I Said What I Said

[Intro | dry drums | clipped guitar] You want me to apologize? For saying it? Or for saying it where everybody heard? [Verse 1 | restrained vocal | palm-muted guitar] You asked what I thought I told you the truth Now you’re acting shocked Like I broke some rule Your friends went quiet Your face turned red You asked me to repeat it So I said it again I didn’t raise my voice I didn’t call you names I just put the right words On the game you played Now you want a softer version Something easier instead But I meant every syllable [Pre-Chorus | rising drums] You can change the room You can change the subject You can tell the story Like I started all of it But you can’t put the words Back into my head [Chorus | full guitars | stacked harmonies] I said what I said And I meant what I meant You can pass it around But you can’t make me regret it I said what I said Every word, every breath If the truth made you nervous You should sit with that instead No rewrite No pretend I said what I said (I said it) [Post-Chorus | gang vocals | guitar response] No take-backs (No, no) No regrets (No, no) I said what I said [Verse 2 | driving bass | stronger vocal] Now your friend’s in my messages Writing a book I read the first sentence That was all that it took She said I embarrassed you Right in the crowd You did that yourself I just pointed it out Then you posted a quote About protecting your peace Funny how your peace Needs everybody to agree You want me to call And clean up your mess I don’t offer that service But I wish you the best [Pre-Chorus | rising cymbals | harmony enters] You can change the room You can change the subject You can tell the story Like I started all of it But you can’t put the words Back into my head [Chorus | full guitars | stacked harmonies] I said what I said And I meant what I meant You can pass it around But you can’t make me regret it I said what I said Every word, every breath If the truth made you nervous You should sit with that instead No rewrite No pretend I said what I said (I said it) [Breakdown | bass and handclaps | conversational vocal] Let’s make sure we’re clear Was it honest? Yes Was it necessary? Maybe Would I say it differently? [Brief pause] Probably louder [Instrumental | distorted guitar riff | drums accelerate] [Bridge | half-time | exposed lead] I spent too many years Making every sentence small Keeping everybody comfortable While I swallowed it all Now my voice belongs to me From the whisper to the yell If you don’t like what I’m saying You don’t have to ask me twice [Build | feedback rises | snare crescendo] But if you do— [Final Chorus | full energy | octave harmony | bigger drums] I SAID WHAT I SAID AND I MEANT WHAT I MEANT YOU CAN PASS IT AROUND BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE ME REGRET IT I said what I said Put my name at the end If the truth made you nervous You should sit with that instead No rewrite No pretend I said what I said (I said it) [Final Post-Chorus | crowd vocals] No take-backs (No, no) No regrets (No, no) Say my name Spell it right J-U-N-O [Outro | guitar feedback | dry vocal] Anything else? [Brief pause] That’s what I thought