Radio VIII, side B, track 8: “Say You Will” by Foreigner

Oh, Foreigner, I appreciate the sentiment in this song, I really do, but you’re not foolin’ anybody.  I get what you’re trying to do.  You’re making an ultimatum.  You’re telling this girl to finally make a decision on if she’s going to be your girlfriend or not.  And I really love the defiance that this starts out with.  “Say you will, say you won’t, make up your mind tonight!”  Right on, brother!  You don’t got time to be waitin’ on some girl who won’t tell you if she wants to go out with you or not.  But in this song, just like in real life, that defiance kinda withers away by the end of the song.  By the end, you’re not asking for her to make a decision between will she or won’t she.  By the end of the song, you’re singing “Say you will, say you will” and “Be mine tonight”.

And I’ve been there, Foreigner.  You think you’re being strong.  You’re putting your foot down and saying “I need a decision right now!”  And you think you’ve got the upper hand because the implication is there’s no way that she’s going to say no and it’s like a veiled threat that if she doesn’t answer you’re outta there.  But then you look at her and maybe she’s frowning or maybe she’s crying or whatever, and that’s when you realize “Oh crap!  She might actually say no!”  And that’s when the backpedaling starts and you forget the ultimatum and start becoming very amenable.  “Hey, take your time, there’s no rush, right?  Sleep on it.  Let’s don’t make a hasty decision here.”

No judgement, Foreigner, been there a few times.  And you might argue with me, Foreigner, and say that you were willing to walk away if that girl couldn’t come to a decision, but may I remind you that the title of this song is “Say You Will”, not “Say You Will, Say You Won’t”.  Exactly.

“Say You Will”

Say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind tonight

Say ya do, say ya don’t wanna be mine

Say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind this time

Say you will, say you will
Be mine tonight

I can’t sleep
I keep dreamin’ I’m losin’ you

Feel so alone in the night, scared to open my eyes

I’m in too deep
I’m in over my head this time

Can’t get you out of my mind no matter how hard I try

So won’t you
Say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind tonight
Say you will, say you won’t
Be my guiding light

Say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind this time
Say ya do, say ya do
You wanna be mine

I get the feelin’
I’ve never been here before
‘Cause no one I’ve known’s ever moved me the way thatcha do

And I know
This is the real thing
It’s all I’ve been searchin’ for
I’ve put it all on the line, now I’m hopin’ you feel that way, too
And if ya do
why don’t you say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind tonight
Say you do, say ya don’t
Wanna be mine

Now will ya say you will, you say you won’t
Make up your mind this time
Say you will, say you will
You’ll be mine tonight

Will you tell me how much I mean ta you
Will you say you always will be true

I need more than a come-on sign
So won’t you say you will be mine
Now won’t you say you will, say you won’t
Make up your mind tonight
Say you will, say you will
Be my guiding light

Say you will, say you will
Make up your mind this time
Say ya do, say ya do
You wanna be mine

Come on, come on
Say you will
Make up your mind tonight
Say you will, say you will
Be mine tonight

Be mine tonight
Say you will,
Be mine tonight