Despite the song's popularity, "Don't Speak" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (as rules of the times required commercial singles for charting, and one was not issued for the song), but it did reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and stayed for sixteen weeks. The song also reached number one in the UK, New Zealand, Netherlands, and Australia. The single is No Doubt's most successful international single, propelling them to superstardom. "Don't Speak" is arguably No Doubt's biggest hit and was nominated for the Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 1998.
Song information
The song was co-written by Eric Stefani and Gwen Stefani and co-produced by Matthew Wilder. "Don't Speak" went through several rewrites. A live version that exists from April 1994 shows off a bouncy tune that has the same skeleton as the released version, but not the same urgency. A demo version also appeared on a demo CD, which was presented to Interscope Records prior to the release of the Tragic Kingdom CD. Part of the song was performed on VH1 Storytellers on 10 August 2000. These lyrics are from before Tony and Gwen broke up, while the final lyrics that ended up on the album were after the breakup.
This song is about the relationship lead singer Gwen Stefani had with bassist Tony Kanal for eight years. She's saying that what they had was real, and it's a pity it couldn't last - don't bother explaining because it hurts. Stefani is now married to Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale.
Gwen Stefani wrote this song with her brother, Eric Stefani, before he left the band - originally it was a love song. After Tony Kanal dumped Gwen, it became a song about heartbreak.
After No Doubt played this on Saturday Night Live on December 7, 1996, Tragic Kingdom went to #1 and stayed there for nine weeks.
This was never released as a single, but it helped Tragic Kingdom sell approximately 15 million copies, which was their record company's intention. Billboard's rules at the time precluded any song not released as a single from the Hot 100, but on their Airplay chart, the song stayed at #1 for 16 weeks.
This won No Doubt their first video award, the Best Group Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. It was also the first of several No Doubt videos directed by Sophie Muller.
The video is a commentary on the attention the media lavished on Stefani while ignoring her band mates. The boys all give Gwen dirty looks and seem to be kind of upset all through the video. Kanal commented: "We didn't want it to be about a normal breakup. So we thought: 'What would be the saddest thing that could happen? The band splitting up?' So that's what the video's about."
Although never released as a single in the US, this went straight to #1 in the UK and stayed there for a month. It was their biggest UK hit and helped both their album Tragic Kingdom and the follow-up singles Just A Girl and Spiderwebs make the Top 10.
A cartoon version of No Doubt performed this on the animated TV show King Of The Hill in 2001. In the show, they play a prom after Bobby Hill wins a contest.
The band did not release another album until five years later when they came out with Return Of Saturn.
The beginning is very similar to Dream On by Aerosmith.
Tom Dumont's Spanish guitar solo was spliced together from six different studio takes. "I was thinking about how any true classical players would've hated the way I did it," he said. "I played it with a pick - a huge no-no."
Don`t Speak
No Doubt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
Well I don't want to know
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories
Well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending who we are
You and me I can see us dying, are we?
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts!
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't speak
Don't speak
Don't speak
Oh I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good
I know you're good
I know you're real good
Oh, la la la la la la, la la la la la la
Don't, don't, uh-huh hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush
Don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
The song "Don't Speak" by No Doubt is a melancholy tune about a breakup between two people who were once best friends. The first verse sets the scene for the song, with the singer expressing the loss of her best friend and how it may be the end of their relationship. The chorus, "Don't speak, I know just what you're saying, so please stop explaining, don't tell me 'cause it hurts" signifies that she doesn't want to hear any explanation for the breakup because it will hurt her. The second verse highlights the memories that they shared together, both good and bad, and how they are now dying with the end of the relationship.
The chorus is repeated two more times, each time expressing how the singer knows what the other person is thinking and doesn't want to hear it because it will cause more pain. The bridge, "It's all ending, I gotta stop pretending who we are, you and me I can see us dying, are we?" shows the singer coming to terms with the fact that the relationship is over and they need to stop pretending.
Overall, the song conveys a feeling of sadness and loss, as well as the difficulty of dealing with a breakup between two people who were once best friends.
Line by Line Meaning
You and me
The singer and the person being addressed.
We used to be together
The two were previously in a relationship.
Everyday together always
They spent every day together.
I really feel
The singer is expressing her emotions.
That I'm losing my best friend
The singer is losing the person who was not only her lover, but also her best friend.
I can't believe
The singer is in disbelief of what is happening.
This could be the end
The singer realizes that their relationship is ending.
It looks as though you're letting go
The person being addressed is showing signs that they are ending the relationship.
And if it's real
If the relationship is really ending.
Well I don't want to know
The singer doesn't want to hear it.
Don't speak
The singer doesn't want the person being addressed to say anything further.
I know just what you're saying
The singer already understands what the person being addressed is trying to say.
So please stop explaining
The singer wants the person being addressed to stop trying to explain the situation.
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
The singer doesn't want to hear any reasons why their relationship is ending because it is painful to hear.
I know what you're thinking
The singer also understands what the person being addressed is thinking.
I don't need your reasons
The singer doesn't need any reasons for the relationship ending because it is already understood.
Our memories
The memories of the relationship.
Well, they can be inviting
The memories can be positive and draw the singer in emotionally.
But some are altogether
However, some memories are different.
