What'd I Say
Charlie Daniels Lyrics


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

See the girl 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 yes, you don't do right,
You don't do right.

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.

Yes, 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
Ho ho
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey ho ho hey.

Sing me one more time.
Sing me one more time.
Sing me one more time.
Sing me one more time.
Sing me one more time.
Sing me one more time.

Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey ho ho hey.

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.

Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh ho ho huh.

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.

Come on, twist that thing.
Come on, twist that thing.
Keep a twistin' that thing.
Keep a twistin' that thing.
Keep a twistin' that thing.
Keep a twistin' that thing.

Make me feel all right.
Well, I feel all right.
Well, I feel all right.
Well, I feel all right.




Well, I feel all right.
Well, I feel all right.

Overall Meaning

The song "What'd I Say" by Charlie Daniels is about a man pleading for his lover to treat him properly and satisfy him sexually. He asks his mother not to treat him wrong and to love him all night long. He then mentions a girl with a diamond ring who knows how to twist that thing, implying that this girl is satisfying him in ways his current lover is not. He threatens to ship his lover back to Arkansas if she continues to not do right by him. The chorus repeatedly asks the question "tell me what'd I say," which can be interpreted as the man asking his lover to tell him what he needs to do or say in order for her to give him what he wants.


The song has a very upbeat and catchy rhythm, with a lot of repetition and call-and-response style lyrics. It is a classic example of country and southern rock music from the 1970s. The lyrics are quite suggestive and sexually charged, which was not uncommon in the genre at the time. The song can also be interpreted as a commentary on male entitlement and the idea that men expect women to fulfill their sexual desires without putting in effort towards a mutually satisfying relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong,
Charlie Daniels is requesting his mama to treat him right.


Come and love me all night long.
He wants his mama to love him the entire night.


See the girl with the diamond ring,
Charlie Daniels notices a girl with a diamond ring.


She knows how to twist that thing.
The girl is skilled at dancing.


Tell your mama, tell your pa
Charlie Daniels intends to inform the girl's parents.


I'm gonna ship you back to Arkansas.
He wants to send the girl back home to Arkansas as a punishment.


Oh yes, you don't do right,
Charlie Daniels believes the girl is behaving poorly.


Tell me what'd I say,
He wants to know what he said to upset the girl.


Yes, I wanna know,
Charlie Daniels is curious to find out what caused the girl's reaction.


Sing me one more time.
He wants the girl to perform her dance again.


Make me feel so good.
Charlie Daniels wants to experience pleasure.


Huh huh
An exclamation of approval or enjoyment.


Baby, it's all right.
Charlie Daniels reassures the girl that everything is fine now.


Come on, twist that thing.
He wants the girl to continue dancing.


Keep a twistin' that thing.
Charlie Daniels encourages the girl to keep dancing.


Well, I feel all right.
Charlie Daniels expresses that he is feeling good.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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