She Said She Said
The Beatles (The U.S. Albums) Lyrics
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I know what it's like to be dead
I know what it is to be sad
And she's making me feel like I've never been born
I said
Who put all those things in your hair
Things that make me feel like I'm sad
She said you don't understand what I said
I said no no no you're wrong
When I was a boy, everything was right
Everything was right
I said
Even though you know what you know
I know that I'm ready to leave
'Cause you're making me feel like I've never been born
She said you don't understand what I said
I said no no no you're wrong
When I was a boy, everything was right
Everything was right
I said
Even though you know what you know
I know that I'm ready to leave
'Cause you're making me feel like I've never been born
She said
I know what it's like to be dead
I know what it's like to be dead
I know what it is to be sad
I know what it is to be sad
The Beatles’ song “She Said She Said” is a complex exploration of the human experience of sadness and mortality, illustrating the lens through which these ideas might be viewed at different stages of life. The repetition of the lyrics “I know what it’s like to be dead” and “I know what it is to be sad” creates a haunting atmosphere that is both introspective and empathic. The first verse, sung from the perspective of the singer, introduces the theme of existence, or the realization that one is alive, with the line “And she’s making me feel like I’ve never been born”. This sense of existential dread is contrasted with the second verse, in which a memory is shared of a happier time, “When I was a boy, everything was right.”
The chorus, reprised several times throughout the song, sees the singer feeling a sense of urgency to leave, as they become overwhelmed by the sadness emanating from the person they are speaking to. The lines “Even though you know what you know, I know that I’m ready to leave, ‘cause you’re making me feel like I’ve never been born” suggest that the singer is unable to cope with the intensity of the other person’s emotions, and needs to distance themselves in order to maintain their own sense of self.
Overall, “She Said She Said” is a thought-provoking examination of the duality of life, and the ways in which joy and sadness can coexist, sometimes uncomfortably. The repeated phrase “I know what it’s like to be dead,” in particular, suggests a deep empathy with the emotional struggles of others, even as the singer may struggle to cope with their own mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
She said
The woman in question is speaking
I know what it's like to be dead
She has experienced a state of being that resembles death
I know what it is to be sad
She has felt deep sadness
And she's making me feel like I've never been born
The artist's words or actions are causing her to feel an emptiness or lack of purpose
Who put all those things in your hair
The artist is questioning why the woman has certain objects in her hair
Things that make me feel like I'm sad
The objects in the woman's hair are causing the singer to feel sadness
And you're making me feel like I've never been born
The woman's words or actions are causing the singer to feel an emptiness or lack of purpose
She said you don't understand what I said
The woman believes the artist is not comprehending her words
I said no no no you're wrong
The artist is denying the woman's statement that they do not understand
When I was a boy, everything was right
The artist is contrasting their present experience with their nostalgia for a simpler, more satisfying time
Even though you know what you know
The singer is acknowledging the woman's experiences and insights
I know that I'm ready to leave
The artist feels a desire to depart from the current situation
'Cause you're making me feel like I've never been born
The woman's words or actions are causing the singer to feel an emptiness or lack of purpose
I know what it's like to be dead
The woman is repeating her earlier statement of experiencing a death-like state
I know what it is to be sad
The woman is repeating her earlier statement of experiencing deep sadness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CipherSerpico
This song basically, single-handedly invented “Alternative”.
I mean, ‘Revolver’ in general, invented ‘Alternative’, but I think “She Said She Said” is the best example of what was to come.
You can’t listen to this Album/Song, and not hear how it influenced stuff like Radiohead (especially the Album ‘Ok Computer’), U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’, as well as the entire genre of ‘Shoegaze’; and even Bands like Big Star and Pink Floyd.
It’s crazy to think that-in the span of 3 years—they created/shaped virtually every genre of the next 6 decades.
‘Rubber Soul’ created ‘Art-Pop’.
‘Revolver’ not only created ‘Alternative’, & ‘Intellectual/Avant-garde Pop Music’… it introduced the idea of “Music Production”.
‘Sgt. Pepper’ created ‘Art/Album-Rock’ and ‘Conceptual Rock’.
‘The White Album’ created ‘Indie’.
Then, on ‘Abbey Road’ they found a way to synthesize all of the things they had created, and turn it into one cohesive piece of Music.
It’s absolutely insane.
