What'd I Say
The Bluesbreakers Lyrics

The opening lines of The Bluesbreakers' What'd I Say appear to be a declaration of intent. The singer is planning on moving someone back to Arkansas and instructs the listener to tell their parents. It remains unclear who the subject of the song is-- perhaps a lover, perhaps a family member-- but the repetition of "baby what'd I say?" suggests that they have been left in some state of shock or confusion by the singer's announcement. Throughout the rest of the song, the singer implores the listener to respond to their question, with a repeated refrain of "baby, what'd I say?"

At first glance, it seems that the phrase "what'd I say?" might be a playful and rhetorical way of suggesting that the singer knows they have said something significant. However, there is a subtle complexity to the song's structure that suggests otherwise. The song's main groove is based on Ray Charles' seminal hit "What'd I Say," which is widely regarded as a turning point in the history of R&B music. The repetition of the song's title, asking for a reiteration of something already said, becomes a sort of self-reflexive commentary on the power of language and the way that words can echo and resonate even after they have been spoken.

Overall, The Bluesbreakers' version of "What'd I Say" is a deceptively simple song that plays with language, repetition, and the history of R&B music. It is a celebration of the power of words and the way that a phrase or a melody can stick with us long after the song is over.