Meaning of Don't Speak by No Doubt

Charismatic bassist Tony Canel joined No Doubt in 1987 when the band was still called Apple Core. Soon, the new member of the team began a romantic relationship with Gwen Stefani. The lovers met for more than seven years, but it did not come to marriage, and they broke up. Although both claimed that they managed to remain friends, the breakup was not easy for them.

The situation was aggravated by the fact that Gwen and Tony had to constantly see each other at rehearsals, go on tour together and perform on the same stage. And the journalists, who instantly got wind of the sad story, did not hesitate to ask personal questions. Kanel later recalled that all this was a tough test for both of them.

But, as is often the case with creative people, problems in her personal life proved to be an invaluable source of inspiration for Gwen. She expressed her feelings in the composition Don’t Speak, which became the hallmark of the No Doubt group and is still considered a classic breakup song to this day.

History and meaning of the song Don’t Speak

Don’t Speak was the band’s first song written by Gwen Stefani, and her writing debut can be considered more than successful. However, sometimes there is an opinion that the co-author of the composition is Eric Stefani, Gwen’s brother and the founder of the group, who by that time had already left the band.

(Gwen later said that Don’t Speak originally existed in a slightly different version and was a meaningless love song. After she broke up with Canel, her brother helped her rewrite the lyrics in a new way.)

Release and achievements

The composition was released as the third single from Tragic Kingdom (1995), No Doubt’s third studio effort.

Don’t Speak didn’t hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but it stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay for sixteen weeks. In addition, the song topped the charts in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands and other countries. In 1998, the single was nominated for a Grammy Award in two categories.

Clip Don’t Speak – No Doubt

The music video for the track was awarded “Best Band Video” at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. Let’s watch the online clip Don’t Speak.

Interesting Facts

It is not uncommon for music television networks to cut the opening scene of the Don’t Speak video clip, in which Tony Canel plucks a worm-infested orange.
The song is included in the Band Hero PC game.

Don’t Speak Lyrics

You and me
We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel
That I’m losing my best friend
I can’t believe
This could be the end
It looks like though you’re letting go
And if it’s real
Well I don’t want to know

chorus:
Don’t speak
I know just what you’re saying
So please stop explaining
Don’t tell me cause it hurts
Don’t speak
I know what you’re thinking
I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me cause it hurts

Our memories
Well, they can be invited
But some are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry

It’s all ending
I gotta stop pretending
who we are…
You and me
I can see us dying…
Are we?

Don’t speak
Don’t speak
Don’t speak
Oh I know what you’re thinking
And I don’t need your reasons
I know you’re good
I know you’re good
I know you’re real good
Don’t, don’t, hush, hush darlin’
Hush, hush darlin’, hush, hush
Don’t tell me, tell me cause it hurts
Hush, hush, darlin’, hush, hush darlin’
Hush, hush, don’t tell me tell me cause
It hurts

Don’t Speak Lyrics

You and me
We used to be together
Every day together – always
It really seems to me
That I’m losing my best friend
I can not belive it,
What is the end
Seems like you’re letting me go
If it’s for real
Well, I don’t want to know

Chorus:
shut up
I know everything you want to say
So please no explanation
Don’t say anything cause it hurts me
shut up
I know what you’re thinking
I don’t need your reasons
Don’t say anything cause it hurts me

Our memories
Well, they might seem tempting
But some of them are
Very frightening
While we’re dying, both you and me
I sit and cry
Hugging your head with your hands

Everything is over
I won’t pretend anymore
That we are who we are not…
You and me
I see how we die…
Is not it?

shut up
shut up
shut up
Oh I know what you’re thinking
And I don’t need your reasons
I know you are good
I know you are good
I know you are really good
No, no, be quiet, be quiet, dear
Quiet, quiet, dear, quiet, quiet
Don’t say anything, don’t say anything, because it hurts me
Quiet, quiet, darling, quiet, quiet, darling
Quiet, quiet, don’t say anything, ’cause
it hurts me

Song quote

We were going through a breakup, but in every interview we talked about it, almost hourly reopening wounds. It was so cruel, and I don’t know how we managed to cope with what was happening.

Tony Kanel