(Ellas McDaniel) 1959
(Alternate li… Read Full Bio ↴Bo Diddley Say Man lyrics
(Ellas McDaniel) 1959
(Alternate lines spoken by BO DIDDLEY and Jerome Green):
Say man,
What's that boy?
I want to tell you 'bout your girlfriend,
What about my girl?
Well, you don't look strong enough to take the message,
I'm strong enough,
I might hurt your feelings,
My feelings are already hurt by being here with you,
Well, I was walking down the street with your girl the other day,
Ah-ha,
And the wind was blowin' real hard,
Is that right?
And the wind blew her hair into my face,
Ah-ha,
You know what else happened?
What happened?
The wind blew her hair into her face,
Yeh?
And we went a little further; you wanna hear the rest of it?
I might as well,
The wind blew her hair into the street!
Ok; since you told me about my girl, I'm gonna tell you about yours. I was walking down the street with your girl,
Yes?
I took her home, for a drink, you know,
Took her home?
Yeh, jus' for a drink,
Oh,
But that chick looked so ugly, she had to sneak up on the glass to get a drink of water!
You've got the nerve to call somebody ugly; why you so ugly the stork that brought you in the world oughta be arrested!
That's alright; my momma didn't have to put a sheet on my head so sleep could slip up on me!
Look-a here!
What's that?
Where are you from?
South America,
What's that?
South America,
You don't look like no South American to me,
I'm still from South America,
What part?
South Texas!
Where are your workin' boots at?
I've got 'em on,
Those aren't no boots you got on; those brogans!
Hey, look-a here!
What's that?
I've bin tryin' to figure out what you is,
I already figured out what YOU is!
What's that?
You that thing I throw peanuts at!
Look-a here!
What's that?
You should be ashamed of yourself,
Why?
Calling people ugly,
I didn't call you ugly,
What you say?
I said you was ruined, that's all!
You know somethin'?
What?
You look like you've bin whooped with a ugly-stick!
Hey! I ain't got nothin' to do with it, but I beat the fellah right...!
Say Man
Bo Diddley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's that boy?
I want to tell you about your girlfriend
What about my girl?
But you don't look strong enough to take the message
I'm strong enough
I might hurt your feelings
My feelings already hurt by bein' here with youWell, I was walking down the street with your girl the other day
Uh-huh
And the wind was blowin' real hard
Is that right?
And the wind blew her hair into my face
Uh-huh
Hee-hee, you know what else happened?
What happened?
The wind blew her hair into her face
Yeah?
And we went a little further, you want to hear the rest of it?
I might as well
The wind blew her hair into the street!
Hey, since you told me about my girl I'm gonna tell you about yours
I was walking down the street with your girl
Yeah?
I took her home, for a drink, you know
Took her home?
Yeah, just for a drink
Oh
But that chick looked so ugly she had to sneak up on a glass to get a drink of water
Hah-hah-hah-hah, well, you've got the nerve to call somebody ugly
Why you're so ugly the stork that brought you into the world ought to be arrested
That's alright
Hey, looky here
What's that?
Where you from?
South America
What's that?
South America
You don't look like no South American to me
I'm still from South America
What part?
South Texas
Hah-hah-hah, where your western boots at?
I've got 'em on
Them ain't no boots you got on, they're broke in
Hey, looky here
What's that?
I've been trying to figure out what you is
I already figured out what you is
What's that?
You that thing I throw peanuts at
Ha-ha!
Hey, looky here
What's that?
You should be ashamed of yourself
Why?
Calling people ugly
I didn't calling you ugly
What'd you say?
I said you was ruined that's all
Oh, man, you know somethin'?
What?
You look like you been whupped with an ugly stick
Man, I ain't got nothin' to do with this but
I believe you're tellin' right
The lyrics to Bo Diddley's song "Say Man" feature a humorous exchange between two men, where one attempts to insult the other's girlfriend, but ends up exposing his own girlfriend's faults in the process. The song is structured like a call and response, with one man taunting the other and the other responding in kind.
