Billie Holiday：Meaning of What Shall I Say? Songmeaning

The song "What Shall I Say?" by Billie Holiday is about a woman who is struggling to cope with her lover's absence. When neighbors invite her over for tea, she doesn't know how to explain that her partner is not with her. Similarly, when someone calls and asks for her lover, she doesn't know what to say. The woman is grappling with intense emotions, and she doesn't know how to hide her tears or face a crowd without her lover. Even if she tries to make her lips be still, her heart is still sighing too loud. The lyrics also suggest that the woman may be trying to come up with excuses for her partner's absence, but realizes that those excuses will only last for a week. The song captures the loneliness and desperation of a woman who is missing someone she loves. Overall, "What Shall I Say?" is a melancholic and poignant ballad about the pain of separation and the difficulty of living without someone who is deeply missed.