In total, the duo had 34 singles chart hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing even The Everly Brothers. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were also placed #15 on the Billboard Magazine list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and the #1 duo, while VH1 placed the duo as #99 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
From their first hit in 1974 onwards, Daryl Hall and John Oates' smooth, catchy take on Philly soul brought them commercial success— including six number one singles and six platinum albums as referred to before. Hall & Oates' music was well-constructed and produced; at their best, their songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of arena rock and new wave.
Daryl Hall, born on October 11, 1946, began performing professionally while he was a student at Temple University. In 1966, he recorded a single with Kenny Gamble and the Romeos; the group featured Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, who would all become the architects of Philly soul. During this time, Hall frequently appeared on sessions for Gamble and Huff. In 1967, Hall met John Oates, a fellow Temple University student. Oates was leading his own soul band at the time. The two students realized they had similar tastes and began performing together in an array of R&B and doo wop groups. By 1968, the duo had parted ways, as Oates transferred schools and Hall formed the soft rock band Gulliver; the group released one album on Elektra in the late '60s before disbanding.
After Gulliver's breakup, Hall concentrated on session work again, appearing as a backup vocalist for The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and The Intruders, among others. Oates returned to Philadelphia in 1969, and he and Hall began writing folk-oriented songs and performing together. Eventually they came to the attention of Tommy Mottola, who quickly became their manager, securing the duo a contract with Atlantic Records. On their first records — Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) — the duo were establishing their sound, working with producers like Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren and removing much of their folk influences. At the beginning of 1974, the duo relocated from Philadelphia to New York. During this period, they only managed one hit — the number 60 "She's Gone" in the spring of 1974.
After they moved to RCA in 1975, the duo landed on its successful mixture of soul, pop, and rock, scoring a Top Ten single with "Sara Smile." The success of "Sara Smile" prompted the re-release of "She's Gone," which rocketed into the Top Ten as well. Released in the summer of 1976, Bigger than the Both of Us was only moderately successful upon its release. The record took off in early 1977, when "Rich Girl" became the duo's first number one single.
Although they had several minor hits between 1977 and 1980, the albums Hall & Oates released at the end of the decade were not as successful as their mid-'70s records. Nevertheless, they were more adventurous, incorporating more rock elements into their blue-eyed soul. The combination would finally pay off in late 1980, when the duo released the self-produced Voices, the album that marked the beginning of Hall & Oates' greatest commercial and artistic success. The first single from Voices, a cover of Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," reached number 12, yet it was the second single, "Kiss on My List" that confirmed their commercial potential by becoming the duo's second number one single; its follow-up, "You Make My Dreams" hit number five. They quickly released Private Eyes in the summer of 1981; the record featured two number one hits, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," as well as the Top Ten hit "Did It in a Minute." "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts — a rare accomplishment for a white act. H20 followed in 1982 and it proved more successful than their two previous albums, selling over two million copies and launching their biggest hit single, "Maneater," as well as the Top Ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man." The following year, the duo released a greatest-hits compilation, Rock 'N Soul, Pt. 1, that featured two new Top Ten hits — the number two "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education."
In April of 1984, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Hall & Oates had surpassed Everly Brothers as the most successful duo in rock history, earning a total of 19 gold and platinum awards. Released in October of 1984, Big Bam Boom expanded their number of gold and platinum awards, selling over two million copies and launching four Top 40 singles, including the number one "Out of Touch." Following their contract-fulfilling gold album Live at the Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, Hall & Oates went on hiatus. After the lukewarm reception for Daryl Hall's 1986 solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, the duo regrouped to release 1988's Ooh Yeah!, their first record for Arista. The first single, "Everything Your Heart Desires," went to number three and helped propel the album to platinum status.
However, none of the album's other singles broke the Top 20, indicating that the era of chart dominance had ended. Change of Season, released in 1990, confirmed that fact. Although the record went gold, it only featured one Top 40 hit — the number 11 single, "So Close." The duo mounted a comeback in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but it was only partially successful; far better was 2003's Do It for Love and the following year soul covers record Our Kind of Soul.
Say It Isn't So
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say it isn't so
Say it
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so painful to tell me that you're dissatisfied
Last time I asked you I really got a lame excuse
I know that you lied
But when you play in a quiet way that bites it even more
Say it
Tell me what you want yeah I'll do it baby I promise right now
Say it
Who propped you up when you were stopped low motivation
Had you on the ground
I know your first reaction you slide away hide away goodbye
But if there's a doubt maybe I can give out a thousand reasons why
You have to say it isn't so
(It isn't so) I say it isn't so
(It isn't so) I say it isn't so
(It isn't so) said it isn't so
(It isn't so) oh no
Say it
We like to be the strangers at the party, two rebels in a shell
Say it
You like to move with the best of them you know we move so well
Don't need someone to lean on, I know that there's an open door
But if I'm faced with being replaced I want you even more
So baby say it isn't so
(It isn't so) say it isn't so
(It isn't so) I say it isn't so
(It isn't so) said it isn't so
(It isn't so) oh no
Say it
Say it isn't so
Say it
Say it isn't so
Say it
Say it isn't so
Why you gonna go, do you have to say
Do you wanna go ooh ooh baby
Say it isn't
(Say)
Say say say it isn't so
(Say it isn't so)
(Say it isn't)
Why do you have to say it isn't
(Say it isn't)
(Say it isn't)
(Stop, say it isn't)
I know it's so hard for you
(Say it isn't)
So hard
(Say it isn't)
Don't say baby
(Stop, say it isn't)
There must be some other way
Don't have to
(Say it isn't)
Some other way
(Stop, say it isn't)
You gonna have to say
(Say it isn't)
(Say it isn't)
Don't have to say
(Stop, say it isn't)
You know I won't make you
The song "Say It Isn't So" by Hall & Oates is about a relationship where one partner suspects the other is dissatisfied but doesn't want to come out and say it. The singer feels like they are being lied to and can see wicked things happening under the surface of their quiet relationship. They implore their partner to be honest and tell them what they want because they will do it, even if it means facing the possibility of being replaced. The chorus repeats the title phrase in a pleading tone, asking their partner not to say that it's over.
