Don't Speak

"Don't Speak" was released as the third single from the band's third album Tragic Kingdom (1995) in 1996. The song is presumed to be about the break up of Gwen Stefani's seven-year relationship with group bassist Tony Kanal. Despite the song's popularity, "Don't Speak" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (as rules of the times required commercial singles for charting and one was not issued for the song), but it did reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and stayed for sixteen weeks. The song also reached number one in the UK, New Zealand, Netherlands, and Australia. The single is No Doubt's most successful international single, propelling them to superstardom. "Don't Speak" is arguably No Doubt's biggest hit and was nominated for the Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 1998. Song information The song was co-written by Eric Stefani and Gwen Stefani and co-produced by Matthew Wilder. "Don't Speak" went through several rewrites. A live version that exists from April 1994 shows off a bouncy tune that has the same skeleton as the released version, but not the same urgency. A demo version also appeared on a demo CD, which was presented to Interscope Records prior to the release of the Tragic Kingdom CD. Part of the song was performed on VH1 Storytellers on 10 August 2000. These lyrics are from before Tony and Gwen broke up, while the final lyrics that ended up on the album were after the break up. This song is about the relationship lead singer Gwen Stefani had with bassist Tony Kanal for eight years. She's saying that what they had was real, and it's a pity it couldn't last - don't bother explaining because it hurts. Stefani is now married to Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale. Gwen Stefani wrote this song with her brother, Eric Stefani, before he left the band - originally it was a love song. After Tony Kanal dumped Gwen, it became a song about heartbreak. After No Doubt played this on Saturday Night Live on December 7, 1996, Tragic Kingdom went to #1 and stayed there for nine weeks. This was never released as a single, but it helped Tragic Kingdom sell approximately 15 million copies, which was their record company's intention. Billboard's rules at the time precluded any song not released as a single from the Hot 100, but on their Airplay chart, the song stayed at #1 for 16 weeks. This won No Doubt their first video award, the Best Group Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. It was also the first of several No Doubt videos directed by Sophie Muller. The video is a commentary on the attention the media lavished on Stefani while ignoring her band mates. The boys all give Gwen dirty looks and seem to be kind of upset all through the video. Kanal commented: "We didn't want it to be about a normal breakup. So we thought: 'What would be the saddest thing that could happen? The band splitting up?' So that's what the video's about." Although never released as a single in the US, this went straight to #1 in the UK and stayed there for a month. It was their biggest UK hit, and helped both their album Tragic Kingdom and the follow-up singles Just A Girl and Spiderwebs make the Top 10. A cartoon version of No Doubt performed this on the animated TV show King Of The Hill in 2001. In the show, they play a prom after Bobby Hill wins a contest. The band did not release another album until five years later, when they came out with Return Of Saturn. The beginning is very similar to Dream On by Aerosmith. Tom Dumont's Spanish guitar solo was spliced together from six different studio takes. "I was thinking about how any true classical players would've hated the way I did it," he said. "I played it with a pick - a huge no-no."

[Verse 1] You and me, we used to be together Every day together, always I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend I can't believe this could be the end It looks as though you're lettin' go And if it's real, well, I don't want to know [Chorus] Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts [Verse 2] Our memories, well, they can be inviting But some are altogether mighty frightening As we die, both you and I With my head in my hands, I sit and cry [Chorus] Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts (No, no, no) Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts [Bridge] It's all ending We gotta stop pretending who we are [Guitar Solo] [Verse 3] You and me I can see us dyin', aren't we? [Chorus] Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts No, no, don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts [Outro] Don't tell me 'cause it hurts I know what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't speak, don't speak, don't speak, no I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons I know you're good, I know you're good I know you're real good, oh La, la, la, la, la, la Don't, don't, ooh, ooh Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush Don't tell me 'cause it hurts Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush Don't tell me 'cause it hurts Oh, hush, hush, darling Hush, hush, darling