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Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing Lyrics
[Chorus]
Like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
Just talking loud
Then saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
[Verse 1]
You can't tell me how to run my life down
You can't tell me how to keep my business sound
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you keep jiving and singing that same old funny song
You can't tell me which way to go
'Cause three times seven, huh, and then some more
You can't tell me, hey
[Chorus]
You're like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
And saying nothing
Just saying nothing, what?
Just saying nothing
[Verse 2]
Don't tell me how to do my thing
When you can't, can't, can't do your own
Don't tell me how to be a boy
When, when you know I'm grown
Can't use me like a woman
When she throws away her dress, ha, uh!
And you can't tell me, hey, haha
How to use my mess
Like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
Just talking loud
Then saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
[Verse 1]
You can't tell me how to run my life down
You can't tell me how to keep my business sound
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you keep jiving and singing that same old funny song
You can't tell me which way to go
'Cause three times seven, huh, and then some more
You can't tell me, hey
[Chorus]
You're like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
And saying nothing
Just saying nothing, what?
Just saying nothing
[Verse 2]
Don't tell me how to do my thing
When you can't, can't, can't do your own
Don't tell me how to be a boy
When, when you know I'm grown
Can't use me like a woman
When she throws away her dress, ha, uh!
And you can't tell me, hey, haha
How to use my mess
[Chorus]
You're like a dull knife, Jack
You just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
Then saying nothing
Just saying nothing
And saying nothing
[Verse 3]
Shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Then keep on singing that same old funny song
Then keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny, OW
[Bridge]
I got to, I want to
I musta, I got to
Ashes to ashes and a dust to dust
I musta, I keep on
I feel it, in my feet
I say I will
The point is too dark to fill
You say I can't
You're phony, you're phony
I said, I said, you're phony
I said you're phony
I said you're phony
OH!
You're like a dull knife, Jack
You just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
Then saying nothing
Just saying nothing
And saying nothing
[Verse 3]
Shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Then keep on singing that same old funny song
Then keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny song
Just keep on singing that same old funny, OW
[Bridge]
I got to, I want to
I musta, I got to
Ashes to ashes and a dust to dust
I musta, I keep on
I feel it, in my feet
I say I will
The point is too dark to fill
You say I can't
You're phony, you're phony
I said, I said, you're phony
I said you're phony
I said you're phony
OH!
[Verse 1]
You can't tell me how to run my life down
And you can't tell me how to keep my business sound
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you keep jiving and singing that same old funny song
[Chorus]
Like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
And saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying...wait a minute
[Verse 3]
Shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you over there, Mister Loud and Wrong
Just keep on singing
Just keep on singing
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
That same old funny song
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
You can't tell me how to run my life down
And you can't tell me how to keep my business sound
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you keep jiving and singing that same old funny song
[Chorus]
Like a dull knife
Just ain't cutting
You're just talking loud
And saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying nothing
Just saying...wait a minute
[Verse 3]
Shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you over there, Mister Loud and Wrong
Just keep on singing
Just keep on singing
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
That same old funny song
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
That same old funny song
Just keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Bobby (Yeah), the groove is great is so great here (Yeah)
I want the engineer to let the tape keep running (Yeah)
Now we're gonna do something funny right here (Mr. Engineer)
We're gonna do something funny right here
So keep the tape running, Ron (Yeah)
Keep the tape running, we're gonna do something funny right here
We're gonna stop real quick, and rap a little
And then we gon' keep it going
Wait a minute, stop, fellas, cuh, huh
[Break]
I says keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
HEY!
Good God, call it, ha
[Verse 2]
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you, Jimmy, Jimmy, can't do your own
You can't tell me how to feel, boy
What, when (You're doing me wrong), ha
When you know I'm grown (Yeah)
You can't tell me how to run my mess
You can't tell me, you can't tell me
You can't tell me, you can't tell me
Just can't use me like a woman throw away her dress, ha
You can't tell me, uh, how to run my mess, ha
[Verse 3]
Shape, shape, shape, shape, shape, shape, shape
Sh..ape, shape, shape, hard for me to say sometimes
In my thing here
Said, sh...ape, ha, shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
[Interlude]
Where is he at? (There he is right there)
Where is he at? (Right over there)
Is he over there? (Right over there)
Sho'nuff (Right over there)
What he going, marching?
