Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
What'd I Day
Bobby Darin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you treat me wrong
Come and love me
All night long
Oh, oh, hey, hey
All right now
With the diamond ring
She knows how to
Twist that thing
Oh, oh, hey, hey
All right now
Tell your mama
Tell your pa
I'm gonna ship you
Back to Arkansas
Oh, yeah
You don't do right
You don't do right
When you see me in misery
Come on, baby, see about me
Hey, hey
It's all right now
See the girl
With the red dress on
She can do the twist
All night long
Oh, yay, hey, hey
What'd I say
What'd I say
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
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say
Yeah, I wanna know
I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now
Yes, I wanna know
Honey, I wanna know
Yes, I wanna know
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh) hey
It's so fine
(Sing it one more time)
Sing it one more time
(Sing it one more time)
Sing it one more time
(Sing it one more time)
Sing it one more time
(Sing it one more time)
Sing it one more time
(Sing it one more time)
Sing it one more time
(Sing it one more time)
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh) hey
Make me feel so good
(Make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good
(Make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good right now
(Make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good
(Make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good
(Make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good
(Make me feel so good)
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh)
Hey (hey) oh (oh) hey
Baby, it's all right
(Baby, it's all right)
Baby, it's all right, right now
(Baby, it's all right)
Baby, it's all right
(Baby, it's all right)
Baby, it's all right
(Baby, it's all right)
Baby, it's all right
(Baby, it's all right)
Baby, it's all right
(Baby, it's all right)
Come on, twist that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Come on, twist that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Keep twisting that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Keep twisting that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Keep twisting that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Keep twisting that thing
(Baby, twist that thing)
Make me feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
Well, I feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
Well, I feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
Well, I feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
Well, I feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
Well, I feel all right
(Make me feel all right)
The song "What'd I Say" by Bobby Darin is a classic R&B, rock and roll song that talks about a man's wild night with a woman who knows how to dance. The song opens with the man asking his mother not to treat him wrong and to come love him all night long. Then he sees a girl with a diamond ring who can twist that thing and he appreciates her moves. He asks the girl to tell her mama and pa that he's going to ship her back to Arkansas if she doesn't start doing right.
When he sees himself in misery, he wants the girl to come and see about him. The song then repeats the chorus, asking people to tell the singer what he said, and he asks them to sing it one more time to make him feel good. The song ends with the singer asking the girl to keep twisting that thing and make him feel all right.
Overall, the song celebrates the good time the singer had with a girl who knows how to dance and makes him feel all right.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, mama
Addressing an unknown figure, possibly his lover or a figure of authority
Don't you treat me wrong
Asking the addressed figure to refrain from hurting him or being unjust to him
Come and love me
Inviting the addressed figure to show him love and affection
All night long
Longing for extensive attention and affection from the addressed figure
Oh, oh, hey, hey
An excited exclamation that reflects his eagerness to receive love and attention
All right now
Expressing that things are going well and he is content at the moment
See the girl
Drawing attention to a girl
With the diamond ring
Noting that this girl wears a diamond ring as a symbol of wealth or status
She knows how to
Highlighting a positive attribute of the girl
Twist that thing
Describing the girl's skill at dancing the twist
Tell your mama
Addressing someone else's mother again, possibly the addressed figure's mother
Tell your pa
Addressing someone else's father
I'm gonna ship you
Warns that he will send the addressed figure away
Back to Arkansas
A state used in the song to mean somewhere undesirable
Oh, yeah
An expression of frustration with the addressed figure
You don't do right
Expressing dissatisfaction with the way the addressed figure is behaving
When you see me in misery
When he is in a difficult or painful situation
Come on, baby, see about me
Asking the addressed figure to offer him comfort or help him out
Hey, hey
An expression of enthusiasm and excitement
It's all right now
Expressing that things are now going well and he is content in the moment
See the girl
Drawing attention to another girl
With the red dress on
Noting the color of the second girl's dress
She can do the twist
Highlighting a positive skill of the second girl
What'd I say
The title of the song and a phrase used repeatedly as a rhetorical question throughout the song
Tell me what'd I say
Demanding a response or reaction from the addressed figure
Sing it one more time
Encouraging the listener(s) to repeat singing the chorus
Make me feel so good
Expressing pleasure and satisfaction
Baby, it's all right
Assuring the addressed figure that things are going well
Come on, twist that thing
Encouraging the girl to continue dancing the twist
Keep twisting that thing
Persisting in his encouragement for the girl to dance longer
Make me feel all right
Expressing his satisfaction and pleasure again
Well, I feel all right
Reaffirming his contentment and pleasure
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Charles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janet Wilhelm
I have loved Bobby Darin since I was 3. Now I am 59. And he is priceless.
Rachelle Walters
Bobby does an excellent cover of Ray Charles song! 👏❤
zills2
thank you !
Stuart Colman
Judy don'T be moody bobby darin
shaun feldman
Sounds like the doors
Cimarron Hopper
shaun feldman it was a rhythem and blues recording originaly by ray charles