What'd I Say
Ray Charles Lyrics


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Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing, all right now, now
Hey hey
Hey hey

Tell your mama, tell your pa
I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am
You don't do right
Don't do right

Oh, play it boy

When you see me in misery
Come on baby, see about me now, yeah
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the red dress on
She can do the Birdland all night long, yeah yeah
What'd I say?
All right
Well, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say

And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now
And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now, yeah




And I wanna know
Baby I wanna know, yeah

Overall Meaning

Ray Charles's song "What'd I Say" is a classic example of soulful R&B music. The song is about a man telling his woman to love him all night long, while he acknowledges other women who can shake their bodies, dance and entertain him. The song starts with the lyrics, "Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong, Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now." The singer wants his woman to show him love and affection as he deserves, which indicates he isn't pleased with the current situation.


The second verse talks about a girl with a diamond ring that can shake that thing, which shows that the singer likes a woman with jewelry, money, and the right moves. The line, "Tell your mama, tell your pa I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am," shows the singer's firmness and authority over his woman. He wants her to know that if she doesn't treat him right, she'll be out of his life.


In the bridge, the singer talks about his misery and asks his woman to come and look after him. He wants her comfort and affection as he is feeling down. The chorus repeats the phrase "What'd I say," indicating the excitement the singer feels while being entertained by the girls around him.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Addressing his mother, the singer pleads with her not to treat him unfairly


Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now
He is asking his mother to love and care for him in every way possible


See the girl with the diamond ring
He is referring to a girl in the room who is well-dressed and appears to come from a wealthy background


She knows how to shake that thing, all right now, now
The girl is dancing very well, and he is impressed by her moves


Tell your mama, tell your pa
The singer is addressing the girl and asking her to tell her parents about him


I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am
The singer is suggesting that he will send the girl back to her home state if she doesn't behave herself properly


You don't do right
He is warning the girl that she needs to behave in a certain way if she wants to continue seeing him


Oh, play it boy
He is encouraging the band to start playing music again


When you see me in misery
The singer is asking the girl to come to his aid when he is sad or feeling down


Come on baby, see about me now, yeah
He wants the girl to take care of him and make him feel better when he's having a hard time


See the girl with the red dress on
He is referring to a second girl on the dance floor who is wearing a red dress


She can do the Birdland all night long, yeah yeah
This girl is also dancing very well, and he is impressed by her moves


What'd I say?
He is asking the other band members to start playing a specific tune known as 'What'd I Say'


And I wanna know
The singer is repeatedly asking for more information about something that is unclear


Baby, I wanna know right now
He wants an answer as quickly as possible


Baby I wanna know, yeah
He is repeating his request for information in the hopes of obtaining an answer




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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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@scouseronthewirral

Written By Ray Charles and recorded on 18 February 1959, released In June 1959 and peaked at #1 on R&B chart and #6 pop. Earning Ray his first gold record.

Covers:
Johnny O’ Keefe (Nov 1959)
Bobby Rydell (Nov 1959)
The Olympics (Apr 1960)
Jack Eubanks (Nov 1960)
Dee Clark (1960)
Cliff Richard (14 Apr 1961)
The Cliffters (22 Sep 1961)
Jerry Lee Lewis (1961)
The Beau-marks (1961)
The chevrons (1961)
Donnie Brooks (1961)
Carroll Brothers (Mar 1962)
Bobby Darin (Mar 1962)
Keeley Smith (Apr 1962)
Teddy Randazzo (May 1962)
Anita Kerr singers (Nov 1962)
Clyde Mcphatter (1962)
The Crickets (1962)
The Spotnicks (1962)
Rod McKuen (1962)
Don Lang (1962)
Tom & Jerry (1962)
Jimmy Justice (1962)
Ray Fowler (1962)
Dick Dale (June 1963)
Trini Lopez (Jun 1963)
Floyd Cramer (Aug 1963)

Elvis Presley Recorded What’d I Say on 30 August 1963 during his Viva Las Vegas Soundtrack session, it was released on 28 April 1964 and peaked at #21 On Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart.



@robreynolds1287

"What'd I Say (Parts 1 & 2)"

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong - Come and love your daddy all night long
All right now, hey hey, all right - See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing - All right now now now, hey hey, hey hey
Tell your mama, tell your pa I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas
Oh yes, ma'm, you don't do right, don't do right Aw, play it boy
When you see me in misery Come on baby, see about me
Now yeah, all right, all right, aw play it, boy When you see me in misery
Come on baby, see about me Now yeah, hey hey, all right
See the girl with the red dress on She can do the Birdland all night long

Yeah yeah, what'd I say, all right
Well, tell me what'd I say, yeah
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say yeah

And I wanna know
Baby I wanna know right now
And-a I wanna know
And I wanna know right now yeah
And-a I wanna know
Said I wanna know yeah

[Spoken:] Hey, don't quit now! (c'mon honey)
Naw, I got, I uh-uh-uh, I'm changing (stop! stop! we'll do it again)
Wait a minute, wait a minute, oh hold it! Hold it! Hold it!
Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey
Oh one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time right now (just one more time)
Say it one more time now (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)
Say it one more time (just one more time)
Say it one more time yeah (just one more time)

Hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey (hey) ho (ho) hey
Ah! Make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good now yeah (make me feel so good)
Woah! Baby (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good (make me feel so good)
Make me feel so good yeah (make me feel so good)
Huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh (huh) ho (ho) huh
Awh it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right right now (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right yeah (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)
Said that it's all right (baby it's all right)

Woah! Shake that thing now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing now now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing right now (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Baby shake that thing (baby shake that thing)
Woah! I feel all right now yeah (make me feel all right)
Said I feel all right now (make me feel all right)
Woooah! (make me feel all right)
Tell you I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Said I feel all right (make me feel all right)
Baby I feel all right (make me feel all right)



All comments from YouTube:

@patriciaasher4614

In 1958, Charles was on stage doing a live show when he ran out of stuff they'd prepared. There were 12 minutes of stage time remaining, and he rarely left the stage early. Charles told his band members, The Raelettes, "Listen, I'm going to fool around, and y'all just follow me." This 1959 hit single, What'd I Say, was the result of that impromptu on the spot jam session.

@zovalentine7305

Ray Charles Robinson
23 September 1930 ~
10 June 2004
Rest in powerful peace⚘

@Phantomsbreath

The drummer on this needs more recognition. Without them, this wouldn't be half as good as it is!

@garybrockwell2031

A what the reck am I,
Can we all stand up on stage... No soz

@garybrockwell2031

No room 🕺💥🆘🙏😍

@karenoliver6999

You are right

@connor_selby

bruno carr is his name

@smithairrion1476

MAN!!!!!!!!!

2 More Replies...

@Sayeeda1

More classic Rhythm and Blues!!!

@thenicest157

What a talent..if u are blind u are not dumb..powerfull words..we love u Ray..R.I.P.

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