Say Say Say

"Say Say Say"Single by Paul McCartney
General information
Featured artist(s)	Michael Jackson
Released	August 5, 1983
Recorded	April–May 1981
Studio	AIR (London) Cherokee Studios (Los Angeles) Sigma Sound Studios (New York City)
Genre	Post-disco
Length	3:54
Albums	Pipes of Peace, Pure McCartney (2015 remix)
Singles chronology
Previous	"Human Nature"
Next	"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Music video
Official Video
2015 Remix
Kygo Remix

"Say Say Say" is a song by Paul McCartney released as a single on August 5, 1983. It is the lead single from the artist's studio album, Pipes of Peace. Michael Jackson is featured in the song as well as in the music video.

On October 6, 2015, a different mix of the original song 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.

On March 31, 2023, a Norwegian DJ, Kygo released his officially licensed remix/remake of "Say Say Say", following the trend of remaking older songs with modern sound, previously releasing a remix of "What’s Love Got To Do With It?" by Tina Turner in 2020.

Background

The song was recorded between April and May 1981, a year before recording sessions for "The Girl Is Mine". It was originally going to land on McCartney's previous album, Tug of War, which was released in 1982. Jackson sings mostly the hook, although additionally a few ad-libs as well. Another collaboration the two had recorded for Pipes of Peace, "The Man" features a balanced amount of leads from both Jackson and McCartney.

Music video

The music video was directed by Bob Giraldi and filmed in July 1983. It 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 on 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 released, 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 videos" video by a YouTube channel Celebrity Classified.