Say It Right

Nelly Furtado

(You don't mean nothing at all to me)

In the day, in the night
Say it right, say it all
You either got it or you don't
You either stand or you fall
When your will is broken
When it slips from your hand
When there's no time for joking
There's a hole in the plan

Oh, you don't mean nothing at all to me
No, you don't mean nothing at all to me
But you got what it takes to set me free
Oh, you could mean everything to me

I can't say (say) that I'm not (not)
Lost (lost) and at fault (fault)
I can't say (say) that I don't (don't)
Love the light (love) and the dark (love the light and the dark)
I can't say that I don't (don't)
Know that I (am) am alive
And all of what I feel (feel)
I could show (show you) you tonight, you tonight

Oh, you don't mean nothing at all to me
No, you don't mean nothing at all to me
But you got what it takes to set me free
Oh, you could mean everything to me

From my hands, I could give you
Something that I made
From my mouth, I could sing you
Another brick that I laid
From my body (from my body), I could show you (I could show you)
A place (a place) God knows (that only God knows)
You should know the space is holy (ah)
Do you really wanna go? (Three, four)

(You don't mean nothing at all to me)
(You don't mean nothing at all to me)


Lyrics submitted by izmo

Say It Right Lyrics as written by Nelly Kim Furtado Floyd Nathaniel Hills

Lyrics © ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC

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Say It Right song meanings
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112 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment
    Absolutely. That beat is infectious. After a few listens, I came to realize how sad this song actually is. The beat has dark undertones to it. In any case, it fuckin rocks.
    ArrestedDevelopmenton June 24, 2006   Link
  • +5
    General Comment
    i think it means that this person she doesnt even know can become everything to her slowlys just by saying the right things, lik it says"oh you don't mean nothing at all to me no you don't mean nothing at all to me do you got what it takes to set me free oh you could mean everything to me" its like shes saying you dont mean anything now but u can mean something, and that she has so much to offer to the right person.Like meeting the guy/girl u love when u first meet them u dont right away know this is the one, it takes all the right words.
    nk42390on December 17, 2006   Link
  • +3
    My Opinion
    i think shes in love with someone and shes giving it her all and shes doing everything for him. and all she wants is for him to say he loves her. (u either got it or u dont) but he aint said it yet. and if he just say those words then it will set her free from all the stress and worrying. about the fact if he loves her or not. and az for the u dont mean nothing at all to me. maybe shes trying to tell her self that becuz he aint said those for 3 words to her. maybe shes about to leave. thats how the song makes me feel.
    CHRISSIESKon May 06, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Though the song is extremely good, I'm not entirely sure of its meaning. I'd say it's about two people attracted to eachother but hesitant to make a move, they both want the other to "say it right" and sweep them off their feet. Meanwhile because of their fears they try to deny the attraction. I could be really wrong though, would love to hear more input
    Kworbon July 20, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    they have broken up. not on good terms. she doesn't know what went wrong and she want's him to tell her, to "say it right." she tells herself he doesn't mean anything to her, but she can't let it go, until she hears it right, and get's closure.... to set her free. and if he doesn't "say it right" she thinks there might still be a chance because she still loves him.
    cantankerouson November 22, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    I kind of agree with marlonsway.I think it’s about her wanting him to either “say it right” meaning get it right, make it work, she believes they can. But every time they try, things go good but then he lets her down someway “ you either stand or you fall when your will is broken” . She wants him to do the right thing so bad or just let her go. She tries hard to convince her self he means nothing” oh you don’t mean nothing to me at all” , but only he can set her free and deep down she knows this, by him either leaving or saying it right…. I could totally be wrong …great song!!!
    starinny1on December 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This a top tune from a top album!
    Lenox-Caton June 13, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    the lyrics: "in the day in the night say it all say it right" it's actually "Say it right say it all"
    _disco_on November 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I completely agree with carannilwen, i loved her first album and Powerless off her second blew me away. It was refreshing to notice she didnt see a need to take off her clothes and still be successful, and then Maneater and Promiscuous had me convinced she lost her touch. In Say It Right it reminds me of how her old music used to be, gueninely original and full of spark . I think it means she knows who she is as a person confidently, but shes found someone that has the power to make her vulnerable, and shes challenged by it.
    Jigglezon December 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Well I think that the song is about her wanting the person that she is with to break up with her. She wants him to come up to her and tell her thats it over so she can be "set free." I remember her saying that she wrote this song out of the blue. I think that its about a break up and she is waiting for him to say that it is over and she is encouraging it by saying "you dont mean nothing to me." But I am a little sketchy on it, I somewhat agree with robotsloveme and nk42390.
    marlonswayon December 23, 2006   Link

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