On top of all that, Revolver (and Sgt. Pepper) in particular—introduced the concept of ‘Album Production’, as well as Tape Loops/Sampling; All of those things have become ubiquitous in Modern Music, and they’re the foundation for every single ‘Production-Based’ Genre or Aesthetic in modern Music;
i.e. everything from Hip-Hop, to Electronic, Electronica, Dub, to Home studio recordings, etc…
Everything from David Axelrod, to ‘A Tribe Called Quest’, to ‘Massive Attack’, ‘Boards Of Canada’, ’Burial’, to ‘Animal Collective’, to ‘FKA Twigs’…
We’re talking about the ‘Blueprint for the Digital Age of Music’...
And it all started with Revolver.
The Beatles are literally more influential than every other Artist-combined.
@CipherSerpico
@Velvet Watermelon That’s the one other Artist I was thinking about; The only slight difference is that I think of Velvet Underground as inventing “Underground Music” rather than “Indie”.
Granted, they’re arguably the same thing.
I just think of “Underground” as the “noisier/ more primal genre”; and I think of “Indie” as being the “more sophisticated/intellectual genre”.
Like, I think of Sonic Youth’s “Daydream Nation”, and Pavement’s “Slanted & Enchanted” as “Underground”;
And I think of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Aeroplane Over The Sea”, and Arcade Fire’s “Funeral” as being “Indie Albums”.
And I think of something like The Pixies “Doolittle” as being a combination of Indie & Underground.
That probably doesn’t make any sense, but that’s just how I think of them lol.
Anyway, to your point though… Velvet Underground & Nico is without question one of the Greatest and most influential/innovative Albums of all time.
@CipherSerpico
@G Walker The Beach Boys definitely had a huge impact on a ton of the “indie bands” of this generation.
On top of that, their influence on Animal Collective probably shaped modern Music more than anything in a long time. I think Animal Collective is one of the 5 Greatest/Most Important Artists of this era, and they arguably have the Greatest Body of work—since Radiohead.
Virtually every Indie Artist started incorporating AC’s sound into their Music. It had a massive impact on Modern Music. And all of that started with The Beach Boys.
When you listen to Animal Collective’s Masterpieces, like ’Merriweather Post Pavilion’, ‘Strawberry Jam’, or ’Feels’…
It’s basically impossible to imagine these songs without the influence of The Beach Boys.
“Bluish”: https://youtu.be/U-IEnKdkzLg?si=XQuiriiDKTWVZo5O
“Also Frightened”:
https://youtu.be/55pDa5_CJP8?si=Z2kKvmWFpgIfmMxO
“Fireworks”: https://youtu.be/8pUD4MxgQZk
“My Girls”: https://youtu.be/V00VrmmoWPw?si=sOjvgB8ceIsUBaom
“Comfy In Nautica”:
https://youtu.be/7xqOz_YqDxM
Have you heard those before?
@eleanor8079
Lyrics.
She said
"I know what it's like to be dead
I know what it is to be sad"
And she's making me feel like I've never been born
I said
"Who put all those things in your head?
Things that make me feel that I'm mad"
And you're making me feel like I've never been born
She said, "You don't understand what I said"
I said, "No, no, no, you're wrong"
When I was a boy
Every thing was right
Every thing was right
I said
"Even though you know what you know
I know that I'm ready to leave
Because you're making me feel like I've never been born"
She said, "You don't understand what I've said"
And I said, "No, no, no you're wrong"
When I was a boy
Every thing was right
Every thing was right
I said
"Even though you know what you know
I know that I'm ready to leave
Because you're making me feel like I've never been born"
She said, she said
"I know what it's like to be dead (I know what it's like to be dead)
I know what it is to be sad (I know what it is to be sad)
I know what it's like to be dead"
@paulbadoo9326
IMO , Ringo 's best performance. Those fills he plays totally make the song, and those are original fills nobody else would do.
@richwilde6550
Yeah this is my fave ringo drumming. Always thought it was better than Rain and other, although they’re still amazing.
@adamblackshaw9151
Great drumming. He's terrific on RAIN as well.
@applescruff1969
I think Rain's his best. This is definitely a close contender, though.
@jamesarmstrong5903
Rains my favorite but just noticed he's amazing in this as well
@JET7C0
Yes - I'd avoided listening to the Beatles in high school, because I was trying too hard to be "punk rock" (lol), and so on, but started listening to them around 20, and his drumming on this blew me away. People think of the drums as so mechanistic, anyone can fill in for anyone else, provided they have adequate skill - but Ringo proves that's not the case, and drumming styles are really just as characteristic as fingerprints or voices.
@maristelaalves9266
John's voice send shivers to my spine. What a phenomenal song.
@lindastoakes1268
I've loved john Lennon for 60 years x
@hansvandijk1487
@Linda Stoakes So did I and I still do (born 1950).
Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱.
@gabrielfanin1412
What about Paul's Voice? I think is so cool too.