(what Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry
Peggy Lee · Other Songs - Peggy Lee
What can I say dear after I say I'm sorry,
What can I do to prove it to you that I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to ever be mean to you-oo
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do,
I was all wrong,
But right or wrong I don't blame you
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear
So what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry,
Tell me Baby what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry so-so sorry
What can I do to prove it to you I'm sorry
Oh I didn't mean to ever be mean to you
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel -oh I wouldn't feel like I do-do-do
I was all wrong, but right or wrong I don't blame you no-no-no-no
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear,
Sorry I made you cry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Sorry I made you cry
What can I do to prove it to you that I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to ever be mean to you-oo
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do,
I was all wrong,
But right or wrong I don't blame you
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear
So what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry,
Tell me Baby what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry so-so sorry
What can I do to prove it to you I'm sorry
Oh I didn't mean to ever be mean to you
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel -oh I wouldn't feel like I do-do-do
I was all wrong, but right or wrong I don't blame you no-no-no-no
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear,
Sorry I made you cry
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Sorry I made you cry
(what Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry
Peggy Lee's 1953 recording of '(what Can I Say) After I'm Sorry' stands as a quintessential example of the baroque pop style she helped define. The track features her distinctive, breathy vocal delivery and intricate piano arrangements, characteristic of her work with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Released during the height of her career, the song exemplifies the emotional vulnerability and sophisticated harmonies that made her a leading figure in the mid-century vocal jazz and pop landscape. While often associated with her broader discography, this specific recording captures a moment where Lee's unique phrasing and the era's production techniques converge to create a timeless piece of American music.