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 ↴
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
The lyrics to No Doubt's song Don't Speak describe the end of a relationship where one partner is breaking up with the other, causing the singer to lose their best friend. The singer knows exactly what their partner is saying and they do not need any explanation or reasons as they know it will only hurt them more. Memories of their time together may be inviting, but they are also frightening. The chorus "Don't speak, I know what you're thinking" appears to be the singer's attempt to protect themselves from further pain by avoiding any discussion or explanation of the situation. Furthermore, the lyrics point to the inevitability of the relationship ending with the line "I can see us dying," reinforcing the sense of helplessness and despair of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
You and me, we used to be together
We were once in a relationship.
Every day together, always
We were together every single day.
I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I feel like I'm losing the person who was my best friend.
I can't believe this could be the end
I never thought our relationship would end like this.
It looks as though you're lettin' go
You seem to be moving away from our relationship.
And if it's real, well, I don't want to know
If this is really happening, I don't want to know.
Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
I understand what you're trying to say, so don't say it out loud.
So please stop explainin'
I don't want to hear your explanation.
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
I already know the truth, so telling me will only make it worse.
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
I can tell what you're thinking even without you saying it.
I don't need your reasons
I don't need to know why this is happening.
Our memories, well, they can be inviting
Our memories can be comforting and tempting to hold on to.
But some are altogether mighty frightening
Some memories are too scary to think about.
As we die, both you and I
Our relationship is dying slowly.
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
I can't bear the pain of losing you.
It's all ending
Our relationship is coming to an end.
We gotta stop pretending
We need to stop pretending that everything is okay.
Who we are
We need to accept who we are and move on.
You and me
We were once together.
I can see us dyin'
I can see our relationship ending.
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no
I don't want to hear the painful truth.
It hurts
The truth is painful and hurts me deeply.
I know you're good
I know you're a good person, but that isn't enough to save our relationship.
I know you're real good, oh
I know you're really great, but it doesn't change the fact that our relationship is ending.
Hush, hush, darling
Please don't say anything that will cause us more pain.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric Stefani, Gwen Stefani
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!!!