Mighty frightening
Those frightening memories are scary and overwhelming.
As we die, both you and I
The relationship is ending, and both parties are suffering the pain of this loss.
With my head in my hands
The singer is deeply sad and upset.
I sit and cry
The singer is crying over the loss of the relationship.
It's all ending
The relationship is coming to an end.
I gotta stop pretending who we are
The singer is no longer pretending that their relationship is still the same as it was before.
You and me I can see us dying, are we?
The singer sees the relationship ending and wonders if there is any hope of saving it.
And I don't need your reasons
The singer reiterates that they don't need reasons for the relationship ending.
I know you're good
The singer acknowledges that the person being addressed is good but that doesn't change the pain of the situation.
I know you're real good
The person being addressed is really good, but the singer still feels the pain of the situation.
Oh, la la la la la la, la la la la la la
This vocalization demonstrates the depth of the singer's emotions without the need for words.
Don't, don't, uh-huh hush, hush darlin'
The singer is telling the person being addressed to stop talking about the end of the relationship.
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush
The singer is telling the person being addressed to be quiet and not say anything further about the relationship.
Don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
The singer is in pain over the end of the relationship and doesn't want to hear any more reasons for it.
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush darlin'
The singer is telling the person being addressed to stop talking about the situation and to be quiet.
Hush, hush don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
The singer is in so much pain and doesn't need any more reasons for the relationship ending.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NADIR KHAYAT, STEFANI GERMANOTTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Karendanielamg
Lyrics
You and me, we used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end
It looks as though you're lettin' go
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories, well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
We gotta stop pretending
Who we are
You and me
I can see us dyin'
Aren't we?
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
I know what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't speak, don't speak
Don't speak, no
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good, I know you're good
I know you're real good, oh
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Don't, don't, ooh, ooh
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Oh, hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
@ectorsasori6369
LETRA:
You and me, we used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end
It looks as though you're lettin' go
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories, well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
We gotta stop pretending
Who we are
You and me
I can see us dyin'
Aren't we?
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
I know what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't speak, don't speak
Don't speak, no
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good, I know you're good
I know you're real good, oh
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Don't, don't, ooh, ooh
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Oh, hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
@amilliondreams7916
You and me, we used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end
It looks as though you're lettin' go
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories, well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
We gotta stop pretending
Who we are
You and me
I can see us dyin'
Aren't we?
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
I know what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't speak, don't speak
Don't speak, no
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good, I know you're good
I know you're real good, oh
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Don't, don't, ooh, ooh
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Oh, hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
@eclipsestudiomix
[Verse 1]
You and me
We used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end
[Pre-Chorus]
It looks as though
You're letting go
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinkin'
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Verse 2]
Our memories
They can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
[Pre-Chorus]
As we die
Both you and I
With my head in my hands I sit and cry
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, no, don't speak
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Bridge]
It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending
Who we are
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
You and me
I can see us dyin'
Are we?
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, don't speak
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
I know what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't speak, don't speak
Don't speak, no
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good
I know you're good
I know you're real good, oh
@Pride317
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You and me
We used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end
[Pre-Chorus]
It looks as though
You're letting go
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Verse 2]
Our memories
They can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
[Pre-Chorus]
As we die
Both you and I
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Bridge]
It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending
Who we are
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
You and me
I can see us dying
Are we?
[Chorus]
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
No, no, don't speak
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Chorus]
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't speak, don't speak
Don't speak, no
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good
I know you're good
I know you're real good, oh
[Post-Chorus]
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la
Don't, don't, ooh, ooh
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, don't tell me 'cause it hurts
[Outro]
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Oh, hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
@user-xf3qb1pt9v
You and me
We used to be together
Every day together always
I really feel
I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real,
Well I don't want to know
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories
They can be inviting
But some are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending who we are...
You and me
I can see us dying ... are we?
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
@fernandosardon9276
Letra :)
You and me
We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real
Well I don't want to know
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Our memories
Well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending who we are
You and me I can see us dying, are we?
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts (no, no, no)
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts!
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't speak
Don't speak
Don't speak
Oh I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good
I know you're good
I know you're real good
Oh, la la la la la la, la la la la la la
Don't, don't, uh-huh hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush
Don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
Hush, hush darlin' hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush don't tell me tell me 'cause it hurts
@nakigutierrezofficial
Does anybody ever just get tired of today's music and find them selves going on a old music rampage.
@anthonypoole6106
Yes
@Melt3r996
I can’t stand popular music
@T.F.O3
Did you put this comment on every old song 🤔
@jony6907
Ok boomer
@geminikb
Omg all the time. I’m 44 and have favorites from the 60s, 70s, 80s,
90s that rock my world. I was in my 20s when this song came out. Don’t think we had smart phones just yet. I swear the advent of
smart phones, in my life, is a before/after marker of the times. This song is very nostalgic for me.
@miamitten1123
Call me crazy, but Don’t Speak is one of the best songs of all time. Genuinely ageless. Plus I love the guitar solo.
@MariaGutierrez-eh3ec
Sounds like a classic Spanish guitar rift
@johnathongarcia564
@LeonL47 you can enjoy all types of music, brotha.
@user-nu4zu5vm6u
Согласна!!!! I love this song too!!!