put me first
Be a man of his word
Stay home ’cause he wanted to
Always fight for my love
Hold on tight like it’s somethin’
That he couldn’t stand to lose
The devil’s in the details
I won’t tell the hell that he put me through
All I know is in the end, it wasn’t what he did
No, it was what he didn’t do
This list is how Carly envisioned how a married woman should be treated.
I’m already halfway over him
And I ain’t takin’ time to turn around
So I’ma take the high road
Even though we both know
I could run him out of this town
Writing this song helped the healing process of divorce. Instead of looking back, Carly is ready to write a new chapter in her life. Instead of playing the blame game, Carly realizes that they are both musicians and didn’t want to ruin Michael’s future career. I’m assuming this town is Nashville, the major city for country music.
That’s just dirty laundry
I don’t need to air the truth
So I ain’t gonna tell you everything he did
But I’ll tell you what he didn’t do
Trying to take the high road, Carly seeks to let men know how she and other women expect to be treated.
Treat me right, put me first
Be a man of his word
Stay home ’cause he wanted to
Always fight for my love
Hold on tight like it’s somethin’
That he couldn’t stand to lose
The devil’s in the details
I won’t tell the hell that he put me through
All I know is in the end, it wasn’t what he did
No, it was what he didn’t do
I’m not sure if Carly and Michael went through premarital counseling, but if they did this list of expectations would have come out prior to their marriage. Knowing these expectations would have made entering into marriage a smoother transition.
I ain’t met the right one yet
But I know when I do
Looking back, Carly realizes that she hasn’t met Mr. Right yet.
He’ll treat me right, put me first
Be a man of his word
Stay home ’cause he wanted to
Always fight for my love
Hold on tight like it’s something
That he can’t stand to lose
The devil’s in the details
I won’t tell the hell that he put me through
All I know is in the end, it wasn’t what he did
No, it was what he didn’t do
If men don’t grow up in or are raised in a church, Carly’s expectations for marriage aren’t taught. Learning and studying the Bible helps prepare men how they should love and treat their wives.
And all I know is in the end, it wasn’t what he did
No, it was what he didn’t do
If Michael lived out the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:1-2, this marriage could have been saved.
Final Thoughts:
I grew up in a home like Carly’s as my mom only taught me, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, be quiet. This is the greatest lesson not being passed on from one generation to the next. Social media is providing avenues for adults and children to share their dirty laundry. The main problem today is that parents are setting bad examples for their children or simply live by the rule, “do what I say, not as I do.” Thia climate of love in America will continue to grow cold until a spiritual transformation occurs where love is lived out daily and is not just a word.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 