According to their Myspace Profile "Greg and Inara met a few years ago. Discovered a common love of jazz standards...nerded out for a couple of hours playing every song they knew...and then wrote and recorded a record together."
So You Say
The Bird and the Bee Lyrics
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Button up your mouth, I want to be clear with you
If I ask you to drive me here to there
You'll do everything but what I need from you
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
If I ask you to jump, "How high?" is what you say
A dancing bear for me but I wanted more from you
If I hit you hard like elementary school
Not sure of what you'll do, I want to be with you
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
I can scream real loud
(I am the banshee)
Tare down a building
(I am the debris)
Climb up a mountain
(I am the sky)
Make you feel good
(I am the supply)
Can I change you?
(I am the clay)
Will you love me?
(But you say)
But you say
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You say you will not love me
You say you cannot love me
So you say you never loved me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
The song "So You Say" by The Bird and the Bee talks about the frustration of unrequited love. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is asking their love interest to do things for them, but not getting the emotional response they desire from them. The line "Button up your mouth, I want to be clear with you" suggests that the person is being straightforward with their feelings, but the other person is not reciprocating. The chorus "You say you will not love me, you say you cannot love me, so you say you never loved me" emphasizes the theme of rejection.
The second verse uses metaphors to describe the futile efforts the person is making to gain the love of the other person. The line "A dancing bear for me but I wanted more from you" describes how the other person is performing tasks, but not understanding the emotional needs of the person. The line "If I hit you hard like elementary school, not sure of what you'll do, I want to be with you" shows the desperation and confusion one can feel when trying to understand why someone they love cannot reciprocate their feelings.
The bridge of the song takes a turn towards empowerment. The lyrics "I can scream real loud, tear down a building, climb up a mountain, make you feel good" suggest that the person has the power to do great things and please the other person, but ultimately it won't change how they feel. The line "Can I change you? Will you love me? But you say" shows that despite the power the person believes they have, they cannot change how someone else feels.
Overall, "So You Say" is a relatable song for anyone who has experienced unrequited love and the frustration and confusion it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
If I ask you to follow me around
If I request you to accompany me
Button up your mouth, I want to be clear with you
Be quiet, I want to communicate without confusion
If I ask you to drive me here to there
If I inquire to be transported to several places
You'll do everything but what I need from you
You do everything else except for what is necessary
You say you will not love me
You express that you will not have affection for me
You say you cannot love me
You state that it is impossible for you to love me
So you say you never loved me
You affirm that you have never possessed feelings of love for me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You keep repeating the same declarations
If I ask you to jump, 'How high?' is what you say
If I request you to do something, you respond with enthusiasm
A dancing bear for me but I wanted more from you
You perform adequately but I desire above-average effort
If I hit you hard like elementary school
If I treat you harshly like schoolchildren often do
Not sure of what you'll do, I want to be with you
I am uncertain about your reaction, but I still want to be near you
I can scream real loud
I possess the ability to shout loudly
(I am the banshee)
(I am a spirit in Irish mythology that signifies death)
Tare down a building
I have the capability to destroy a structure
(I am the debris)
(I am the rubble, wreckage, and remains)
Climb up a mountain
I can climb a large hill
(I am the sky)
(I am the atmosphere above)
Make you feel good
I can cause you to feel positive emotions
(I am the supply)
(I am the origin of what you require)
Can I change you?
Am I capable of changing you?
(I am the clay)
(I am the substance used to create many objects)
Will you love me?
Will you have affection for me?
(But you say)
(But your reply is always the same)
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You keep repeating the same declarations
You say you will not love me
You express that you will not have affection for me
You say you cannot love me
You state that it is impossible for you to love me
So you say you never loved me
You affirm that you have never possessed feelings of love for me
So you say, so you say, so you say, so you say
You keep repeating the same declarations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG KURSTIN, INARA GEORGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind