Sam Outlaw is a country singer living in Los Angeles. He was born in South … Read Full Bio ↴Sam Outlaw is a country singer living in Los Angeles. He was born in South Dakota and ‘Outlaw’ is his mother’s maiden name.

Sam writes original songs that seek to capture the spirit of the classic country music he learned from his favorite singers: George Jones, Willie Nelson, Gene Watson, Don Williams, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, etc.

While still relatively new to the scene, 2014 was a pivotal year for Outlaw. CMT premiered his first-ever music video last Christmas, after which his second music video became a viral hit, premiered by The Bluegrass Situation and shared by thousands in the Americana community.

Word spread about Sam’s self-released EP and live shows throughout Southern California and this buzz earned him a slot at The Stagecoach Festival in the Coachella Valley in April. He followed up this appearance with his Nashville debut at the world-renowned live music showcase, Music City Roots. He spent the summer writing new songs and returned to Nashville in the Fall as a featured artist at AmericanaFest.

Sam's full-length album, "Angeleno" was produced by roots music legend Ry Cooder. Some of LA's finest musicians were hand-picked for the "Angeleno" sessions, including Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers), Danny Garcia (Reverend Baron) as well as Jeremy Long (pedal steel), and Joachim Cooder (drums and co-producer).

"Angeleno" was released in 2015.

Say It To Me
Sam Outlaw Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't believe in you, but I like the way you say it
I like the way you say it to me

I don't think it's true, but it sounds like you believe it
I like the way you say it to me

So say it to me
Say it to me

It might be bad news, but I like the way you break it
I like the way you say it to me

You sang out of tune, but I like the way you fake it
I like the way you sing it to me
So if you want me to, I will try my best to play it
Cause I like the way you sing it to me

So sing it to me
Sing it to me
It might be my turn, but I like the way you take it
I like the way you sing it to me

I don't believe in you, but I like the way you say it
I like the way you say it to me
And if you want me to, I will try my best to play it
Cause a like the way you sing it to me

I like the way you say it to me
I like the way you say it to me

I like the way you say it to me
I like the way you say it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sam Outlaw's "Say It to Me" convey a complex mix of emotions and perspectives regarding the singer's relationship with the subject of the song. On the one hand, the singer is clear that they do not "believe in" the subject, suggesting a lack of trust or faith in them. However, despite this lack of belief, the singer still finds something compelling in the way the subject communicates with them - "I like the way you say it to me" repeats as a refrain throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's fascination with the subject's delivery. This fascination extends to other aspects of the subject's behavior as well, such as their "fake" singing or their ability to deliver bad news in an appealing way.

What makes the song particularly poignant is its exploration of the complex reasons why people can be drawn towards others who they may not entirely trust or believe in. The repeated refrain of "I like the way you say it to me" suggests that this allure may stem from a kind of aesthetic pleasure, an appreciation for the subject's unique style or delivery regardless of their reliability. At the same time, the song also hints at the possibility of a deeper connection between the singer and subject - the willingness of the singer to "try [their] best to play it" if the subject asks them to suggests a level of mutual vulnerability and collaboration beyond mere pleasure in one another's communication style.

Overall, "Say It to Me" conveys a nuanced and emotionally complex portrayal of a potentially precarious relationship, one that is characterized by both fascination and distrust on the part of the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't believe in you, but I like the way you say it
Although I don't believe what you say, I like the way you express yourself

I like the way you say it to me
I enjoy the way you communicate with me

So say it to me
Please communicate your thoughts to me

Say it to me
I want to hear what you have to say

It might be bad news, but I like the way you break it
Even if the news is unpleasant, I admire the way you deliver it

I like the way you say it to me
I appreciate your style of communication

You sang out of tune, but I like the way you fake it
Even if you are not singing perfectly, I enjoy your effort to perform

I like the way you sing it to me
I find your singing appealing

So if you want me to, I will try my best to play it
If you want me to participate, I will do my best

Cause I like the way you sing it to me
Because I find pleasure in how you sing it to me

So sing it to me
Please sing for me