Ray Charles – What’d I Say

About The Song

“What’d I Say” is a classic rhythm and blues song by Ray Charles, released in 1959. The song is known for its infectious and energetic blend of gospel, jazz, and blues elements, and it played a pivotal role in the development of soul music.

Five Facts:

Improvised Creation: Ray Charles famously improvised the song during a concert in December 1958. The audience’s enthusiastic response led him to expand the improvised jam into a full-length song.
Call and Response: “What’d I Say” is characterized by its call-and-response structure, a musical technique rooted in African-American gospel traditions. Charles’ vocals and the responsive backing vocals create a dynamic and engaging musical conversation.
Innovative Use of Instruments: The song features innovative use of instruments, particularly the Hammond B-3 organ played by Ray Charles himself. The prominent organ riff became iconic and contributed to the song’s distinctive sound.
Controversial Lyrics: The original lyrics of “What’d I Say” were considered somewhat controversial due to their suggestive nature. Despite this, the song became a massive hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the R&B singles chart.
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: In recognition of its cultural and historical significance, “What’d I Say” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song remains a timeless classic and a testament to Ray Charles’ musical genius and innovation.

Video

Lyrics

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