WELL, WELL, WELLDUFFY

Lyrics Analysis

About the song“Well, Well, Well” is a song by Welsh recording artist Duffy, from her second studio album, Endlessly (2010). It was released as the lead and only single from the album worldwide. The song was both written and produced by Duffy and Albert Hammond, with Stuart Price providing co-production.

It is an up-tempo pop song in which Duffy questions her lover’s accusations, with Duffy calling it a song about “desire for freedom” within a relationship.

IntroWell well wellWell well wellWell well wellWell well well

◦ The introduction is the word “Well” repeated 12 times. The word seems to come across in an accusing manner, almost as if Duffy is asking ”Well what do you have to say for yourself?”

◦ However this isn’t made clear until you listen to the rest of the lyrics, as the phrase is repeated after she explains the situation that she is in.

◦ I think that this part of the song would be good for lip syncing with cut away sections to the narrative set up. This way the audience is introduced to the artist and start to gain interest in the narrative.

Verse 1Highly suspicious, where was I last nightSeek and you shall findAnd it goes in my mindYou make me draw the lineI didn't commit any crime

◦ This is when Duffy starts to the reason for her accusative tone in the introduction.

◦ It shows how her partner is always questioning what she is doing as shown from the word “suspicious” followed by a question, which she tells them to just look and you’ll find out the truth. She talks about how he plays with her mind and she cant take anymore because she hasn’t done anything wrong.

◦ The word “crime” is usually used when someone has broke a legal law, but in this case Duffy is being accused of breaking a moral value of the society, of cheating.

◦ I think that I would try and incorporate lip-syncing or the lyrics into the narrative and play out the story, making sure that the audience has a clear idea about what is going on.

Pre-HookI'm not guilty of what you're saying and I do

I'm not guilty of what you're saying and I do

◦ In the pre-hook it is clear that Duffy is standing up for herself by telling her partner that she isn't the criminal they think she is, as shown by the words “not guilty”.

◦ She repeats these words now and through out the rest of the song, attempting to get the message across.

◦ I think that as the same lyrics are repeated I will use a combination of lip-syncing and narrative to play out the situation. This will help to keep the typical elements of a pop video and the continuation of the narrative

Hook/ChorusWell well well

Why you giving me the third degree?Why you giving me the third degree?

When I'm not guiltyOf what you're saying I doI'm not guiltyOf what you're saying I do

◦ Once again Duffy has repeated the lyrics “well well well”. This sets up the lyrics for following question.

◦ “the third degree” is euphemism for torcher (inflicting pain, physical or mental to gain a confession of guilt.) This highlights the pain that she is in due to her relationship.

◦ “you’re saying I do” suggests that it’s them who is imposing these accusations on her, and she hasn’t given him any reason for this.

◦ As this is the hook/chorus this part of the music video is the most up beat and interesting to listen to. I think that this needs to reflected in the music video.

Verse 2I'm not that cageyBut I don't need to explainThere's nothing to blameYou'll only drive me awayThere's so many questions every dayYou make me go insane

◦ In this verse Duffy is trying to say that if they keep accusing her of cheating, then they’re only going to drive her away. All of the questions are making her go crazy and she cant take anymore. She is also saying that she isn’t normally reluctant to give out information, but in this case she doesn’t fell that she needs to explain herself when she has not done anything wrong.

◦ As with the first verse I would like to try and incorporate lip-syncing with the narrative as it will help to tell the story. Helping the audience visualise the situation.

Bridge Well well wellWell well wellWell well well

◦ The bridge helps the audience to understand the reason behind her accusative one at the start because it has now become clear that she has a reason for it.

◦ It also links in with the chorus that she has been kept in all this pain for no reason, and now he need to explain his reason for it.

OutroI'm not guilty of what you're saying I doYou knowI'm not guilty of what you're saying I do

Why you giving me the third degreeWhy you giving me the third degreeWhy you giving me the third degreeWhy you giving me the third degree

Well well well

◦ Once again Duffy is talking about how she isn’t guilty and that she really shouldn't be kept in this amount of pain and torcher. At the end she then repeats the “well well well”, finishing the same way the song started, wanting them to explain why she is being of being unfaithful.

◦ This shows how the song explains Duffy’s reason for the accusing tone in her voice at the start.

◦ When the video is complete, I think the video should end the same why it starts, as this is how the song works.