Tell Me Why
Äá¶ûÑï(Neil Young) Lyrics
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Thru broken harbors
Out on the waves in the night
Still the searcher
Must ride the dark horse
Racing alone in his fright.
Tell me why, tell me why
Arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
But young enough to sell?
Tell me lies later,
Come and see me
I'll be around for a while.
I am lonely but you can free me
All in the way that you smile
Tell me why, tell me why
Is it hard to make
Arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
But young enough to sell?
Tell me why, tell me why
Tell me why, tell me why
The opening lines of Neil Young's song Tell Me Why, "Sailing heart-ships, Thru broken harbors, Out on the waves in the night" create an image of someone in search of something, traveling across turbulent waters to find it. The lyric "Still the searcher must ride the dark horse, Racing alone in his fright" suggests a sense of desperation and urgency to find something, but also hints at the possible dangers of the journey.
The chorus of the song, "Tell me why, tell me why, Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself, When you're old enough to repay, But young enough to sell?" expresses a sentiment of confusion and frustration about the balance between responsibility and personal desires. There is a sense of being stuck between two worlds, one where you are responsible and reliable, "old enough to repay," and another where you prioritize personal desires and the possibility of material gain, "young enough to sell." The repetition of the phrase "tell me why" suggests an ongoing search for answers and clarity.
The lines "Tell me lies later, Come and see me I'll be around for a while. I am lonely but you can free me All in the way that you smile" suggest a theme of loneliness and the desire for connection. The singer acknowledges the possibility of being lied to in the future, but is willing to overlook that in exchange for some company and a sense of liberation.
Overall, the song paints a picture of someone on a journey to find something, wrestling with the balance between responsibility and personal desire, and seeking connection and liberation along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing heart-ships
Navigating through the world with a vulnerable heart
Thru broken harbors
Through difficult times and experiences
Out on the waves in the night
Facing life's uncertainties and unknowns
Still the searcher
Despite the difficulties, the person continues to search for meaning and purpose
Must ride the dark horse
The person is forced to confront their fears and doubts
Racing alone in his fright.
Attempting to overcome their fears and anxieties on their own
Tell me why, tell me why
Questioning the reasons for their struggles and difficulties
Is it hard to make
Questioning the difficulty of making
Arrangements with yourself,
Personal decisions
When you're old enough to repay
When you're responsible for your actions and their consequences
But young enough to sell?
Still susceptible to the influence of others and temptation
Tell me lies later,
Asking for deceit later when the truth is too painful
Come and see me
Asking for company and comfort
I'll be around for a while.
The person is in a vulnerable state for some time
I am lonely but you can free me
The person is emotionally isolated and needs someone to help them feel connected and understood
All in the way that you smile
The power of another person's positive feelings and gestures to lift the person's spirits
Tell me why, tell me why
Reiterating the desire for understanding and explanation
Is it hard to make
Questioning the difficulty of making
Arrangements with yourself,
Personal decisions
When you're old enough to repay
When you're responsible for your actions and their consequences
But young enough to sell?
Still susceptible to the influence of others and temptation
Tell me why, tell me why
Continuing to grapple with the challenges of growing up and finding one's identity
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john sosman
One of the best country songs in history, and as good now as it ever was. Thanks Hank.
RUSTYCHEVYTRUCK
At my best friend since age 7 wedding and we both got hammered and sang this at the reception, one of my most fond memories
Sami Al-Shaheri
Legend voice
ADK Buckhunter 30.06
42 years later ....... I think I like this song more
K D
Family folks wrote to me to quite' my opinion'.
so i belted out a few sippers and changed my affliction.
Moved my proofs to beyond 110, and if the flame proves blue, I add a little jelly Blue's.
Breanna Magdalene
My SONG
Shawn Taylor
Bless up people
Robert m Bernhardt jr
like hank and like this tune
Bahamas Imagery
Chevy El Caminos, quart bottles of Miller Beer and fishing around upstate NY - Life was good then ;)
Carlene Krsek
Get drunk, get stoned!