1. a folk ban… Read Full Bio ↴There are/were at least two bands named The Paperboys:
1. a folk band from Vancouver, Canada
2. an indie band from Manchester, United Kingdom
1. The Paperboys (sometimes billed and credited as Tom Landa and the Paperboys) are a Canadian folk music band from Vancouver that formed in 1991. The Paperboys blend Celtic folk with bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, African, zydeco, soul and country influences. The band has had a variety of line-ups since its formation, with Landa remaining as the sole founding member, although founding banjoist/bassist Cam Salay often returns as a guest performer. Known for consistently creating pop songs with melodic hooks, their music has been called versatile, with a wide range of influences, melding diverse musical influences more successfully than some other Irish rock bands have previously.
2. The Paperboys were an indie/pop band from Manchester, U.K., fronted by singer Annette Deane.
If you are looking for the Norwegian band Paperboys, go to their last.fm page Paperboys.
Come Tella Me
The Paperboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got, I want
You got, I want
You got, I want
I can't tell you why you're crying
I can only tell you to wipe your tears away
You see something that's inside me
I think I'll save it for a rainy day
To tell me what is wrong and right for me
C'mon take it little honey
I want to tell you baby what you see
CHORUSYou're gonna take al lthat I'm giving, yea
What's the matter can't you see
You know I'm taking, you're not giving
Oh baby, baby, please please please please
I'm not sure what I told you
I'm only sure that it wasn't true
You said I told you that I love you
Well there's a thousand others just like you
You said I used to be romantic
Well now I don't need to be anymore
You want to talk about commitment
I think I want to show you the door
CHORUSYuo got, I want
You got, I want
You got, I want
You got, I want
Love me, hold me tonight
I can't tell you why you're crying
I can only tell you to wipe your tears away
You see something that is inside me
I think I'll save it for a rainy day
I don't need no constitution
To tell me what is wrong and right for me
C'mon take it little honey
I want to tell you baby what you see
You got, I want, I want now
The Paperboys's song "Come Tella Me" is a song about a struggling relationship where the singer desperately wants what the other person has but cannot seem to communicate why or what is going on internally. In the first verse, he repeats "You got, I want" four times, highlighting his desire for something that the other person possesses. Interestingly, he does not specify what he wants, leaving it up to interpretation. He then moves on to acknowledge the other person's pain and tells them to wipe their tears away, yet still cannot explain his own emotions. He mentions saving something for a rainy day, which could suggest that he is holding back emotionally because he is scared to reveal his vulnerability.
In the second verse, he rejects the notion that he needs external guidelines to tell him what is right or wrong for him, suggesting that he is an individualist who doesn't want anyone else to shape his decisions. This could also suggest that he doesn't want the other person to try to dictate how he feels. Lastly, the singer mentions the desire for physical intimacy by asking the other person to love and hold him tonight, but still repeats "You got, I want" twice, as if to say that the physical isn't enough and he wants something else that the other person has.
Overall, the song suggests a relationship that is struggling due to a lack of communication and insecurity on the part of the singer. He wants something from the other person but cannot articulate what it is, leading to frustration and misunderstandings.
Line by Line Meaning
You got, I want
The singer desires something that the other person has.
You got, I want
The singer emphasizes again how much they want what the other person has.
You got, I want
The singer repeats the previous line.
You got, I want
The artist repeats the previous line again.
I can't tell you why you're crying
The artist acknowledges the other person's emotions but is uncertain about why they are crying.
I can only tell you to wipe your tears away
The singer offers a practical solution to the other person's tears.
You see something that's inside me
The other person perceives something about the singer's personality or character.
I think I'll save it for a rainy day
The artist chooses to keep this part of themselves hidden until they need it.
I don't need no constitution
The artist does not require external rules or regulations to determine right and wrong for themselves.
To tell me what is wrong and right for me
The artist believes they are capable of determining what is best for themselves.
C'mon take it little honey
The singer invites the other person to accept the singer's perspective or offer.
I want to tell you baby what you see
The artist desires to communicate something to the other person about their own perception or understanding.
You're gonna take all that I'm giving
The singer anticipates that the other person will accept what they are offering.
What's the matter can't you see
The singer expresses frustration or confusion that the other person does not understand.
You know I'm taking, you're not giving
The singer perceives an imbalance in the exchange between themselves and the other person.
Oh baby, baby, please please please please
The artist pleads with the other person.
I'm not sure what I told you
The artist admits uncertainty about their own previous communication.
I'm only sure that it wasn't true
The singer believes that what they told the other person was not accurate or honest.
You said I told you that I love you
The other person recalls the singer expressing love for them.
Well there's a thousand others just like you
The artist implies that the other person is not unique or special.
You said I used to be romantic
The other person believes that the artist was once romantic.
Well now I don't need to be anymore
The artist asserts that they no longer feel the need to be romantic.
You want to talk about commitment
The other person desires to discuss commitment.
I think I want to show you the door
The artist indicates that they are no longer interested in pursuing a relationship with the other person.
Love me, hold me tonight
The singer expresses a desire for physical affection.
You got, I want
The singer repeats their desire for something that the other person possesses.
I want now
The singer emphasizes their desire for immediate possession of what the other person has.
Contributed by Thomas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.