"What'd I Say" was written by Ray Charles Robinson (shortened to Ray Charles when he entered show business because of the fame of Sugar Ray Robinson), a pioneering soul singer who helped shape the sound of rhythm and blues and brought a soulful sound to everything from country music to pop standards to "God Bless America".
Though his first recordings were only skilful imitations of his hero, Charles Brown (1922-1999), Charles' music soon became more innovative. He toured with Lowell Fulson (1921-1999) and worked with Guitar Slim (1926-1959) and Ruth Brown. After joining Atlantic Records, Charles' sound become more and more original and groundbreaking as he took the feel, and many tunes, from gospel music and put them to secular lyrics performed in front of a jazz lineup playing R&B with exceptionally tight arrangements.
"What'd I Say" is definetely his signature song.
"Hey mama don't you see me wrong / I come and love you daddy all night long / Alright hey hey hey hey / See the gal with the diamond ring / She knows how to shake that thing / Alright hey hey hey hey (play the thing) / See the gal with the red dress on / She knows how to do it all night long / Alright hey hey hey hey / Well tell your mama, tell your pa / Gonna send you back to Arkansas / Alright hey hey don't do it right now / (Play it now, play that instrument) / When you see me in misery / Well you see me in misery / Well baby save my fee / Alright hey hey hey hey / Oh tell me what'd say / Tell me what'd I say . . . "
Some other cool tunes by the man: "Born to Lose" (1962), "Hallelujah I Love Her So" (1961), "Unchain My Heart" (1961), "Hit the Road, Jack" (1961), "I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)", and "Georgia on My Mind" (1961, a Hoagy Carmichael song originally written for a girl named Georgia). He also had success with "America the Beautiful".
In 1965, Charles was arrested for possession of heroin and was jailed for one year. After gaining his freedom, Charles defiantly released Ashford and Simpson's "Lets Go Get Stoned" (1966).
Charles was an original inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Jazz Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. The name Ray Charles is on a Star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame. His bronze bust is enshrined in the Playboy Hall of Fame.
"Well you see me in misery / Well baby save my fee / Alright hey hey hey hey / Oh tell me what'd say / Tell me what'd I say . . . "
should be:
"in misery/ Well baby see 'bout me/"
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