Tell the Truth
Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood Lyrics
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Tell the truth.
Tell me who's been fooling you?
Tell the truth.
Who's been fooling who?
There you sit there, looking so cool
While the whole show is passing you by.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
[Chorus]
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Or where you're going or been.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
I said see it, yeah, can't you see it?
Can't you see it, yeah, can't you see it?
I can see it, yeah.
[Chorus]
Hear what I say, 'cause every word is true.
You know I wouldn't tell you no lies.
Your time's coming, gonna be soon, boy.
[Repeat: x2]
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Or where you're going or been.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The song "Tell the Truth" is a call for honesty and self-reflection. The chorus questions who has been fooling whom and encourages the listener to tell the truth. The verses address someone who is detached from the world and is missing out on what's happening around them. The singer urges this person to connect with others and get in touch with their own feelings. The lines "a new dawn is breaking now, can't you see it?" serve as a metaphor for the need to awaken to the world and its possibilities.
The song can be seen as a commentary on the Vietnam War era and the need for people to speak out against injustice and inequality. The lines "open your eyes and look into your heart" suggest a call to action and a need for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and for the world around them. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the importance of honesty and the need for individuals to take a hard look at themselves and their own behavior.
Overall, "Tell the Truth" is a powerful song that encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to the world around them. The message remains as relevant today as it did when the song was written, and the music and lyrics continue to inspire and move people around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell the truth.
Be honest and straightforward about the situation.
Tell me who's been fooling you?
Who has been deceiving or tricking you?
Tell the truth.
Again, emphasizing the importance of honesty.
Who's been fooling who?
Who is deceiving whom? The blame is uncertain.
There you sit there, looking so cool
Despite the chaos around you, you remain calm and composed.
While the whole show is passing you by.
Life is happening around you, and you are not actively participating in it.
You better come to terms with your fellow men soon, cause
It is important to reconcile with people around you quickly because of the current situation.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
The world is in turmoil, and it's hard not to notice it.
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
There is a new beginning emerging, and it's time to embrace it.
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Your social status, background, or experience doesn't define you.
Or where you're going or been.
It doesn't matter where you're headed or where you've come from.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The solution lies within yourself, and it's time to reflect on it.
Hear what I say, 'cause every word is true.
Pay attention to what I'm saying since I'm speaking the truth.
You know I wouldn't tell you no lies.
The singer can be trusted and is honest.
Your time's coming, gonna be soon, boy.
The time to act or make a change is approaching quickly.
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Reiterating that external factors do not define us.
Or where you're going or been.
One's past or future itinerary does not matter.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The answer to your problems is within yourself, and it's time to reflect on it.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Whitlock, Eric Clapton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind