We Banjo 3 is a band hailing from Galway, Ireland. Comprised of 2 sets of b… Read Full Bio ↴We Banjo 3 is a band hailing from Galway, Ireland. Comprised of 2 sets of brothers, the quartet plays traditional Celtic tunes mixed with a ragtime and bluegrass swizzlestick. Earle Hitchner of the Wall Street Journal describes their music thus: "freshness and finesse bordering on the magical." Their debut album "Roots of the Banjo Tree" was voted "Best Traditional Music Album of the Year" in 2012.

Tell Me Why
We Banjo 3 Lyrics

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Those cars in the driveway were and you (?)
Those houses in the hills they′re lying empty and haunted
'Cause that shirt on your back can′t keep out cold
'Cause you know from now on your soul has been sold

Oh won't you tell me why
You can′t look in my eye
Oh won′t you tell me why

You can't believe those lies

Oh mirror on the wall won′t you tell me where to find it
Oh mirror on the wall won't you set me free
Like(?) your reflection is everything that you wanted
Because the man in the mirror is not the man to be

Oh won′t you tell me why
You can't look in my eye
Oh won′t you tell me why
You can't believe those lies

Oh won't you tell me why
You can′t look in my eye
Oh won′t you tell me why
You can't believe those lies

Smile to your heart
Breathe in the truth
Open your eyes and gather the good

Oh won′t you tell me why
You can't look in my eye
Oh won′t you tell me why
You can't believe those lies

Oh won′t you tell me why

Oh won't you tell me why
You can't lead those lies

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of We Banjo 3's song "Tell Me Why" present a picture of empty and haunted houses where once there were cars parked in driveways. The imagery is melancholy and suggestive of abandonment, but it's not clear why these symbols of civilization have been left behind. The second stanza offers a clue: the shirt on the singer's back can't keep out the cold. This suggests that the person the singer is addressing is someone who has fallen on hard times, perhaps as the result of decisions they have made. The song's chorus repeatedly asks the question, "Oh won't you tell me why / You can't look me in the eye / Oh won't you tell me why / You can't believe those lies."

Line by Line Meaning

Those cars in the driveway were and you (?)
You see the fancy cars in the driveway, but where are they taking you?

Those houses in the hills they′re lying empty and haunted
The luxurious homes in the hills are vacant and eerie.

'Cause that shirt on your back can′t keep out cold
No matter how much you try to protect yourself, you'll always be vulnerable to hurt.

'Cause you know from now on your soul has been sold
You've made a deal with the devil and now you're trapped with the consequences.

Oh won't you tell me why You can′t look in my eye Oh won′t you tell me why You can't believe those lies
Please explain why you can't face the truth and why you continue to fall for deception.

Oh mirror on the wall won′t you tell me where to find it Oh mirror on the wall won't you set me free Like(?) your reflection is everything that you wanted Because the man in the mirror is not the man to be
The mirror seems like it holds answers, but it can only show you what you want to see, not who you truly are.

Smile to your heart Breathe in the truth Open your eyes and gather the good
Take a moment to focus on positivity and embrace reality to bring positivity into your life.

Oh won′t you tell me why You can′t lead those lies
Please explain why you can't let go of the lies and embrace the truth.

Writer(s): Lewis A Martinee

Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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