What'd I Say
Soulful Revelations: Jerry Lee Lewis Unveils the Rhythm of Longing
Lyrics
Yeah, mama, don't you treat me wrong
Expressing a plea to the speaker's mother not to mistreat or wrong them.
Come and love your daddy, all night long
Inviting the mother to love the speaker for an extended period, emphasizing intimacy.
Alright, hehee, huhu, alright
Exclamatory expressions, possibly indicating excitement or approval.
Mm, see the girl with the diamond ring
Observing a girl with a diamond ring and acknowledging her ability to dance provocatively.
She knows how to shake that thing
Highlighting the girl's skill in dancing, particularly in shaking her body.
Alright, hehee, huhu, alright
Reiteration of exclamatory expressions, reinforcing enthusiasm.
Mm, Tell your mamma, tell your pa
Instructing the listener to convey a message to their parents about sending them back to Arkansas, suggesting disapproval of the listener's behavior.
I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas
Continuation of the message about the speaker's intention to send the listener back to Arkansas.
Huhu hey, honey you don't do right
Expressing dissatisfaction with the listener's actions, implying they are not behaving correctly.
I say you don't do right
Reiteration of the speaker's dissatisfaction with the listener's behavior.
Mmm, alright
Expression of approval or affirmation.
See the girl with the red dress on
Noticing a girl wearing a red dress and suggesting she can dance the Boogie Woogie throughout the night.
She'll do the Boogie Woogie all night long
Emphasizing the girl's ability to engage in lively and energetic dancing.
Alright, hehe, huhu, alright
Repetition of exclamatory expressions, maintaining a lively and enthusiastic tone.
Well, tell me what I say (what'd I say)
Prompting the listener to tell the speaker what they have said, emphasizing a desire for communication.
Tell me what I say right now (what'd I say)
Reiterating the request for the listener to convey what the speaker has said.
Honey, what I say (what'd I say)
Affirming the importance of the listener relaying the speaker's words.
Baby what I say right now (what'd I say)
Stressing the immediacy of wanting to know what the speaker has said.
Tell me what I say
Repetition of the request for the listener to tell the speaker what they have said.
Tell me what I say
Continuation of the request for the listener to convey the speaker's words.
And I wanna know (I wanna know)
Expressing a strong desire to know something immediately.
I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
Reiteration of the urgency in wanting to know something right away.
I gotta know (I wanna know)
Emphasizing the speaker's determination to obtain information.
Baby, I wanna know right now (I wanna know)
Repeating the speaker's strong desire to know something without delay.
Baby, I wanna know
Affirming the speaker's persistent desire to know something.
Baby, I wanna know
Reiteration of the speaker's persistent desire to know something.
(What'd I say, what'd I say, what'd I say)
Repetition of the title phrase, emphasizing the central theme of the song.
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