DON'T SPEAK
(E. Stefani, G. Stefani)
from the album Tragic Kingdom

Not necessarily the song that started it, but definitely the song that showed it off to everybody. "Don't Speak" went through several rewrites - a live version from April 1994 shows off a bouncy tune that has the same skeleton as the released version, but not the same urgency - until the breakup between Tony and Gwen molded it into the hit it became. Contrasting between a verse playing patterns that recall Aerosmith's "Dream On" and a chorus which evokes memories of No Doubt's own "By The Way", there's no denying, radio airplay and subsequent burnout aside, that this is one incredible song right from first listen. The song also originally had a Fender Rhodes line that Tom considered "brilliant", but it was removed at the request of the song's producer, Matthew Wilder. Another neat little fact - Tom plays the Spanish guitar solo with a pick - which, he states, is a technical no-no.

You and me
We used to be together
Every day together always

I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end

It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real,
Well I don't want to know

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
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 saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts no no no
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

It's all ending,
I gotta stop pretending who we are...

You and me
I can see us dying... are we?

Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts no no
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
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 saying
So please stop explaining
Don't speak don't speak don't speak
No I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you good I know you good
I know you real good oh

La 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