Tell It Like It Is
Heart And Soul (Disc 2) Lyrics

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If you want something to play with
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

Then, baby, I will, girl, you know I will

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

Mm mm, tell it like it is

Overall Meaning

The song "Tell It Like It Is" is a soulful plea from the singer to his love interest to be honest about her feelings. He warns her not to play games with his heart, but to tell him the truth. He firmly reminds her that his time is valuable and he is not to be treated like a toy. He explains that if she wants him to love her, he will, but she must be genuine and honest with him. The chorus then declares that honesty is the best policy and urges everyone to speak their truth. The singer concludes that life is too short to waste on lies and encourages his love interest to live her life fully and honestly.

The song was originally written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and was first recorded by Aaron Neville in 1966. The song was a massive hit, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the US R&B chart. Over the years, the song has been covered by many artists, including Otis Redding, Linda Ronstadt, and Heart.

Line by Line Meaning

If you want something to play with
If you're just looking for a casual relationship

Go and find yourself a toy
You should look for someone else to fulfill those needs

Baby, my time is too expensive
I value my time and won't waste it on someone who isn't serious

And I'm not a little boy
I'm a grown man who wants a mature, committed relationship

If you are serious
If you're truly interested in a real relationship

Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious
Don't toy with my emotions or treat me carelessly

But if want me to love you
But if you're willing to be genuine and honest with me

Then, baby, I will, girl, you know I will
I am willing to love and commit to you

Tell it like it is
Be honest and straightforward with me

Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
Don't feel embarrassed about your feelings and intentions

But I-I-I-I-I know deep down inside of me
Though I may be skeptical, I believe you truly care for me

I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride
I think you genuinely care for me, so don't let your ego get in the way

Life is too short to have sorrow
Life is too fleeting to waste time being unhappy

You may be here today and gone tomorrow
You never know how long you'll have with someone, so make the most of it

You might as well get what you want
You should try to achieve your goals and be happy

So go on and live, baby, go on and live
Live your life to the fullest, without regrets

I'm nothin' to play with, go and find yourself a toy
I'm not going to put up with being treated carelessly

But I-I-I-I-I
But I still have hope for a true, committed relationship

Tell it like it is
Be honest and straightforward with me

My time is too expensive
I value my time and won't spend it on someone who isn't genuine

And I'm not your little boy
I'm an adult man who deserves respect and honesty

Mm mm, tell it like it is
Emphasizes the importance of honesty and communication in a relationship

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, M. JONES PUBLISHING CO., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEORGE DAVIS, LEE DIAMOND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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