Is he marching? (Marching)
Talkin' that thang
Talkin' black and living funny
Talkin' black and living all the negro he can
How he jivin'
March on and get himself a gig, jive
Don't be jivin' nobody
If they don't mean it, don't be in it (That's right)
Get out of it, telling me what to do
I do my own thing, I don't need your help, brother
Yeah, yeah, I don't need your thang
Now, if you're gonna get down
And be a man and help the people
Then we're together (Right on)
Telling me how to do my thing
And you ain't doin' nothin', man
Now, the name of the game is unity (Yeah)
Everybody get together and work together
If you're black or white, it's right (Yeah)
If either black or white, it's right
It's neither white or black, it's a fact (Hey)
You got to be a man (Right on)
Get yourself a gig and get off of that thang (Right on)
Do something (Right on)
Show everybody you're trying to do it (Yeah)
Show everybody you're trying to do it (Right on)
Show everybody you're trying to be right on (Right on)
Show everybody where you're at (Right on)
Tellin' me where is he at
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Where is he at? (Sitting right over there)
Is he over there? (He's still over there)
You know he's been over there, don't you?
(Talkin' loud) And saying nothing
I want the engineer to let the tape keep running (Yeah)
Now we're gonna do something funny right here (Mr. Engineer)
We're gonna do something funny right here
So keep the tape running, Ron (Yeah)
Keep the tape running, we're gonna do something funny right here
We're gonna stop real quick, and rap a little
And then we gon' keep it going
Wait a minute, stop, fellas, cuh, huh
[Break]
I says keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
Keep on singing (Keep on singing)
HEY!
Good God, call it, ha
[Verse 2]
You can't tell me what I'm doing wrong
When you, Jimmy, Jimmy, can't do your own
You can't tell me how to feel, boy
What, when (You're doing me wrong), ha
When you know I'm grown (Yeah)
You can't tell me how to run my mess
You can't tell me, you can't tell me
You can't tell me, you can't tell me
Just can't use me like a woman throw away her dress, ha
You can't tell me, uh, how to run my mess, ha
[Verse 3]
Shape, shape, shape, shape, shape, shape, shape
Sh..ape, shape, shape, hard for me to say sometimes
In my thing here
Said, sh...ape, ha, shape up your bag, don't worry 'bout mine
My thing together and I'm doing fine
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
[Interlude]
Where is he at? (There he is right there)
Where is he at? (Right over there)
Is he over there? (Right over there)
Sho'nuff (Right over there)
What he going, marching?
Is he marching? (Marching)
Talkin' that thang
Talkin' black and living funny
Talkin' black and living all the negro he can
How he jivin'
March on and get himself a gig, jive
Don't be jivin' nobody
If they don't mean it, don't be in it (That's right)
Get out of it, telling me what to do
I do my own thing, I don't need your help, brother
Yeah, yeah, I don't need your thang
Now, if you're gonna get down
And be a man and help the people
Then we're together (Right on)
Telling me how to do my thing
And you ain't doin' nothin', man
Now, the name of the game is unity (Yeah)
Everybody get together and work together
If you're black or white, it's right (Yeah)
If either black or white, it's right
It's neither white or black, it's a fact (Hey)
You got to be a man (Right on)
Get yourself a gig and get off of that thang (Right on)
Do something (Right on)
Show everybody you're trying to do it (Yeah)
Show everybody you're trying to do it (Right on)
Show everybody you're trying to be right on (Right on)
Show everybody where you're at (Right on)
Tellin' me where is he at
Good luck to you, Mister Loud and Wrong
Where is he at? (Sitting right over there)
Is he over there? (He's still over there)
You know he's been over there, don't you?
(Talkin' loud) And saying nothing
About
This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation
The Godfather of Soul aimed this song at politicians that were running their mouths and had no idea what they were talking about.
This is definitely one of the best social conscious funk songs of all time.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 3.Try Me
- 5.Bewildered
- 10.Think
- 12.Lost Someone
- 13.Night Train
- 14.I’ve Got Money
- 16.Prisoner of Love
- 17.Devil’s Den
- 19.Out Of Sight
- 20.Grits
- 23.I Got You
- 32.Let Yourself Go
- 33.Cold Sweat
- 34.Get It Together
- 42.Mother Popcorn
- 43.Funky Drummer
- 45.Super Bad
- 46.Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing
- 48.Soul Power
- 50.Hot Pants, Pt. 1
- 55.King Heroin
- 61.The Payback
- 64.My Thang
Credits
Producer
Writers
Backing Band
Bass
Conga
Drums
Guitar
Organ
Tenor Saxophone
Label
Recorded At
Bobby Smith Studios (Macon, Georgia)
Released in
1970
Songs That Sample Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing
Anger in the Nation by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Talkin’ Loud ain’t Saying Nothin’ (GB Version) by Geto Boys, I Got Ta by Masta Ace, Talkin' Loud Ain’t Saying Nothin' by Geto Boys, The Syndicate by Ice-T (Ft. Donald-D & Hen-Gee), Funhouse by Kid 'n Play, The Debil's Toy by Charles Michael & Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin' by Divine Styler
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