The opening lines set the tone, as one man challenges the other's ability to handle the truth about his girlfriend. The insult is quickly turned back on the accuser, as he is labeled "ruined" instead of his girlfriend. The song is peppered with insults about physical appearance, but it is all in good fun, with the two men laughing at their own jokes. The absurdity of the insults, such as the suggestion that one man looks like he has been "whupped with an ugly stick," adds to the comedic effect of the song.
Overall, "Say Man" is a lighthearted and entertaining song that showcases Bo Diddley's distinctive voice and guitar playing. The humorous exchange between the two men adds an element of storytelling to the song, and it has become a classic in the genre of comedic blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Say man
Hello, sir
What's that boy?
What is it that you want to talk about?
I want to tell you about your girlfriend
I have some news to share with you about the woman you are romantically involved with.
What about my girl?
What news do you have to share about her?
But you don't look strong enough to take the message
I am unsure if you can handle the news and it may be best to not share it with you.
I'm strong enough
I am confident that I can handle any news.
I might hurt your feelings
The news I have to share may be upsetting to you.
My feelings already hurt by bein' here with you
I am already unhappy with having to speak with you.
Well, I was walking down the street with your girl the other day
I saw your romantic partner walking with me on a street the other day.
Uh-huh
I understand what you're saying.
And the wind was blowin' real hard
It was a windy day.
Is that right?
Really? I didn't know that.
And the wind blew her hair into my face
The wind blew your girlfriend's hair in my direction.
Hee-hee, you know what else happened?
I have another funny story to share.
What happened?
Please tell me the rest of the story.
The wind blew her hair into her face
The wind continued to blow your girlfriend's hair around.
Yeah?
Interesting.
And we went a little further, you want to hear the rest of it?
We continued to walk a little further, would you like me to share the next part of the story?
I might as well
Sure, go ahead and share the rest of the story.
The wind blew her hair into the street!
The wind blew your girlfriend's hair into the busy street.
Hey, since you told me about my girl I'm gonna tell you about yours
Since you shared information about my girlfriend, I will now tell you something about yours.
I was walking down the street with your girl
I saw your girlfriend and was walking with her.
Yeah?
Yes, go on.
I took her home, for a drink, you know
I went to your girlfriend's home to have a drink.
Took her home?
You brought my girlfriend to your home?
Yeah, just for a drink
We only went to have a drink, nothing more.
Oh
I understand.
But that chick looked so ugly she had to sneak up on a glass to get a drink of water
Your girlfriend was so unattractive that she needed to hide behind the glass to drink water.
Hah-hah-hah-hah, well, you've got the nerve to call somebody ugly
You are being hypocritical by calling someone else unattractive.
Why you're so ugly the stork that brought you into the world ought to be arrested
You are so unattractive that even the stork who delivered you should be charged with a crime.
That's alright
I don't care what you say about me.
My mama didn't have to put a sheet over my head so sleep could slip up on me
My mother did not have to resort to any tricks to make me fall asleep because of my appearance.
Hey, looky here
Listen to what I have to say now.
What's that?
What do you want me to hear?
Where you from?
What is your place of origin?
South America
I am originally from South America.
You don't look like no South American to me
You do not appear to me as someone who is from South America.
I'm still from South America
Regardless of how I look, I am still from South America.
What part?
Which region specifically?
South Texas
I am originally from South Texas in the United States.
Hah-hah-hah, where your western boots at?
It is humorous to think of someone from South Texas not wearing western boots.
I've got 'em on
I am actually wearing the western boots you expected me to wear.
Them ain't no boots you got on, they're broke in
Those are not new boots but they are well-worn and almost broken in.
Hey, looky here
Listen to what I have to say now.
I've been trying to figure out what you is
I have been trying to determine what kind of person you are.
