Don't Tell Me - Jarami Remix
Ruel
The laid-back, soulful ease with which Ruel sings his catchy pop tunes coul… Read Full Bio ↴The laid-back, soulful ease with which Ruel sings his catchy pop tunes could only be delivered by a true natural. But the British-Australian songwriter—born Ruel Vincent van Dijk in 2002—has also been working at it for a sizable chunk of his life. Ruel was on the precipice of his teenage years when his dad sent a demo of him doing a James Bay tune to producer M-Phazes (Demi Lovato, Eminem) in 2015, kickstarting his run as one of 21st-century pop’s foremost purveyors of feels. His debut EP, 2018’s Ready, proved that he was exactly that—before even becoming a legal adult, Ruel built a record packed with well-crafted, R&B-inflected, chart-ready songs. The breezy rhythm of “Dazed & Confused” is juxtaposed with the heartbreak that staccato strings set front and centre for the throbbing chorus; and “Younger”, with its sugary vocal hooks, bouncy piano and gospel singers, softens the blow of a story about friends growing apart over time. In 2020, his music continued to mature with Bright Lights, Red Eyes. Using a stream-of-consciousness writing style, Ruel’s bedroom-pop vulnerability shines through on songs like the rousing “courage”, creating a tenderness and intimacy that’s impressive for an artist of any age.

Don't Tell Me
Ruel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Save your breath, my brother, it's not going in
I'm not your disciple, I choose how I sin
I've got a distant memory of previous lives
So don't say I'm not ready, back off with those knives

You don't know me like you used to
You can leave, but I refuse to
You can tell me that I'm crazy
But I won't stop and this won't make me

Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready
Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready for love
For love

I don't feel connected to all of your lies
But you can do a kindness and look me in the eyes
My soul's resurrected, yeah, it's been there before
So, don't say I'm not ready to level on my soul

You don't know me like you used to
Yeah you can leave, but I refuse to
You can tell me that I'm crazy
But I won't stop and this won't make me

Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready
Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready for love

The course that you have set for me
The shadows you crossed over me
The road is getting hard to see
But I'm gonna make it through
Horizons that are out of sight
Lost behind the fading light
Ready for what's coming, and they best be ready too

Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready for love
Uh uh uh
(For love, for love) oh, oh-oh-oh
Don't tell me I'm not ready for love
Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready




Uh uh uh
Ooh, oh-oh-oh, don't tell me I'm not ready for love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ruel's song Don't Tell Me express a sense of independence and defiance against those who try to dictate how the singer should live his life. The first verse suggests that the singer has a strong sense of self and a knowledge of past lives, implying a belief in reincarnation or spirituality. The second verse emphasizes that the singer is not going to conform to societal expectations or the opinions of others, and he refuses to believe lies or be held back by those who doubt him. The chorus repeats the phrase "don't tell me I'm not ready" as a message of determination and self-confidence. The bridge speaks of challenges that may lie ahead, but the singer is ready to face them and move forward.


Overall, the song seems to be about asserting one's independence and inner strength, even if it goes against the expectations of others. It encourages listeners to trust their instincts and not let others hold them back from achieving their goals.


Line by Line Meaning

Save your breath, my brother, it's not going in
Don't bother speaking because I won't listen anyway


I'm not your disciple, I choose how I sin
I'm not following your ways because I make my own decisions


I've got a distant memory of previous lives
I have a feeling of having lived before that I can't explain


So don't say I'm not ready, back off with those knives
Don't judge me or attack me with your criticism because I'm not afraid


You don't know me like you used to
You think you understand me but you really don't


You can leave, but I refuse to
I won't let you go and give up


You can tell me that I'm crazy
You can call me insane but I won't stop


But I won't stop and this won't make me
Nothing you say or do will change me


I don't feel connected to all of your lies
I don't believe the things you say anymore


But you can do a kindness and look me in the eyes
You can still show me respect and be honest with me in person


My soul's resurrected, yeah, it's been there before
My spirit has been through struggles and come out stronger


So, don't say I'm not ready to level on my soul
Don't doubt my ability to handle what life throws at me


The course that you have set for me
The path you think I should take


The shadows you crossed over me
The doubts and fears you planted in my mind


The road is getting hard to see
The future is uncertain and unclear


But I'm gonna make it through
But I won't give up and will persevere


Horizons that are out of sight
The opportunities that seem far away and impossible


Lost behind the fading light
Disappearing as time passes


Ready for what's coming, and they best be ready too
I'm prepared for whatever comes my way, and so should others be


Don't tell me I'm not ready for love
Don't tell me I'm not able to open my heart to new experiences and connections




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter James Harding, Ruel Vincent Van Dijk

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Beck


on JAPANESE WHISKEY


We spent our time drinking whiskey from Japan


The whiskey was brought by your dad from Tokyo


You told me to drink all the whiskey before leaving


I'm thirsty despite drinking the whiskey


I don't enjoy the flavor, but I appreciate the name


I spent more time there doing nothing productive


I pretended to be mature but felt immature


The more I try to keep you close, the more distant you feel


We tend to love things that don't exist or aren't true


I desired to be the person you hoped I could be


Realistically, I'm unable to be that person


You don't keep track of your successes or failures


I remember every single kiss and mark them permanently


I have kept my past hidden, but you don't want to hear about it


The closer I get to you the further you push away


We tend to love things that don't exist or aren't true/real


I desired to be the person you hoped I could be


Realistically, I'm unable to be that person for you


I shut my eyes


I take in all your harsh words without reacting


I'm indecisive


I'm not sure if I enjoy it or if I can't move on from it

Singer


on Real Thing

he writes super good songs or he helps write them

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