The lyrics suggest a deep emotional connection between the two people in the relationship, as they refer to themselves as "two rebels in a shell" who don't need someone to lean on. They don't want to lose each other but are worried that the silence between them may lead to an unwanted ending. The singer is willing to do anything to make their partner happy, even if it means risking their own vulnerability.
Overall, the song is about the fear of losing someone important and desperately asking them not to say it's over. It captures the feeling of uncertainty that often comes with romantic relationships and emphasizes how important communication is to maintaining strong connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Say it
Tell me what is troubling you
Say it isn't so
Deny that you are unhappy or dissatisfied
Say it
Reiterate that you want to know what is bothering you
Say it isn't so
Plead for the other person not to confirm your fears
Say it isn't so painful to tell me that you're dissatisfied
Admitting that you're unhappy is hard, but please do
Last time I asked you I really got a lame excuse
The last time I asked, you avoided the question
I know that you lied
I am aware that you weren't truthful with me
Now wicked things can happen you see 'em goin' down in war
Terrible things can happen during war, but this is not a war, it's a relationship
But when you play in a quiet way that bites it even more
You hurt me even more when you remain silent and don't speak your truth
Tell me what you want yeah I'll do it baby I promise right now
Ask for what you want and I'll try to make it happen
Who propped you up when you were stopped low motivation
Who was there to help you when your motivation was low
Had you on the ground
You were struggling and needed help to get through tough times
I know your first reaction you slide away hide away goodbye
I know you might want to run away and avoid the conversation
But if there's a doubt maybe I can give out a thousand reasons why
If you're unsure about something, I can give you many reasons why it's important to talk about it
You have to say it isn't so
Please deny that what I'm fearing is true
(It isn't so) I say it isn't so
I'm denying it too, trying to convince myself as well
(It isn't so) said it isn't so
Still denying it, hoping it's not true
(It isn't so) oh no
Oh no, I hope it's not true
We like to be the strangers at the party, two rebels in a shell
We enjoy being outsiders, not following the crowd
You like to move with the best of them you know we move so well
You enjoy keeping up with the cool kids, but we also have a great dynamic together
Don't need someone to lean on, I know that there's an open door
You don't need anyone else, I am here for you and I want to listen
But if I'm faced with being replaced I want you even more
If you leave me, I will want you even more and regret not trying harder to make things work
So baby say it isn't so
Please deny it and give us a chance to work on it
Why you gonna go, do you have to say
Why do you have to leave? We still have a chance to save this
Do you wanna go ooh ooh baby
Do you really want to break up? Let's try to make this work
Say it isn't
Please deny it
(Say) Say say say it isn't so
Please say it's not true
(Say it isn't so)
Keep denying it
(Say it isn't)
Still hoping you will deny it
Why do you have to say it isn't
Why can't you just deny it and give us a chance
(Say it isn't)
Still hoping you will deny it
(Say it isn't)
Keep denying it
(Stop, say it isn't)
Please put an end to my fears and say it isn't true
I know it's so hard for you
I know it's hard for you to admit the truth
(Say it isn't)
Just deny it already
So hard
I understand how hard it is
(Say it isn't)
Hoping for denial
Don't say baby
Don't make me more heartbroken
(Stop, say it isn't)
Please, just deny it already
There must be some other way
There has to be a way to make this work
Don't have to
You don't have to leave
(Say it isn't)
Still hoping for the denial
Some other way
There has to be another way besides breaking up
(Stop, say it isn't)
I can't take it anymore, just deny it already
You gonna have to say
You have to say what's going on
(Say it isn't)
Please deny it
(Say it isn't)
Still hoping for the denial
Don't have to say
You don't have to say it if it's going to hurt us
(Stop, say it isn't)
Please just deny it and make this easier
You know I won't make you
I won't force you to say it if you don't want to
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daryl Hall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielscotland1971
This longer version with the Saxophone solo still rocks after 40 years.
@heart_tru_tress
YESSSSSS❤
@johnnyenglish9622
Yes for sure and Obe on One is the ultimate love song
@oneofihcoy
amin amin amin
and not only doth it still rock after forty yearnesses but also it wilt rock forever
@reynaldojerusalem790
An 80's boy and I'm on my 50s now, but still rock and rolling with Hall and Oates, fantastic band with great beat to their music!
@YoGGiiYo
Me too!
@rodneycline5854
Same! Fortunately my 14 year old is big 80s music fan thanks to my influence. Our car rides are bliss
@voahiranarakotonaivo6480
I can never ever get enough of this song. One of the greatest songs of all time!!!
@wildecat1814
You may be right
@royalpriesthood1443
Agreed! 💯 👍🏾