What'd I Say
Roy Orbison Lyrics


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Hey now mama, Don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long
Alright, hey-hey alright
mmm alright, hey-hey alright

See the woman with the diamond ring, yeah
She knows how to shake that thing
Alright, hey-hey alright
Alright, mmm alright

See the woman with the red dress on
She can bossa nova all night long
Alright, hey-hey alright
Alright, mmm alright
Alright

Yeah, tell your Mama, tell your Pa
Gonna send you back to Arkansas
Oh-oh, alright
Alright, mmm alright

Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say

Oh I want to know, oh baby I want to know
Yeah i want to know, oh I want to know
Well i want to know, oh baby I want to know

Get a little bit louder
Get a little bit louder
A Little bit louder
A Little bit louder
A Little bit louder
Get a little bit louder

Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say

Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, hey-hey
Tell me what'd I say, yeah
Tell me what'd I say, hey-hey




Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say

Overall Meaning

In Roy Orbison's What'd I Say, the singer is asking for affection from his partner, telling her not to treat him wrong and asking her to love him all night long. He then goes on to describe two dancing women, one with a diamond ring and one in a red dress who can bossa nova all night long, implying that he wants his partner to dance for him like they do. The chorus repeats the title phrase, "tell me what'd I say," which could have multiple interpretations. It could be interpreted in a sexual context, as if Orbison is asking his partner to tell him what he's doing to please her, or it could be a plea for her to express her love or affection.


The song also has a call and response aspect, with Orbison doing the majority of the singing and the backing vocals responding to his lines by repeating "alright," "mmm alright," and other vocalizations. This aspect gives the song a lively feel and would have likely been a crowd-pleaser in a live setting.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey now mama, Don't you treat me wrong
Addressing a woman, asking her not to treat him unfairly or unkindly.


Come and love your daddy all night long
Asking the woman to express affection towards him for an extended period of time.


Alright, hey-hey alright mmm alright, hey-hey alright
Expressing satisfaction and contentment, both audibly and emotionally.


See the woman with the diamond ring, yeah
Observing a woman wearing a diamond ring.


She knows how to shake that thing
Acknowledging the woman's ability to dance provocatively.


See the woman with the red dress on
Observing a woman wearing a red dress.


She can bossa nova all night long
Acknowledging the woman's ability to dance a specific style all night.


Yeah, tell your Mama, tell your Pa
Suggesting that the woman should inform her parents of something.


Gonna send you back to Arkansas
Threatening to send the woman back to Arkansas, likely as a punishment or consequence.


Oh-oh, alright Alright, mmm alright
Reacting with a mix of shock and affirmation.


Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Repeating the question of what was said, likely in reaction to something else that was said or done.


Oh I want to know, oh baby I want to know Yeah i want to know, oh I want to know Well i want to know, oh baby I want to know
Expressing a desire to know something, likely related to the earlier question.


Get a little bit louder A Little bit louder A Little bit louder Get a little bit louder
Encouraging the music to become louder and more energetic.


Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Repeating the question of what was said, likely in reaction to the music becoming louder and more energetic.


Tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say, hey-hey Tell me what'd I say, yeah Tell me what'd I say, hey-hey Tell me what'd I say Tell me what'd I say
Continuing to repeat the question of what was said, with added emphasis and enthusiasm.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Pipkin Hopkins

Just great. I wish there was more footage of Roy from around this time :)

P Hopkins

Just listen to my very old album,  forgot that this was on it...Was the very last song...wow....

paul osmond

I saw Roy in the sixties with the Beatles, when the Beatles appeared nothing but screaming, Roy came on just one spot light on him sang all his great songs and you could not hear a pin drop what an artist,

Anneliese Woodberry

Tell me more about that concert, please.

Sandi Kennedy

I love that he's so calm cool and collected and this huge and wonderful voice comes out and it seems so effortless. That a music genius this man was. What a loss to all, as he had so much more to give. I guess we have to appreciate and love what he left us. Love the Big 'O

Bob Wilky

Something about Roy and his songs touched my heart when I was v.young. I still feel the same hearing the man now I'm 40! My ability to mimic famous voices is a blessing, years singing to Roy has paid off.. Roy brings joy! And the nieghbours don't mind either..

fartex1

same here, i grew up listening and singing along witrh roy, unfortunatly, now that im 43, i have lost the ability to reach the high notes like i did when i was young, wich saddends me. but it just shows what kind of a voice roy really had, even at older age he was reaching the notes like there was no sweat to it.

david henry wall

Brilliant song great singer royorbison was one of the best

Sandi Kennedy

I too love the Big O'. I would have loved to seen a live show. I listen to him and am in awe each time. What a master.

SUSANA

qué gloria!

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