Say Say Say

"Say Say Say"Single by Paul McCartney
General information
Featured artist(s)	Michael Jackson
Released	October 15, 1983
Recorded	April–May 1981
Studio	AIR Studios (Oxford Street, London) Cherokee Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Post-disco • synth-funk • funk-pop • rock
Length	3:55
Albums	Pipes of Peace, Pure McCartney (2015 remix)
Label	Columbia Records
Writer(s)	Paul McCartney • Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	George Martin
Music video
Official Video
2015 Remix
Kygo Remix

"Say Say Say" is a song written by English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, released as the second track from his album, Pipes of Peace. It was released as a single on October 15, 1983, serving as the lead single from the album. Michael Jackson, who's also the writer, is featured in the song, as well as in the music video.

On October 6, 2015, a different mix, created by Steve Orchard and Mark "Spike" Stent received a release, this time featuring previously unheard vocals from Jackson, who provides more leads than in the 1983 track.

Background

"Say Say Say" began production in April 1981, at AIR Studios in London, engineered by Geoff Emerick, who was the former sound engineer for The Beatles, which in turn, McCartney was a part of. "Say Say Say" was completed in February 1983, after it had been refined and overdubbed at Cherokee Studios in California.

In a 2014 interview with Bill Wolfer, Wolfer mentioned that he and Jackson worked on a rough sketch of "Say Say Say". The sketch was based on the original acoustic demo with McCartney. Jackson intended to present the latter with his vision for the song. This soon evolved into a 24-track studio recording with a rhythm section, horns, and harmonica laid down, which McCartney was presented with by Jackson instead, ultimately being kept in the final version.

George Martin, who had also worked with The Beatles and was the producer, said:

“	He actually does radiate an aura when he comes into the studio, there's no question about it. He's not a musician in the sense that Paul is ... but he does know what he wants in music and he has very firm ideas.	”
–Martin on working with Jackson

Jackson revealed in his autobiography, Moonwalk, that the collaboration boosted his confidence, as Quincy Jones (the producer of his then-work-in-progress album, Thriller) wasn't present to correct his mistakes. Jackson added that he and McCartney worked as equals, stating, "Paul never had to carry me in that studio."

Music video

The music video (directed by Bob Girladi and filmed in October 1983) centers around two con artists called "Mac and Jack", played by McCartney and Jackson, respectively. La Toya Jackson cameos in the clip as well, serving as Michael's love interest.

The video was never officially uploaded to McCartney's YouTube channel. However, with the release of the 2015 remix, a new clip was uploaded, featuring dancers doing their job through the neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Their moves mostly reflect those of Jackson's, honoring the King of Pop.

Lyrics

• Say Say Say
• 2015 Remix
• Kygo Remix

[Verse 1]
Say, say, say what you want
But don't play games with my affection
Take, take, take what you need
But don't leave me with no direction

[Chorus]
All alone, I sit home by the phone
Waiting for you, baby (Baby)
Through the years, how can you stand to hear
My pleading for you, dear?
You know I'm crying, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Yeah, yeah

[Verse 2]
Now, go, go, go where you want
But don't leave me here forever
You, you, you, stay away
So long, girl, I see you never

[Chorus]
What can I do, girl, to get through to you?
'Cause I love you, baby (Baby)
Standing here, baptized in all my tears
Baby, through the years, you know I'm crying
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Post-Chorus]
(You've got to say, say, say
You've got to say, say, say...)

