What Will I Tell My Heart
Vanessa Williams Lyrics


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I'll try to explain to friends, dear
The reason we two are apart
I know what to tell our friends, dear
But what can I tell my heart
It's easy to say to strangers
That we played the game from the start
It's easy to lie to stranger
But why tell a lie to your heart
When I smile to hide all the tears inside
What an ache it will bring
Then I'll wander home to a telephone
That forgot how to ring
I could say you'll soon be back, dear
To fool the whole town may be smart
I'll tell them you'll soon be back, dear
But what can I tell my heart
When I smile to hide all the tears inside
What an ache it will bring
Then I'll wander home to a telephone
That forgot how to ring
I could say you'll soon be back, dear
To fool the whole town may be smart
I'll tell them you'll soon be back, dear




But what can I tell my heart
Oh, what will I tell my heart

Overall Meaning

The song "What Will I Tell My Heart" by Vanessa Williams is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person who is struggling to come to terms with a breakup. The singer is aware that she can always come up with a reason for why she and her partner are no longer together when it comes to telling her friends, but the problem is that her heart can't understand the explanation. She knows it's easy to lie to strangers about why things didn't work out, but lying to her own heart is something she can't bring herself to do. The paradox of facing reality while wanting to escape it is vividly reflected in the lyrics of the song.


Williams is successful in expressing the emotions that people experience after a breakup, where you try your best to forget your loved one, and pretend to be okay in front of everyone else, but the moment you're alone, you're stuck with the pain and confusion. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this struggle, with lines like "When I smile to hide all the tears inside, what an ache it will bring, then I'll wander home to a telephone that forgot how to ring". These lines capture the helplessness one feels when they can't bear to share their grief with anyone.


Overall, "What Will I Tell My Heart" is a powerful song that speaks to the feelings of those who have experienced a breakup. Williams' poetic lyrics and emotional delivery make it a memorable song that resonates with many listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll try to explain to friends, dear
I will attempt to justify our separation to our acquaintances


The reason we two are apart
The explanation for why we are no longer together


I know what to tell our friends, dear
I have fabricated a story to tell our mutual friends


But what can I tell my heart
But how can I deceive my own emotions


It's easy to say to strangers
It's effortless to be dishonest with people we don't know


That we played the game from the start
That we started our relationship knowing it may not last


It's easy to lie to stranger
It's simple to deceive someone who we will never see again


But why tell a lie to your heart
But why betray our own heart for a temporary falsehood


When I smile to hide all the tears inside
When I feign happiness to conceal my sorrow


What an ache it will bring
The pain it will cause


Then I'll wander home to a telephone
Then I will go home to a silent telephone


That forgot how to ring
That is no longer ringing with your calls


I could say you'll soon be back, dear
I could tell everyone that you will return soon


To fool the whole town may be smart
To deceive everyone would be a clever move


I'll tell them you'll soon be back, dear
I will inform them that you will return


But what can I tell my heart
But how will I convince my own heart that it's true


Oh, what will I tell my heart
Oh, how will I persuade my own heart to believe the same lie




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING GORDON, JACK LAWRENCE, PETER TINTURIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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