What'd I Say

by Ray Charles
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “What'd I Say”
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of What'd I Say

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Lyrics

(CN.C.)Hey ma ma don’t you treat me wrong, (CN.C.)come and love your dad dy all night long, al right now,

hey, (E7)hey,

al (B7)right.

(CN.C.)See the girl with the dia mond ring,

(CN.C.)she knows how to shake that thing,

hey (B7)right.

(CN.C.)Tell your ma ma, (CN.C.)tell your pa, I’m (CN.C.)gon na send you back to Ark an sas, (E7)Oh yes ma’am, you don’t do right,

don’t do right.

(CN.C.)When you see me in mi se ry,

(CN.C.)come on ba by see a bout me (E7)now, yeah,

al (E7)right,

al (B7)right.

(CN.C.)When you see me in mi se ry,

(CN.C.)come on ba by see a bout me now, yeah,

Hey, (E7)hey,

al (B7)right.

(CN.C.)See the girl with the red dress on, (CN.C.)she can do the Bird land all night (E7)long, yeah, yeah,

what’d I say,

al (B7)right.

Well, tell me what’d I say, yeah,

tell me what’d I say right now.

Tell me what’d I say,

tell me what’d I say (E7)right now.

Tell me what’d I say,

tell me what’d I say, yeah.

And I wan na know, yeah,

Ba by I wanna know now,

and I wanna know,

ba by I wanna know now, yeah.

And I wanna know,

said I wanna know,

I wan na know,

(CN.C.)Er,

(er),

oh,

(oh),

Er, (er), oh, (oh), er, (er), oh, (oh), Woah, one more time.

Said a one more time, ba by now,

said a one more time now,

said a one more time, yeah.

Said a one more time,

said a one more time, yeah.

(CN.C.)Er,

(er),

oh,

(oh),

Er, (er), oh, (oh), er, (er), oh, (oh), Oh feel so good,

Make me feel so good now, yeah.

Woah, by,

make me feel so good

Make me feel so good,

make me feel so good,

Woah, shake that thing now,

ba by shake that thing now now,

ba by shake that thing,

ba by shake that thing right now.

Ba by shake that thing,

ba by shake that thing.

Woah, (CN.C.)feel al right now yeah,

said I feel al right now.

Woah,

tell you feel al right, yeah.

Said I feel al right,

said I feel al (E7)right.

What'd I Say — Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

4 people have learned this song

Classic piano notation for "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in E — sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 179 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (E) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “What'd I Say”

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "What'd I Say" suitable for a pianist?
Yes — both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key E, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles in?
The backing track is in E at 179 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "What'd I Say" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "What'd I Say"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "What'd I Say", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "What'd I Say" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "What'd I Say"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "What'd I Say"?
"What'd I Say" was originally performed by Ray Charles. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Ray Charles are available?
Other accompaniments by Ray Charles: "A Song For You", "A Song For You", "Georgia On My Mind". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode — both hands, classic piano notation, key of E, real chord symbols — but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "What'd I Say" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes — treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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