[Bridge]
(You've got to say, say, say
You've got to say, say, say...)
You never, ever worry
And you never shed a tear
You're saying that my love ain't real
Just look at my face, these tears ain't drying

[Verse 3]
You, you, you can never say
That I'm not the one who really loves you
I pray, pray, pray everyday
That you'll see things, girl, like I do

[Chorus]
What can I do, girl, to get through to you
'Cause I love you, baby (Love you, baby)
Standing here, baptized in all my tears
Baby, through the years, you know I'm crying
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Outro]
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (Say, say, say)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Oh, baby
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Oh, baby
Oh, baby
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...)
Oh, baby
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...)
Oh, baby
Oh, baby
Say, say, say (Say, say, say)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say, ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say...
Come on
(Say, say, say, say, say, say, say, say, say...)
Come on
Ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say, ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say, ooh, ooh, ooh, say, say, say...
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Say, say, say
Ooh, ooh, ooh (Come on)
(Say, say, say)

[Verse 1]
Say, say, say what you want
But don't play games with my affection
Take, take, take what you need
But don't leave me with no direction

[Chorus 1]
All alone, I sit home by the phone
Waiting for you, baby (baby)
Through the years, how can you stand to hear
My pleading for you?
You know I'm crying oo oo oo oo oo
Yeah, yeah

[Verse 2]
Now go, go, go where you want
But don't leave me here forever
You, you, you, stay away
So long girl, I see you never

[Chorus 2]
What can I do, girl, to get through to you?
Cause I love you, baby (baby)
Standing here, baptized in all my tears
Baby through the years, you know I'm crying
Oo oo oo oo oo
(You've got to say, say, say
You've got to say, say, say...)

[Bridge]
You never ever worry
And you never shed a tear
You're saying that my love ain't real
Just look at my face these tears ain't drying

[Verse 3]
You, you, you, can never say
That I'm not the one who really loves you
I pray, pray, pray, everyday
That you'll see things, girl, like I do

[Chorus 2]
What can I do, girl, to get through to you
Cause I love you, baby (love you / baby)
Standing here, baptized in all my tears
Baby through the years, you know I'm crying
Oo oo oo oo oo

[Outro]
Oo oo oo oo oo (say, say, say)
Oo oo oo oo oo
Oh baby
Oo oo oo oo oo
Oh baby
Oh baby
(Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, oo oo ooo...)
Oh baby
(Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, oo oo ooo...)
Oh baby
Oh baby
Say, say, say (Say, say, say)
Oo oo oo say, say, say, Oo oo oo say, say, say...
Come on
(Say, say, say, Say, say, say, Say, say, say...)
Come on
Oo oo oo say, say, say, Oo oo oo say, say, say
Oo oo oo yeah, yeah, yeah, Oo oo oo yeah, yeah, yeah
Oo oo oo say, say, say, Oo oo oo say, say, say...
Oo oo oo
Say, say, say
Oo oo oo (come on)
(Say, say, say)

[Verse 1]
Say, say, say what you want
But don't play games with my affection
Take, take, take what you need
But don't leave me with no direction
All alone, I sit home by the phone
Waitin' for you, baby (Baby)
Through the years, how can you stand to hear
My pleadin' for you, dear?
You know I'm cryin', ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Drop]

[Interlude]
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Yeah, yeah

[Verse 2]
Now go, go, go where you want
But don't leave me here forever
You, you, you stay away
So long, girl, I see you never
What can I do, girl, to get through to you?
'Cause I love you, baby (Baby)
Standin' here, baptized in all my tears
Baby, through the years
You know I'm cryin', ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Drop]
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
All alone, I sit home by the phone
Waitin' for you, baby (Baby)
Through the years, how can you stand to hear
My pleadin' for you, dear?
You know I'm cryin', ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Outro]
(Hee, hee, hee)
Ah, alright, alright, alright
(Hee, hee, hee)

Gallery

Physical copies

Vinyl back cover

Vinyl

2015 Remix vinyl back cover

2015 Remix vinyl

"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Say Say Say gallery, click here.

Trivia

• Despite being undeniably one of McCartney's biggest songs, it was never performed live.
• On March 12, 2024, a work tape demo from the Tug of War sessions was leaked through the "HIStory: The Michael Jackson Memoir Tapes" video by the YouTube channel Celebrity Classified.