Back in 2000, Pati found himself making his own music. "I would take songs and put my own flip on them." Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is" and the Manhattans' "Kiss and Say Goodbye" were ripe for Pati to put his own stamp on them. Those songs are featured on Pati's albums "Think of Me" and "Nesian," respectively. Another song he's revamped is Maxi Priest's "Pretty Little Girl."
Pati released "Nesian" in 2000 and "Think of Me" in 2003. And he found himself riding the wave of success with the hit "Island Girls," which found its way to airwaves as far away as Japan.
Tell It Like It Is
Pati Lyrics
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Blaze to the very end, rise like the sun again
I'm on my feet but I can't seem to stand,
Got control but I ain't got command,
The things I need slip through my hand,
So I tell it like it is, always hit or miss,
Tell me to my face, like it really is,
Oh, hear it comes again, I feel the need again,
To burn like a flame again, blow like a hurricane
And when I look I just don't recognise it's
All off course and bound to collide
The truth I hear is a truth full of lies
So I tell it like it is, always hit or miss,
Tell me to my face, like it really is,
Make it plane to see, straight from you to me,
I'm on my feet but I can't seem to stand,
Got control but I ain't got command,
The things I need slip through my hand,
It gets better each time,
Better each time I'm told
It gets better
"Tell It Like It Is" by Pati is a song that depicts a restless and uncertain state of mind. The opening lines of the song, "Oh, hear it comes again, I feel the heat again, Blaze to the very end, rise like the sun again" portrays the cycle of emotions that the singer is going through. It seems like she's experiencing something, be it an overwhelming emotion or an uncertain situation, that she can't seem to shake off. The repetition of "again" in the opening lines suggests that this cycle of emotions is something that the singer has been going through for some time now.
In the chorus, she sings, "So I tell it like it is, always hit or miss, Tell me to my face, like it really is, Make it plane to see, straight from you to me." Here, the singer seems to be calling for honesty and transparency in her relationships (most likely romantic relationships) which seems to be lacking. The second verse goes on to suggest that the singer is feeling lost and out of control, "And when I look I just don't recognize, it's all off course and bound to collide, The truth I hear is a truth full of lies." The singer is struggling to make sense of the situation she is in and the truth she is being told or is believing is not making things any clearer. Ultimately, the singer is seeking clarity and truth and is tired of the cycle of negative emotions she seems to be caught up in.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hear it comes again, I feel the heat again,
The emotions are rising again, it feels intense.
Blaze to the very end, rise like the sun again
The emotions are at their peak level, it feels like a new day with new optimism.
I'm on my feet but I can't seem to stand,
Although physically present and in control, I can't seem to make any real progress.
Got control but I ain't got command,
I have the ability to influence, but I'm not in complete control.
The things I need slip through my hand,
Things I desire always seem to elude me.
So I tell it like it is, always hit or miss,
I need to be truthful and honest, even though it may not always be accepted.
Tell me to my face, like it really is,
Please be upfront and frank with me.
Make it plane to see, straight from you to me
I need transparency in communication, don't hide anything from me.
Oh, hear it comes again, I feel the need again,
Those emotions are returning, and I need to address them.
To burn like a flame again, blow like a hurricane
To feel passionate and intense once more.
And when I look I just don't recognise it's
Things have changed beyond recognition.
All off course and bound to collide
The direction we're heading is uncertain and possibly dangerous.
The truth I hear is a truth full of lies
What I think is true may be a lie, and this makes me question everything.
It gets better each time,
With time and experience, things improve.
Better each time I'm told
People keep assuring me that things will get better.
Writer(s): Lee Diamond, George Davis
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.