The First Time I Said No...

Song:  "Yes"
Artist:  Beyonce
Album:  Dangerously In Love
Track #7


Uh huh
Uh huh
Uh huh

Uh huh
Uh huh
Uh huh

I said yes to your numba and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time i said no
Its like i never said yes (like I never said yes)

I said yes we can be together yes you can stay with me but when i say no not tonight you actin so ungratefully
The first time i said no its like i never said yes

You was on the wall I was with my crew
You was watching me baby
I was watching you
Slowly you walked over I maintained my cool
You said hello to me I said hello to you
You asked me where im from
I asked you what you do
You some how intrigued me
I thought you were so cool
Somewhere between hi and goodbye I felt so comfortable
I felt like we could talk all night so i gave my number to you

I said yes to your numba and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time i said no
Its like i never said yes (like I never said yes)

I said yes we can be together yes you can stay with me but when i say no not tonight you actin so ungratefully
The first time i said no its like i never said yes

Certainly you can call me baby (baby)
I love to here from you
Yes of course you can come and see me boy
Wanna get to know you more
Sure Im feelin you
No baby not yet we can't take that next step
Why you getting so upset boy you
Act as though i never told you yes before you are so ungrateful mmm

You was at my house
I was sitting on my couch
You was really buggin so I told you to get out
I had been misjudging you you had alot of nerve you to damn old to be so immature i hope you learn
You said i move to slow
I showed you to the door
You said you'd call me later
I said don't call no more
It is cool if you can't wait for me
Im glad you let me know
Cause you showed me your true face baby the first time i said no

I said yes to your numba and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time i said no
Its like i never said yes (like I never said yes)

I said yes we can be together yes you can stay with me but when i say no not tonight you actin so ungratefully
The first time i said no its like i never said yes


I said yes to your numba and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time i said no
Its like i never said yes (like I never said yes)

I said yes we can be together yes you can stay with me but when i say no not tonight you actin so ungratefully
The first time i said no its like i never said yes 




Beginning with an electric snap and crackle and very simple synth melodies, "Yes" begins as a cool, laid-back song.  Simple back-beat clap rhythm.  Mellifluous "uhhuhs" by Beyonce.  You can tell this is gonna be a sexy song by the second repeat of the intro.  Beyonce keeps her head as she sings the refrain, still very sultry. It takes a great deal of skill to be able to sing with this much control at that quiet of a volume. Quiet upper octave echoes and moments of rich harmony add depth.  By now you can hear a harp.  
First verse.  Beyonce moves between whispers and clear clean sound.  Riffs when appropriate, but not crazy.  By now you have a really good feel for the beat and she uses this to her advantage by emphasizing beats 1 and 3.  
After another refrain, a more complex melody for the second verse.  More layered voices.  Then, in a new verse, it's back down to a single voice as she tells her sad story.  Then it's almost a conversation between herself.  "You said you'd call me later," "I said don't call no more."
The final refrains feature Beyonce's cool sound noodling around outside the normal melody line.  Her riffs don't travel too far, though.  The song stays within a very narrow boundary, which keeps it relaxed and easy to listen to.  Fade out.  


The lyrics themselves are quite revealing.  Much of what Beyonce used in Dangerously In Love have to do with personal relationships and experiences -- most likely with at-the-time lover Jay-Z.  Whether this song specifically is about Jay-Z, I don't know.  But I actually quite like the lyrics.  It shows a grown-up attitude toward love and relationships in a way that other songs from this genre don't usually do it.  
In the song, the female sees a swell-looking guy from across what sounds like a club.  The first verse narrates the first encounter well.  Eye contact, small-talk, and then he starts pouring out the charm and sweet-talking his way into getting her number.  Typical male and female behavior here.  We get the classic good-vibe feeling, so she lets him call her.  After a short time, she invites him over, but then the trouble begins.  In a kind way, she tells him she's not ready to go any farther with him (I am assuming he's making physical advances).  He gets upset.  She shows him the door.  He seems to want to try and make things up to her, but by then she knows his true colors and dismisses him from her home and her life.  
The moral?  Well, I think there's a couple.  To the males out there, don't take your girls for granted.  They accept a great deal of your flaws, graciously give of their time and attention.  Be grateful for what they do give you.  Don't be selfish.  Don't twist their arm to make them do things you don't want to do.  That's disrespectful and immature.  Be aware of all the a woman gives you.  
To the ladies, don't be afraid to show some confidence and self-respect in a relationship.  If you aren't comfortable with where a relationship is going, you should not have to continue in that relationship.  Be smart about your sexuality.  Just because you like the guy does not mean you should sleep with him on a first date.  Get to know him first, enjoy his company, take the time to develop an actual relationship with a man before you move too far physically.  And just because the guy seems nice at the beginning does not mean he is genuine. He may just show his true face the first time you say no.  Be smart.  Be a strong woman who knows her limits, knows her rules, knows her values. Be sexy and strong at the same time.   


Whether or not Beyonce is actually like this in real life is still a question, but I do have to hand it to her, Beyonce has proven herself to be an independent woman with a good head on her shoulders.  This song was done very early in her solo career, and it's not a song from that album that is often emphasized.  I think that's a shame.  The relaxed feeling to the song echoes the confident and mature nature of the female protagonist.  This isn't a huge drama.  She doesn't allow the situation to lead to useless shouting and emotional strain.  She just sends him out with a few great one-liners to boot ("You're too damn old to be so immature...").  The music fits well with the calm texts.  There's no need to belt out stratospheric notes, crank up the volume, and add over-the-top synth tracks.  This song goes back to the cool and jazzy R&B style that is often lost in pop music today -- simple, straightforward, and understandable.   


A good song, indeed.  3.5 out of 5.  Good moral.  Good vibe.  Good vocals.