Won't Do That

About

Won’t Do That appears on Reality Killed The Video Star and was not released as a single. Placed near the end of the album, it serves as one of its more understated tracks, contrasting the orchestral scale of the surrounding material with a simpler, midtempo arrangement. The song reflects the record’s recurring themes of restraint, renewal and emotional honesty.

The track was written by Robbie Williams with Kelvin Andrews, Danny Spencer, Richard Scott and Scott Ralph, and produced by Trevor Horn. Recorded at Sarm Studios in London, it features piano, guitar and a minimal rhythm section, supported by Horn’s subtle string textures. The production favours clarity and space, allowing Williams’s vocal to remain central throughout.

Lyrically, Won’t Do That is a declaration of personal boundaries and self-preservation. The narrator rejects old habits and external expectations, expressing a determination to move forward. The tone is reflective rather than defiant, contributing to the album’s narrative of recovery and self-definition following Williams’s earlier, more turbulent years.

“It’s me saying no for once. It’s about learning where the line is, and sticking to it.”Robbie Williams

Although Won’t Do That attracted limited critical attention, it has been recognised as a fitting prelude to the album’s closing sequence. Its restrained style and introspective lyric serve as a quiet moment of resolution before the reflective coda that concludes Reality Killed The Video Star.