Don’t Speak

It’s Song Lyric Sunday (every Sunday) hosted by Jim Adams of A Unique Title For Me. For a while I’ve been reading posts by other bloggers who take part in this prompt each week but although songs often spring to mind I’ve never actually written about one myself. Partly, I think this is because I know I probably won’t manage to be consistent with posting weekly and that seems to be what people do. When I saw this week’s prompt though (Listen/Hear/Talk/Speak), SO MANY great songs came to mind that I had to post something. I eventually settled on this one as it has been a karaoke favourite of mine for years. Actually I need to clarify that – not exactly karaoke – I’ve actually only done that a handful of times. When I say karaoke what I mean is I’ve sung it lots of times in my living room playing ‘Rock Band’ with the kids when they were younger. 😆

Gwen Stephani singing Don’t Speak

Apparently this song has quite a lot of history. It was originally largely written by Gwen Steffani’s brother Eric as a love song but then after the band (No Doubt) got the song Gwen rewrote most of the lyrics to fit in with what was going on in her life. Her seven year relationship with bandmate Tony Kanal had ended and after several alterations it became more of a sad song in place of the jazzy original. The song topped the charts in several countries including the UK which made it No Doubt’s most successful international hit.

Being a lyrics person myself, these ones always get me. There’s so much pain in these words over the loss of the friendship and letting go. Maybe part of the success of the song can be attributed to how relatable the lyrics are?

Don’t Speak
No Doubt

You and me, we used to be together
Every day together, always
I really feel that I’m losin’ my best friend
I can’t believe this could be the end
It looks as though you’re lettin’ go
And if it’s real, well, I don’t want to know

Don’t speak, I know just what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Don’t speak, I know what you’re thinkin’
I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts

Our memories, well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands, I sit and cry
Don’t speak, I know just what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts, no, no, no

Don’t speak, I know what you’re thinkin’
And I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts

It’s all ending
We gotta stop pretending
Who we are

You and me
I can see us dyin’
Aren’t we?

Don’t speak, I know just what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
No, no, don’t speak, I know what you’re thinkin’
And I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts

I know what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t speak, don’t speak
Don’t speak, no
I know what you’re thinkin’
And I don’t need your reasons
I know you’re good, I know you’re good
I know you’re real good, oh

La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Don’t, don’t, ooh, ooh
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Oh, hush, hush, darling
Hush, hush, darling

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Eric Matthew Stefani / Gwen Renee Stefani
Don’t Speak lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.