Tell Yer Mama
Norah Jones Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I won't cry for you
When the night grows long
And I won't die for you
Because you done me wrong
So tell your mama
I said hello
And that she raised you
Too damn slow
You're too damn slow
Too damn slow

Because I've been waiting
For your time
And I've been missing
Out on mine

So tell your father
That I said so long
And thanks for raising you
So damn wrong




You are so damn wrong
You're so damn wrong, so damn wrong.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Norah Jones's song "Tell Yer Mama" speak to the pain of a broken relationship and the frustration that comes with being let down by someone you loved. While the song may appear bitter and resentful at first glance, it's an honest portrayal of the complexities of love and loss.


In the first verse, the singer declares their refusal to cry for their former partner. This is a powerful statement, as it demonstrates a sense of strength and self-respect that comes with moving on from a relationship. The second line echoes that sentiment, with the singer acknowledging that they won't put their life on hold for someone who has betrayed them.


The chorus speaks to the heart of the song, with the singer urging their former partner to tell their mother and father about the end of their relationship. It's a subtle nod to the fact that one's parents are ultimately responsible for the values and beliefs they instill in their children. By telling their parents about the breakup, the singer is taking a stand and holding their former partner accountable for their actions.


The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's own experience, with a sense of regret and missed opportunities. The nostalgia and longing in the lines "I've been waiting for your time, and I've been missing out on mine" reveal a complicated set of emotions. The final line returns to the sense of anger and frustration that permeates the song, with the singer thanking their former partner's father for raising them "so damn wrong."


Overall, Norah Jones's "Tell Yer Mama" is a poignant exploration of the many emotions that come with a breakup. From anger to regret to nostalgia, the song captures the complex experience of letting go and moving on.


Line by Line Meaning

I won't cry for you
I won't shed tears over the end of our relationship.


When the night grows long
Even as I long for you in the quiet of the night, I won't cry for you.


And I won't die for you
I won't go to any extremes for you, or allow myself to be hurt by you again.


Because you done me wrong
You have hurt me too much for me to keep caring about you.


So tell your mama
Pass on this message to your mother.


I said hello
Simply greet her for me.


And that she raised you
Acknowledge the fact that your mother is responsible for your upbringing.


Too damn slow
But also know that she might have been a little too slow to help you mature properly.


You're too damn slow
This delay has negatively affected you as a person.


Because I've been waiting
I have been waiting for you to grow up and be the person I hoped you would be.


For your time
But now I understand that I should focus on myself and not wait for what's never going to come.


And I've been missing
I've been neglecting my own needs by waiting around for you to change.


Out on mine
It's time I start catching up on living my life for me, without you.


So tell your father
Also relay this message to your father.


That I said so long
Tell him goodbye, too.


And thanks for raising you
As for your father - he did not do a good job at raising you.


So damn wrong
His choices have led you to being the person you are today, and that's not a compliment.


You are so damn wrong
You have made many bad decisions that were influenced by how you were raised.


You're so damn wrong, so damn wrong
It's not my responsibility to fix the problems that originated with how you were raised - that's solely on you.




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JESSE HARRIS, NORAH JONES, RICHARD JULIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Anonymous


on I Turned Your Picture to the Wall

Down by the Riverside - Noah Wall - Lyrics

I’m gonna lay down my heavy load,
Down by the riverside,
Oh yeah
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my heavy load,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
No I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more

I’m gonna put on my long white robe,
Down by the riverside
Oh yeah
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna put on my long white robe,
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more

Musical Interlude


Well, I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,

Anonymous


on The Nearness of You

The Nearness Of You - Camille Thurman -Lyrics

Its not the pale moon that excites me
That thrills and delights me, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

When you're in my arms
And I feel you so close to me
All my wildest dreams do come true

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me
The right to hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night
The nearness of you

Saxophone Musical Interlude

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me
The right to hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night
The nearness, the nearness of you

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