She grew up in Arcadia, Louisiana, one of 14 children, and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1963. Although some sources state that she was in a vocal group known as The Fawns who recorded for Money Records in 1964, she has refuted this, saying that she sang with a trio in Arcadia by that name.
In 1964 she started a solo singing career, as Bettye Swann, at the prompting of local DJ Al Scott, who became her manager. After a minor hit with the self-penned "Don’t Wait Too Long". her big breakthrough came with "Make Me Yours", which topped the Billboard R&B charts in July 1967, and also made #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1968 she split with Scott, moved to Georgia, won a new contract with Capitol Records and had another hit in 1969 with "Don't Touch Me" (#14 R&B, #38 Hot 100).
In 1972 she transferred to Atlantic Records and had a couple of minor hits with "Victim of a Foolish Heart" (later revived by Joss Stone), and Merle Haggard’s "Today I Started Loving You Again". She continued to record until the mid-1970s, but with little commercial success. Her last public performance as Bettye Swann was in 2013, live in Cleethorpes.
As Betty Barton, she then worked in the education sector in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, and became a Jehovah's Witness. She is now retired and, according to a 2005 interview, suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. After leaving Money Records she lived for a short time in Athens, Georgia.
Tell It Like It Is
Bettye Swann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go and find yourself a toy
Baby, my time is too expensive
And I'm not a little boy
If you are serious
Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious
But if want me to love you
Tell it like it is
Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
But I-I-I-I-I know deep down inside of me
I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride
Life is too short to have sorrow
You may be here today and gone tomorrow
You might as well get what you want
So go on and live, baby, go on and live
Tell it like it is
I'm nothin' to play with, go and find yourself a toy
But I-I-I-I-I
Tell it like it is
My time is too expensive
And I'm not your little boy
FADE
Mm mm, tell it like it is
The first verse of Bettye Swann's "Tell It Like It Is" has the singer issuing a warning to a not-so-serious lover who considers her as a toy. She values her time and demands seriousness from her partner. The subsequent verses touch on the consequences of playing games in love and the importance of being truthful with oneself and one's feelings. Swann insists on honesty and encourages the lover to forget their pride and count their blessings instead. The song's refrain, "Tell it like it is," is a plea to the lover to be open and straightforward about their intentions and feelings towards her.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want something to play with
If you're looking for a casual fling or just someone to mess around with
Go and find yourself a toy
Look for someone else to fill that role, don't come to me
Baby, my time is too expensive
I value my time and attention and won't waste them on someone who isn't serious
And I'm not a little boy
I'm a grown man who knows what he wants
If you are serious
If you have genuine feelings for me and want something real
Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious
Don't lead me on or toy with my emotions, it's not fair or acceptable
But if want me to love you
However, if you are honest and sincere in your feelings for me
Then, baby, I will, girl, you know I will
I'm willing to reciprocate those feelings and love you back
Tell it like it is
Be honest and direct with me about your feelings and intentions
Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
Don't let guilt or shame control your actions, follow your heart
But I-I-I-I-I know deep down inside of me
I have a gut feeling that tells me
I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride
That you truly care for me, but your ego or fear might be getting in the way
Life is too short to have sorrow
Life is fleeting and unpredictable, don't waste it on regrets or negativity
You may be here today and gone tomorrow
Tomorrow is not promised, so live in the moment and appreciate what you have
You might as well get what you want
Make the most of your time and pursue what makes you happy
So go on and live, baby, go on and live
Embrace life and all its possibilities
I'm nothin' to play with, go and find yourself a toy
I'm not someone to use or take advantage of, move along
Mm mm, tell it like it is
Reiterate the importance of honesty and openness in relationships
Contributed by Kayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.