What'd I Say
10. Ray Charles Lyrics


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Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing, all right now, now
Hey hey
Hey hey

Tell your mama, tell your pa
I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am
You don't do right
Don't do right

Oh, play it boy

When you see me in misery
Come on baby, see about me now, yeah
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the red dress on
She can do the Birdland all night long, yeah yeah
What'd I say?
All right
Well, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say

And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now
And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now, yeah




And I wanna know
Baby I wanna know, yeah

Overall Meaning

Ray Charles's song "What'd I Say" is a classic R&B and soul song that was first released in 1959. The song is about a man telling his lover to treat him better, but it is also about having a good time and enjoying life. The song has a laid-back, infectious rhythm and an incredible energy that makes it impossible not to dance to.


The opening lines of the song, "Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong, come and love your daddy all night long", set the tone for the entire song. The man wants his lover to treat him better and show him some love. He also wants to have a good time with her, as evidenced by the repeated phrase "all right now" throughout the song.


The lyrics also mention other women who can dance and shake their thing, which adds to the carefree energy of the song. The man also threatens to send his lover back to Arkansas if she doesn't start treating him right.


Overall, "What'd I Say" is a fun and upbeat song that captures the excitement of a night full of dancing, romance, and good times.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Don't mistreat me, my mother, but instead love me all night long.


Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now
Satisfy me, my baby, all night, every night.


Hey hey
An expression of enthusiasm.


All right
An expression of approval.


See the girl with the diamond ring
Take a look at the woman wearing the diamond ring.


She knows how to shake that thing, all right now, now
She knows how to dance provocatively and sensually.


Tell your mama, tell your pa
Inform your parents.


I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am
I'll send you away if you don't behave correctly.


You don't do right
You're not acting appropriately.


Oh, play it boy
An instruction to the instrumentalist to continue playing.


When you see me in misery
When you witness my pain and sadness.


Come on baby, see about me now, yeah
Come and check on me, my darling.


See the girl with the red dress on
Observe the lady in the red dress.


She can do the Birdland all night long, yeah yeah
She is skilled in the Birdland dance and will dance it all night long.


What'd I say?
An expression of amazement, wonder, or surprise.


All right
An expression of approval.


Well, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what I just said or did.


Tell me what'd I say right now
Inform me of my recent actions or statements immediately.


And I wanna know
I'm curious and desire to understand.


Baby, I wanna know right now
My beloved, I want to know immediately.


Baby I wanna know, yeah
My dear, I want to be informed.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Charles

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@classicalmusic1175

This is one of those songs that blew me away on first listen. Usually it takes me several listens to "get" a song, but not this one. A timeless classic.

@ivantedesco7978

yeah, just the same

@michaelwoodard726

Man that was clean.

@cramnella07

Same, and it always blows me away

@LITTLE1994

Yup.

@abderahmanehamoumou7369

pppppppppp00pp0ppppppp

15 More Replies...

@benbiggerstaff6106

63 years later and still a classic.

@fancypotatomine8899

fancy

@Mr_Astro-Vera

@Fancy Potato Mine Fancy🎩

@msmagic1568

And counting......

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