This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Yo heh heh tell him it's like uhh you know uhh
Sweet sweet tell him
Let me be patient let me be kind
Make me unselfish without being blind
Though I may suffer I'll envy it not
And endure what comes
'Cause he's all that I got and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
Now I may have faith to make mountains fall
But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all
I can give away everything I possess
But left without love then I have no happiness
I know I'm imperfect (I know I'm imperfect)
And not without sin (and not without sin)
But now that I'm older all childish things end and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
I'll never be jealous
And I won't be too proud
'Cause love is not boastful
Ooh and love is not loud
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
Everything's gonna be alright
Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on earth
But if I speak wrong then what is it worth?
See what we now know is nothing compared
To the love that was shown when our lives were spared and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
Tell him that I need him
It'll be alright
It'll be alright see
It'll be alright see
When the evening comes
In the night time
In the morning
In the evening baby
Sweet sweet tell him
Let me be patient let me be kind
Make me unselfish without being blind
Though I may suffer I'll envy it not
And endure what comes
'Cause he's all that I got and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
Now I may have faith to make mountains fall
But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all
I can give away everything I possess
But left without love then I have no happiness
I know I'm imperfect (I know I'm imperfect)
And not without sin (and not without sin)
But now that I'm older all childish things end and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
I'll never be jealous
And I won't be too proud
'Cause love is not boastful
Ooh and love is not loud
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
Everything's gonna be alright
Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on earth
But if I speak wrong then what is it worth?
See what we now know is nothing compared
To the love that was shown when our lives were spared and tell him
Tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
And it'll be alright
Tell him tell him I need him
Tell him I love him
It'll be alright
Tell him that I need him
It'll be alright
It'll be alright see
It'll be alright see
When the evening comes
In the night time
In the morning
In the evening baby
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I love this song and the first time i heard it the vocal arrangement really struck me. Later on i found out that the lyrics are from 1 Corinthians 13 in the New Testament of the Bible. I took a a Bible as Lit class and had to memorize that chapter and realized that it's this exact song. Here are some parts of the song with parts directly from the bible:
LAURYN: "let me be patient, let me be kind make me unselfish without being blind though i may suffer I'll envy it not and endure what comes"
CORINTHIANS IN THE BIBLE: "Charity suffereth long [meaning that love is patient], and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up"
LAURYN: "Now I may have faith to make mountains fall But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all I can give away everything I possess But left without love then I have no happiness" CORINTHIANS: "though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."
LAURYN: "Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on Earth But if I speak wrong then what is it worth? See what we now know is nothing compared to the love that was shown when our lives were spared" CORINTHIANS: "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth" [which means to speak wrong doesn't do anything good]
"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." [which means that knowledge on earth will fade away...]
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." [meaning what we know now isn't complete in comparison to the love that is shown to us]
The song is surely influenced by religion, but i think it also transcends into a deeper and spiritual kind of love, something that's so profoundly unconditional. i adore this song.
I may be the only one who has this thought but here it goes!
It sounds to me like the "Tell Him" chorus is more of a conversation than a simple declaration.
If you can imagine Jesus on the Cross, his life, his walk, and his victory was the epitome of love...
Jesus pleaded: Tell Him I need Him God declared: Tell Him I love Him then God whispered to Jesus: Everything's gonna be alright
Meanwhile, the rest of the lyrics feel like they are Jesus' inner most thoughts leading up to the cross
Though I may suffer I'll envy-eth not And endure what comes Cause He's [His Father in Heaven] all that I got
While I don't think this is exactly what Lauryn intended to illustrate from this song, it speaks to me this way! :)
@Robinlove Love this, our interpretations vary slightly but are in solid agreement of thinking that this song is about Christ, love & Christ, the sacrifice on the cross and the love of Him (God & Christ) in heaven being all, truly<br /> <br /> Thanks for your reply.
so much truth in it...
oh my. she is singing that to me.
hey, is it just me, or does this song sound like it's about god? look at this line...
"See what we now know is nothing compared to the love that was shown when our lives were spared and tell him..."
that sounds like when jesus was cruxified. i dont know the history of this song, i just found it while downloading random songs by Lauryn Hill off of Kazaa. is it meant to be for/about god/jesus? or is it just me reading into it?
@Raul Jose I think your right that this song is about love of Christ and the sacrifice on the cross being the greatest + all...and having nothing at all without Him, that greatest love
I don't know if the song is ABOUT God or not, but that's certainly what she's talking about there. The entire song is a Bible reference, all being taken from Corinthians. To me, this song is a reminder of what love truly should be whether you're talking about the love of God or human love.
i highly doubt its talking about god, i think its referring that there is love beyond what we know(to religious people)... She just means remember what has happened for us... but im pretty sure(besides that segment) that this song about someone she loves very much.
oh yea umm lyric correction...
I'll never be jealous I'll never be too PROUD ..
instead of I'll never be jealous and i wont be too KIND..
and another one is..
Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on Earth But if I speak BOLD then what is it worth? (thats the right lyrics)
If i Speak ''Warm''
i feel that this song is about making an appeal to God to make sure the man she's in love with knows it and to bless the love.
this is my favourite lauryn hill song along with 'turn your lights down low'...and yes, I believe she's talking TO God but not about him/her...She's praying to god to give her strength with her unrequited love and for God to let this man know somehow that she loves him and to give her a chance because she can't go on much longer without him