What'd j say
Jerry Lee Lewis & Van Morrison Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, mama, don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy, all night long
Alright, hehee, huhu, alright

Mm, see the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing
Alright, hehee, huhu, alright

Mm, Tell your mamma, tell your pa
I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas
Huhu hey, honey you don't do right
I say you don't do right
Mmm, alright

See the girl with the red dress on
She'll do the Boogie Woogie all night long
Alright, hehe, huhu, alright

Well, tell me what I say (what'd I say)
Tell me what I say right now (what'd I say)
Honey, what I say (what'd I say)
Baby what I say right now (what'd I say)
Tell me what I say
Tell me what I say

And I wanna know (I wanna know)
I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
I gotta know (I wanna know)
Baby, I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
Baby, I wanna know

Baby, I wanna know
(What'd I say, what'd I say, what'd I say)

Overall Meaning

The song "What'd I Say" by Jerry Lee Lewis is about a man who wants his woman to love him and be with him all night long. He sings, "Yeah, mama, don't you treat me wrong, come and love your daddy, all night long." The song is lively, and as it progresses, he talks about seeing a girl with a diamond ring and a girl with a red dress on who knows how to boogie woogie all night long. The lyrics are a come-on to the women, trying to persuade them to dance with him and love him for the night.

Then, the song takes a turn where he says, "Tell your mamma, tell your pa I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas," implying that he wants her all to himself and will take her back to her family in Arkansas. He also says, "Honey, you don't do right, I say you don't do right," meaning that she hasn't been treating him right, and he wants her to change. In the end, he repeats "tell me what I say" and "I wanna know" to the beat of the music, showcasing the wild and bold side of rock and roll music.

Overall, "What'd I Say" is a classic rock and roll song about love, dancing, and the wildness that comes with it. It showcases Jerry Lee Lewis's talent as a pianist and his charismatic energy as a performer.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, mama, don't you treat me wrong
Hey there, Mom, please treat me kindly and don't hurt me

Come and love your daddy, all night long
Stay with me and shower me with love tonight

Mm, see the girl with the diamond ring
I see a girl with a diamond ring

She knows how to shake that thing
She's good at dancing provocatively

Mm, Tell your mamma, tell your pa
Tell your parents that

I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas
I'll send you home to Arkansas

Huhu hey, honey you don't do right
Honey, you aren't doing what I want you to do

I say you don't do right
I mean that you aren't doing what I want you to do

Mmm, alright
Okay

See the girl with the red dress on
I see another girl, this one in a red dress

She'll do the Boogie Woogie all night long
She'll dance the Boogie Woogie all night long

Well, tell me what I say (what'd I say)
Now tell me, what am I saying (what do you think)?

Tell me what I say right now (what'd I say)
Tell me what my words mean right now (what do you think)?

Honey, what I say (what'd I say)
Honey, what I'm saying (what is it)?

Baby what I say right now (what'd I say)
Sweetheart, what do I mean when I say this (what do you think)?

Tell me what I say
Please tell me what I'm saying

And I wanna know (I wanna know)
I want to know

I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
I want to know immediately

I gotta know (I wanna know)
I must know

Baby, I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
Honey, I want to know this instant

Baby, I wanna know
Honey, I want to know

(What'd I say, what'd I say, what'd I say)
(What am I saying, what am I saying, what am I saying)

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Michael Walker

6y↑7

An old song-yes. Now a standard. Jerry Lee Lewis breathes new life into the song of nostalgia and love, never missing a beat. Van Morrison adds immensely to the impact.

John Benn

7y↑12

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 74yo Aussie fan.
Saw Jerry Lee live in Aussie in the late 50's --early 60's in Melbourne & he was pure dynamite.