Don’t speak, I know just what you’re sayin’/
So please stop explainin’/
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts.

Gwen Stephani has had several hits both as a solo artist and in No Doubt, but “Don’t Speak” was her masterpiece. It’s about two lovers and best friends who are breaking up, and the emotional turmoil that follows.

She doesn’t want to hear the reasons why he doesn’t want to be with her anymore. Anything he says will only hurt her more. She understands already, so hush. Her typical wailing vocals go good with this song, because it is about a woman who is becoming undone by hearing horrible news. It matches her personal vocal style perfectly.

The instrumentation is great, as is the melody. The melody in the verse, chorus and bridge are very different, but add up to make a coherent package. A good choice is made for the solo. Rather than a wailing electric guitar solo, they go for a nylon string acoustic guitar with muted trumpets in the background. It sounds sad and solemn, which is exactly what this song is going for.

Gwen’s contribution to 1990s fashion was incredible. She was the trend setter in fashion, but “Don’t Speak” shows she could also rock. Interestingly, this song started off very differently. For the first few years of its existence, it was a love song and had different lyrics. When she broke up with her boyfriend, bassist Tony Kanal, the song became the classic, seething breakup song it is now. Compare the lyrics with the original lyrics below:

Don’t Speak Lyrics

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

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

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

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

It’s all ending
We gotta stop pretending
Who we are

You and me
I can see us dyin’
Aren’t we?

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

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, 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

Don’t Speak (Original Lyrics)
I can see it all in an eye blink.
I know everything about how you are.
I understand exactly how you think.
Between you and me it’s not very far.
Side by side, you and I,
With many, many years behind us,
You let words pass us by.

Because we, we’re always together.
And we, we will be forever.
Such a special treasure,
You and I.

Don’t speak, I know just what you’re saying.
So please stop explaining,
It’s nothing new that I’ve heard.

No need to tell me you’re my best friend,
It doesn’t take wits to know who you are,
The message is so clear that you said-
Written in the stars.

Bye, bye. All days can fly.
And like the birds sing something older.
So do you and I.
Because we, we’re always together and we
Will be forever, such a special treasure,
You and I.

Don’t speak, I know just what you’re saying.
So please stop explaining,
It’s nothing new that I’ve heard.

I mean it sounds so familiar, to fools in the sky.
And are there words so deep between the lies?
It’s just that they were so amazing,
So let us stop pretending who we are.

written by Eric Matthew Stefani / Gwen Renee Stefani