What'd I Say
Johnny Cash;June Carter Lyrics


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Come on honey don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long
Hey, hey all right
Hey, hey baby, what'd I say

See that girl with a diamond ring
I know where she got that thing
Hey, hey all right
Hey, hey baby, what'd I say

Oh yeah, honey you're so fine
Baby you're so fine
Honey you're so fine
Honey you're so fine
Oh you're so fine hey, hey all right
Hey, hey baby, what'd I say

See the girl with the rich dress on
She can do that all night long
Hey, hey all right
Hey, hey baby, what'd I say

When you see me in misery
Come on baby and stand by me
Hey, hey all right
Hey, hey baby, what'd I say

Baby, what'd I say right now
What'd I say right now
Honey you're so fine
What'd I say right now




Baby, you're so fine
Hey, what'd I say

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Cash and June Carter's song "What'd I Say" are a playful call and response between the two singers. Johnny starts off by asking his partner not to "treat him wrong" and to "love him all night long". Then, he notices a girl with a diamond ring and asks his partner if she knows where the ring came from. The playful banter continues as Johnny compliments his partner, calling her "so fine", and acknowledging other women in the room who are dancing and wearing fancy clothes. In the end, Johnny asks his partner "what'd I say right now" and repeats the catchy chorus.


Overall, the song is a fun and flirtatious exchange between two singers who clearly have a playful and loving relationship. The lyrics are simple, but effective in conveying the sense of joy and happiness that can come from two people being together.


Line by Line Meaning

Come on honey don't you treat me wrong
Don't be unfair to me, my love.


Come and love your daddy all night long
Let's be intimate and stay together all night.


Hey, hey all right
Expressing positive emotions and feelings.


Hey, hey baby, what'd I say
Asking for affirmation on previous statements made.


See that girl with a diamond ring
Noticing a girl with a valuable piece of jewelry.


I know where she got that thing
Having knowledge of how the girl acquired the ring.


Oh yeah, honey you're so fine
Complimenting the appearance of the significant other.


Baby you're so fine
Reiterating how attractive the significant other is.


Honey you're so fine
Continuing to compliment the significant other's appearance.


Honey you're so fine
Emphasizing the attractiveness of the significant other.


Oh you're so fine hey, hey all right
Expressing positive emotions towards the significant other's appearance.


Hey, hey baby, what'd I say
Checking to make sure the significant other heard and understood previous compliments.


See the girl with the rich dress on
Observing a girl wearing fancy clothing.


She can do that all night long
Implying that the girl can afford to wear fancy clothing and party all night.


When you see me in misery
Asking the significant other to offer support when they see the singer upset.


Come on baby and stand by me
Encouraging the significant other to support the singer during difficult times.


What'd I say right now
Asking again for affirmation and positive feedback from the significant other.


What'd I say right now
Repeating the request for affirmation.


Honey you're so fine
Reiterating the attractiveness of the significant other.


What'd I say right now
Checking one more time for verbal confirmation from the significant other.


Baby, you're so fine
Final compliment on the significant other's appearance.


Hey, what'd I say
Final request for verbal reassurance from the significant other.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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