What'd I Say

Ray Charles

Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long, all right now
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing, all right now, now
Hey hey
Hey hey

Tell your mama, tell your pa
I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas, oh yes m'am
You don't do right
Don't do right

Oh, play it boy

When you see me in misery
Come on baby, see about me now, yeah
Hey hey
All right

See the girl with the red dress on
She can do the Birdland all night long, yeah yeah
What'd I say?
All right
Well, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say

And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now
And I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now, yeah
And I wanna know
Baby I wanna know, yeah


Lyrics submitted by kevin

What'd I Say, Pt. 1 Lyrics as written by Ray Charles

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Tratore, Songtrust Ave, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

What'd I Say song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General CommentBelieve what you want. After all, RS is an absolutely unimpeachable source, right? Turns out that what I read said that the entire song wasn't the result of one concert but was worked on over the course of an entire tour. So, no, the song you hear on the CD was not made in its entirety in one night; it was in fact edited and added to over the course of a tour.
    voodoochildeon January 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentFirst of all I can't fucking believe that there is only 10 comments on this song.
    Maybe people are so busy listening to crap like pussy cat dolls.
    I really miss good music and good musicians.
    These knew kids can hardly even play a damn cord on guitar when this man is playing the hell of a piano.
    Songs like this rocks the hell outta recent crap music.
    Viva for Ray.
    May he rest in peace.
    Husseinon January 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWhy am i the first person to post on this?!?!? Anyways, Ray Charles is a fucking god. I heard that at some show, he had 11 m,inutes to fill, and he just looked at his band and said "Um...follow me."
    Potatoes9000on October 27, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI have to agree... he is amazing. I just saw the movie on him, and it was great, just great. We did a fieldshow with his music when I was a freshman in High School, and I remember it perfectly. What an amazing musician.
    TooFastForYouon November 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI just saw the movie. Is it true that he just made it up on the spot? If so, that is fucking amazing.
    glovejaon February 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's true, this was all improvised. That just sums up what a genuis this man was.
    Comrade_Liaron May 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentActually, it's been stated in numerous interviews with the director, actors, etc., that it was just artistic license in the movie that this song was improvised on the spot and that it didn't come about that way. Regardless, the man was still a genius.
    voodoochildeon August 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI haven't seen the movie, so I don't know about what it has to say, but I read at Rolling Stone that it was improvised. And they probably wouldn't like just because it was improvised in the movie. I believe it.

    rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6595855/sort/…
    butterboyon November 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI remember this song being mentioned in my Rock and Roll History textbook, and they had the meanings behind both parts in there. I think they said part one was about him trying to impress a girl, and part two was about people going out dancing and having a good time. Or maybe it was the other way around... it's been a while. Regardless of the meaning, it's a great song that only Ray Charles could do right.
    Amaya-chanon March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentbest song by the best blind musician in my opinion.
    great movie too
    heyjude55on May 09, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top