Tell Me
Petula Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and song… Read Full Bio ↴Petula Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She started her professional career as a child performer and has had one of the longest careers of any British entertainer, spanning more than eight decades. Clark's professional career began during the Second World War as a child entertainer on BBC Radio. In 1954 she charted with "The Little Shoemaker", the first of her big UK hits, and within two years she began recording in French. Her international successes have included "Prends mon cœur", "Sailor" (a UK number one), "Romeo", and "Chariot". Hits in German, Italian, and Spanish followed. In late 1964 Clark's success extended to the United States with a four-year run of career-defining, often upbeat singles, many written or co-written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent. These include her signature song "Downtown" (US number one), "I Know a Place", "My Love" (US number one), "A Sign of the Times", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love", "Who Am I", "Colour My World", "This Is My Song" (by Charlie Chaplin) (a UK number one), "Don't Sleep in the Subway", "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" and "Kiss Me Goodbye". Between January 1965 and April 1968 Clark charted with nine US Top 20 hits in the US, where she was sometimes called "the First Lady of the British Invasion".

Clark has sold more than 68 million records. She has also enjoyed success in the musical film Finian's Rainbow and in the stage musicals The Sound of Music, Blood Brothers, Sunset Boulevard, and Mary Poppins.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petula_Clark

Discography
Petula Clark Sings (1956)
A Date with Pet (1956)
You Are My Lucky Star (1957)
À Musicorama (1958)
Petula Clark in Hollywood / Pet Clark (1959)
Prends mon coeur (1959)
Tête à tête avec Petula Clark (1961)
Rendez-vous avec Petula Clark (1962)
In Other Words (1962)
Petula (1962)
Le soleil dans les yeux (1963)
Ceux qui ont un coeur (1964)
Hello Paris (1964)
Petula au Canada (1964)
Downtown (1965)
I Know a Place (1965)
The World's Greatest International Hits (1965)
Petula '65 (1965)
My Love (1966)
I Couldn't Live Without Your Love (1966)
Petula Clark '66 (1966)
Colour My World (1967)
These Are My Songs (1967)
C'est ma chanson (1967)
Petula Italiana (1967)
The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (1968)
Petula (1968)
Portrait of Petula (1969)
Just Pet (1969)
Memphis (1970)
Warm and Tender / The Song of My Life (1971)
Comme une prière (1972)
La chanson de Marie-Madeleine (1972)
Now (1972)
Come On Home (1974)
I'm The Woman You Need (1975)
Je reviens (1977)
Destiny (1978)
Where The Heart Is (1998)
Here For You (1998)
Solitude & Sunshine: The Songs of Rod McKuen (2007)
Lost in You (2013)
From Now On (2016)
Living For Today (2017)
Vu d'ici (2018)

Tell Me
Petula Clark Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell Me (That It's Love)


CHORUS:
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me now
Tell me now what strange feeling this is
Is it love or only your kisses?
No one knows how dangerous bliss is
Tell me that it's love this time

CHORUS

Even though you know I adore you
When you be like others before you
I've been fooled before, I assure you
Tell me that it's love this time

(Whoa whoa)

And when other lovers have parted,
Will we be the same as we started
Or will I be left brokenhearted?




Life is such an uphill climb
Tell me that it's love this time

Overall Meaning

Petula Clark's song "Tell Me" from 1966 explores the uncertainties of falling in love with someone. The chorus repeats the phrase "tell me" multiple times, emphasizing the singer's desire for honesty and clarity. The opening lines of the song question if the singer is feeling love or simply enjoying physical intimacy. The lyrics imply that the singer has been "fooled before" and needs reassurance that this new feeling is genuine. The song suggests that love can be dangerous ("No one knows how dangerous bliss is"), but the singer is willing to take that risk if it means true love.


In the second half of the song, the lyrics express further doubts and concerns about the future of the relationship. The singer wonders if they will "be the same as we started" or if they will be "left brokenhearted." The lyrics acknowledge that relationships can be difficult and that life can be an "uphill climb." The song ends on the same note of uncertainty that it begins with, as the singer is left waiting for their partner to confirm that what they have is real love.


Overall, "Tell Me" is a poignant exploration of the complex emotions that come with falling in love. Through its honest lyrics and strong melody, the song captures the excitement, fear, and uncertainty that often accompany new romantic relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Requesting urgent confirmation


Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Reiterating the need for reassurance


Tell me now
Emphasizing the urgency of the request


Tell me now what strange feeling this is
Asking for clarification on the nature of the emotions being experienced


Is it love or only your kisses?
Questioning whether the feelings are genuine or just physical


No one knows how dangerous bliss is
Reflecting on the potential risks of falling in love


Tell me that it's love this time
Requesting confirmation that the feelings are genuine


Even though you know I adore you
Acknowledging existing feelings of affection


When you be like others before you
Expressing concern that past experiences may be repeated


I've been fooled before, I assure you
Admitting past vulnerability and fear of being hurt again


Tell me that it's love this time
Reiterating the need for assurance


(Whoa whoa)
Intensifying the emotional tone of the song


And when other lovers have parted,
Considering potential outcomes of the relationship


Will we be the same as we started
Questioning whether the relationship will endure


Or will I be left brokenhearted?
Expressing fear of potential heartbreak


Life is such an uphill climb
Reflecting on the challenges of relationships and life


Tell me that it's love this time
Reiterating the need for confirmation




Contributed by Wyatt S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Melanie Votaw

That whole album has been a favorite of mine since I was about 5 years old. I still know all the words to pretty much every song.

Trudi Marrapodi

Nice to know I'm not the only one! My oldest sister received it as a Christmas gift along with a JCPenney phonograph in 1965. It is permanently imprinted on my brain!

Samuel Pajoa

Great Song! Love sixty music. Love her voice, Awesome...😎🎵

catdustycat

I always loved this very underrated song.

AnnaMargolin

Thanks so much for providing this. I was looking all over for it. Again, thanks! (I am a Pet Clark fan from way back:))

Anthony Cusher

Petula Clark had a huge number of hit songs, but this has got to be the sexiest song she ever recorded. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris Hanson

A few too many "tell me" moments , but I love the sound of it.

Upstate Media

Borrowing heavily from The Jaynette's SALLY GO 'ROUND THE ROSES but turning it from creepy to romantic. Love it!

Trudi Marrapodi

That's exactly what I was thinking. I grew up familiar with this song, and only heard "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" later, and thought "It sounds a lot like 'Tell Me'!" I can only assume "Sally" had a huge influence on the arrangement.

Lookout Mountain

I have always loved this. I immediately go to the mid 50's America - rollers in hair, bouffant beehives, poodle skirts - and then there were all the nifty outfits and hair-don'ts the girls were wearing.

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