Texas is an alternative rock band which formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1986… Read Full Bio ↴Texas is an alternative rock band which formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1986 and fronted by singer Sharleen Spiteri. The band was founded by Johnny McElhone (of Altered Images), taking the name from the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas. Their musical sound went from blues rock from debut album Southside (1989), via blue eyed soul of White on Blonde (1997) to the disco pop of Red Book (2005). Their first album for eight years, The Conversation, was released on 20th May 2013. In May 2017 the band released their ninth studio album, Jump on Board and in February 2020 announced on Twitter that their next album, called Hi, will be released later that year.

Sharleen Spiteri (vocals, guitar), Ally McErlaine (guitar) and Johnny McElhone (bass) have survived all line ups.

Tell Me Why
Texas Lyrics

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Even now I can see that day
The fear in your eyes
Tell me why
Were you so afraid

Some things, they turn out this way
Fire the bullet and find
That you don't know what you left behind

When we laid you to rest

Tell me why were you so afraid
Tell me why were you so afraid

You walk this line
You walk this line of hate
Where two people are so blind
Blind to the evil it creates
Never say to much
Never think out loud

Tell me why were you so afraid
Tell me why were you so afraid

I know one day you'll find a way
To heal the wounds
I know one day you'll find a way
To heal the wounds

Tell me why were you so afraid

Even now I can see that day
The fear in your eyes
You gave all you lived for
Whilst you kept your pride

Tell me why were you so afraid
Tell me why were you so afraid

Overall Meaning

The song "Tell Me Why" by Texas is a reflective piece, pondering the reasons behind the fear and actions of someone who has passed away. The lyrics are focused on trying to understand the motivations of this person and the impact that their choices had on their life and those around them. The opening lines set the tone, as the singer describes their ability to see a specific day and the fear in the other person's eyes. From there, the chorus repeatedly asks "tell me why were you so afraid?" in an attempt to dig deeper into the reasons behind the person's actions.

The second verse offers some potential answers, describing a "line of hate" that the person walked and the blindness that accompanies it. The advice to "never say too much" and "never think out loud" suggests a sense of caution or fear of consequence that could be at play. However, the lines "when we laid you to rest" and "you gave all you lived for whilst you kept your pride" create a sense of ambiguity and complexity to the person's life and motivations.

Overall, the song offers a window into the thought process of someone grappling with grief and the desire to understand someone who is no longer present. It highlights the importance of empathy and the value of seeking to understand other people's actions, even when they seem incomprehensible or confusing.

Line by Line Meaning

Even now I can see that day
I can still vividly recall the day in question

The fear in your eyes
I saw the fear in your eyes

Tell me why
Please explain to me

Were you so afraid
What was the reason behind your fear?

Some things, they turn out this way
Sometimes, events unfold in unexpected ways

Fire the bullet and find
Act impulsively and discover

That you don't know what you left behind
That you may not be aware of what you've abandoned

When we laid you to rest
When you were buried

You walk this line
You follow a certain path

You walk this line of hate
You are guided by anger

Where two people are so blind
In a situation where both parties are stubborn