I already figured out what you is
I have already decided what kind of person you are.
What's that?
What do you think I am?
You that thing I throw peanuts at
You are the type of person I would throw peanuts at as a form of ridicule.
Ha-ha!
That's funny.
You should be ashamed of yourself
You should feel embarrassed about your behavior and words.
Why?
Why is that?
Calling people ugly
Insulting someone's physical appearance is not acceptable.
I didn't calling you ugly
I did not call you unattractive.
What'd you say?
What did you say then?
I said you was ruined that's all
I only said that you were damaged in some way.
Oh, man, you know somethin'?
You know what?
What?
What is it?
You look like you been whupped with an ugly stick
You appear as though you were beaten with an ugly stick because of your appearance.
Man, I ain't got nothin' to do with this but
I have nothing to do with your appearance or your girlfriend's appearance but...
I believe you're tellin' right
I think you are telling the truth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pogo-qo1ob
I got a gang of that shid brother, some aren’t direct battles or toasts but all are influential to what became rap battling in hip hop!
https://youtu.be/7SdQuzKOFvw?si=JMCzQ--GzF7gZja0
https://youtu.be/S7QDcfx32Q4?si=55isNiHQ72MuMn9U
https://youtu.be/XLeU7qT5bx0?si=f75sjCtdKMD4htVZ
https://youtu.be/aRSMaKJySlY?si=YA4rGxmwJm8HJP_4
https://youtu.be/iIeexYDFSs4?si=OGWpMf5egUPmZB3I
https://youtu.be/cCPRowO9MIo?si=CkJpqqnNzM0X-gIZ
https://youtu.be/ecD9ssMWP3k?si=JKy9EIVBJxQjNXoX
https://youtu.be/PZcBTRho708?si=BYykxhfnd4TSzoX_
https://youtu.be/FqLe9uZSBbM?si=qyVJCon09h0vv954
@NewFalconerRecords
Bo Diddley is one of the most underrated figures in the history of rock 'n roll. As far as I'm concerned he was just as innovative and game-changing for his time as Jimi Hendrix was a decade later. This track is hilarious, and so ahead of its time. Love him to bits.
@SkeeterHowitzer
"one, of the most underrated" who are the others?
So far, this is the 276th artist that has received this comment in my experience.
Somebody wrote that Ian Anderson was "one of the most underrated" etc. etc.. He was given an English knighthood. I answered "What you want them to do, make him to be queen?"
@NewFalconerRecords
@@SkeeterHowitzer I get where you're coming from, but I just never feel that Bo gets enough credit. It's always Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fat Domino and Buddy Holly in that short list of rock n' roll pioneers. He deserves to be mentioned within that group. Bo was so great. But yeah, I understand your point.
@SkeeterHowitzer
Did you mean to state that they are the others who have been underrated? Or, if not, then who ARE the others?
It's true, Bo matches the others or even excels. He must either have not "known the right folks", or not cooperated with them. Sometimes it is a matter of who owns the copyright. Maybe he was not a member of prince hall.
@@NewFalconerRecords
@kelechi_77
I've always said if he had trademarked the "Bo Diddley" beat, he would be the richest musician of all time, that's a testament to his massive influence, he was like rock and roll 101, even songs deep into the 70s and 80s use his beats.
@NewFalconerRecords
@@kelechi_77 'Desire' by U2, 'Faith' by George Michael, 'I Want Candy' by Bowowow (originally by the Strangeloves), 'Magic Bus' by The Who...
@robertvanderclock2657
Heard this in 1960 and never since,..until now..laughing all over again.
@anjejones2289
As a youngster liking hip hop a little, then learning more about blues, this is still a favourite that was shown to me.
@inkjetlabel205
"you look like you been whupped with a ugly stick." LMAO
@TaxiSlim
I used to run that line by my mama, and then took off as fast as I good. She might've taken that ugly stick and beaten me with it!