What'd I Say Parts I & Ii
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, hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell your mama, tell your pa
I'm going to send you back to Arkansas
Oh yes ma'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
And I wanna know right now yeah
And I wanna know
Said I wanna know, yeah

Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho)
Oh one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time right now (just one more time)
Say it one more time now (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)
Say it one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)

Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho)
Ah, make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good now yeah (make me feel so good)
Woah, baby (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho)
Ah, it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right right now (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right yeah (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)

Woah, shake that thing now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing now now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing right now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Woah, I feel all right now yeah (make me feel all right)
Said I feel all right now (make me feel all right)
Woah (make me feel all right)
Tell you I feel all right (make me feel all right)




Said I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Baby I feel all right (make me feel all right)

Overall Meaning

"What'd I Say" by Ray Charles is a soulful song with a catchy beat that is sure to get anyone moving. The song has an upbeat and festive rhythm that invites the listener to the dance floor. The lyrics are a mixture of flirtation and innuendo with an infectious call and response structure that encourages listeners to participate. The first verse is a plea to "mama" to love "daddy" all night long while the chorus is an invitation to "see the girl with the diamond ring" who "knows how to shake that thing." The lyrics are playful and suggestive, but the song's message is universal: let's have a good time!


Ray Charles recorded "What'd I Say" in 1959, and it quickly became a hit, reaching number six on the R&B charts and number 23 on the pop charts. The song was so popular that it helped launch Charles's career as a crossover artist, appealing to both black and white audiences. The song is also significant because it is one of the few songs by Charles with no gospel influence. Instead, the song's lyrics reflect his experience playing in blues bands and juke joints. The song's structure also reflects the blues format of call and response, with Charles's improvisation skills creating a sense of spontaneity and excitement.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Addressing his lover, Ray Charles reminds her not to mistreat him


Come and love your daddy all night long
He invites his lover to come and stay with him all night


All right now, hey, hey, all right
Expresses excitement and eagerness for what's to come


See the girl with the diamond ring
He notices a particular girl who is wearing a diamond ring


She knows how to shake that thing
Implying that the girl is a great dancer


All right now, hey, hey, hey, hey
Expresses excitement and enthusiasm for the dancing girl


Tell your mama, tell your pa
Making a bold statement suggesting he's going to do something significant


I'm going to send you back to Arkansas
Implying that he will send the girl back to her home state


Oh yes ma'am
A sarcastic response to the previous line, conveying his authority


You don't do right, don't do right
He scolds the girl for her actions


Oh, play it boy
Encouraging the band to keep playing


When you see me in misery
Ray is saying when he is feeling low or in a bad mood


Come on baby see about me
Inviting his lover or anyone to help him out of the blues


Now yeah, hey hey, all right
Shows his gratitude and joy for the help he receives


See the girl with the red dress on
He notices a girl wearing a red dress


She can do the Birdland all night long
She's a great dancer and can dance all night long


Yeah yeah, what'd I say
He is excited and expressing himself, appreciating the girl's dancing skills


All right
Expressing satisfaction or contentment


Well, tell me what'd I say
He challenges the audience to respond to his music


Tell me what'd I say right now
He implores someone to answer his call to action now


And I wanna know
Reasserting his interest and eagerness for a response from the audience


Baby I wanna know right now
Requesting an immediate response from a lover or the audience


Ah, make me feel so good
Expressing joy and pleasure


Woah, baby
Addressing a lover or any attractive woman


Huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho)
A rhythmic chant, encouraging and inciting the audience


It's all right (baby it's all right)
Expressing satisfaction or acceptance


Woah, shake that thing now
He's encouraging a woman to show off her dance moves


Woah, I feel all right now yeah
He's happy and satisfied with the night's musical performance


Tell you I feel all right
Assuring others he is OK


Baby I feel all right
A love song addressed to a lover




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@scouseronthewirral

Written By Ray Charles and recorded on 18 February 1959, released In June 1959 and peaked at #1 on R&B chart and #6 pop. Earning Ray his first gold record.

Covers:
Johnny O’ Keefe (Nov 1959)
Bobby Rydell (Nov 1959)
The Olympics (Apr 1960)
Jack Eubanks (Nov 1960)
Dee Clark (1960)
Cliff Richard (14 Apr 1961)
The Cliffters (22 Sep 1961)
Jerry Lee Lewis (1961)
The Beau-marks (1961)
The chevrons (1961)
Donnie Brooks (1961)
Carroll Brothers (Mar 1962)
Bobby Darin (Mar 1962)
Keeley Smith (Apr 1962)
Teddy Randazzo (May 1962)
Anita Kerr singers (Nov 1962)
Clyde Mcphatter (1962)
The Crickets (1962)
The Spotnicks (1962)
Rod McKuen (1962)
Don Lang (1962)
Tom & Jerry (1962)
Jimmy Justice (1962)
Ray Fowler (1962)
Dick Dale (June 1963)
Trini Lopez (Jun 1963)
Floyd Cramer (Aug 1963)

Elvis Presley Recorded What’d I Say on 30 August 1963 during his Viva Las Vegas Soundtrack session, it was released on 28 April 1964 and peaked at #21 On Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart.



@robreynolds1287

"What'd I Say (Parts 1 & 2)"

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 now, hey hey, hey hey
Tell your mama, tell your pa I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas
Oh yes, ma'm, you don't do right, don't do right Aw, play it boy
When you see me in misery Come on baby, see about me
Now yeah, all right, all right, aw 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, yeah
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 yeah

And I wanna know
Baby I wanna know right now
And-a I wanna know
And I wanna know right now yeah
And-a I wanna know
Said I wanna know yeah

[Spoken:] Hey, don't quit now! (c'mon honey)
Naw, I got, I uh-uh-uh, I'm changing (stop! stop! we'll do it again)
Wait a minute, wait a minute, oh hold it! Hold it! Hold it!
Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey
Oh one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time right now (just one more time)
Say it one more time now (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)
Say it one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)

Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey
Ah! Make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good now yeah (make me feel so good)
Woah! Baby (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh
Awh it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right right now (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right yeah (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)

Woah! Shake that thing now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing now now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing right now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Woah! I feel all right now yeah (make me feel all right)
Said I feel all right now (make me feel all right)
Woooah! (make me feel all right)
Tell you I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Said I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Baby I feel all right (make me feel all right)



All comments from YouTube:

@patriciaasher4614

In 1958, Charles was on stage doing a live show when he ran out of stuff they'd prepared. There were 12 minutes of stage time remaining, and he rarely left the stage early. Charles told his band members, The Raelettes, "Listen, I'm going to fool around, and y'all just follow me." This 1959 hit single, What'd I Say, was the result of that impromptu on the spot jam session.

@zovalentine7305

Ray Charles Robinson
23 September 1930 ~
10 June 2004
Rest in powerful peace⚘

@Phantomsbreath

The drummer on this needs more recognition. Without them, this wouldn't be half as good as it is!

@garybrockwell2031

A what the reck am I,
Can we all stand up on stage... No soz

@garybrockwell2031

No room 🕺💥🆘🙏😍

@karenoliver6999

You are right

@connor_selby

bruno carr is his name

@smithairrion1476

MAN!!!!!!!!!

2 More Replies...

@Sayeeda1

More classic Rhythm and Blues!!!

@thenicest157

What a talent..if u are blind u are not dumb..powerfull words..we love u Ray..R.I.P.

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