What'd I Say Parts I & Ii
Ray Charles Lyrics

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
The singer asks for love and respect from his mother figure

Come and love your daddy all night long
The singer requests undivided attention and affection

All right now, hey, hey, all right
The singer expresses satisfaction and excitement

See the girl with the diamond ring
The artist singles out a woman wearing a diamond ring for attention

She knows how to shake that thing
The artist admires the woman's dancing abilities

All right now, hey, hey, hey, hey
The excitement and energy continues

Tell your mama, tell your pa
The singer threatens to send the listener back home

I'm going to send you back to Arkansas
The artist uses the threat of sending the listener back to Arkansas as a consequence

Oh yes ma'am
The artist acknowledges the power dynamic of maternal authority

You don't do right, don't do right
The artist emphasizes the importance of the listener's compliance with his requests

When you see me in misery
The singer is vulnerable and needs support from the listener

Come on baby see about me
The artist asks for the listener's help

Now yeah, all right
The singer maintains a positive and hopeful attitude

All right, oh, play it boy
The singer gives permission and encouragement for a musical accompaniment

See the girl with the red dress on
The singer singles out another woman in a red dress for attention

She can do the Birdland all night long
The artist admires the woman's dancing abilities, specifically her ability to do a popular dance called the Birdland

Yeah yeah, what'd I say
The artist expresses his satisfaction and enthusiasm again

Well, tell me what'd I say
The singer requests a response from the listener

Tell me what'd I say right now
The singer encourages the listener to give a prompt and immediate response

And I wanna know
The artist is curious and seeks understanding

Baby I wanna know right now
The artist emphasizes the urgency of his request for an answer

Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho)
The artist begins a chant that serves as a musical interlude

Oh one more time (just one more time)
The singer repeats the chant for emphasis

Say it one more time right now (just one more time)
The artist requests another repetition, again emphasizing urgency

Say it one more time now (just one more time)
The singer repeats the request, emphasizing immediacy

Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)
The singer again requests another repetition

Woah, shake that thing now (baby shake that thing)
The singer encourages the women to dance and move their bodies

Baby shake that thing now now (baby shake that thing)
The artist reiterates the encouragement to dance with urgency

Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
The artist again encourages dancing

Baby shake that thing right now (baby shake that thing)
The singer emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of his request for dancing

Woah, I feel all right now yeah (make me feel all right)
The singer expresses satisfaction and joy in the moment

Said I feel all right now (make me feel all right)
The artist reiterates his positive feelings in the moment

Woah (make me feel all right)
The artist emphasizes his positive feelings again

Tell you I feel all right (make me feel all right)
The artist proclaims his positive feelings to the listener

Said I feel all right (make me feel all right)
The singer repeats his declaration of positive feelings

Baby I feel all right (make me feel all right)
The artist acknowledges the listener's role in his positive feelings and expresses gratitude