Tell Me Why
Will Smith/Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whyyyyyy, whyyyyyy
Whyyyyyy, whyyyyyy
[Chorus:]
I really wish I could explain it baby
It's just the world is kinda crazy baby
Ain't no pretty way to paint it baby
[Will Smith]
September 11th I woke up about 7 AM
West coast time, french toast and my turkey bacon
Takin' my time awakin, turnin' my TV on
To my surprise, saw what everybody in the world saw
Me and my children, images were chillin'
My son said - daddy were there people in that building?
A cold sweat, frozen with a lump in my chest
I heard his question, couldn't bring my lips to say yes to him
That night at my son's side, he cried
And prayed for the ones who died in the World Trade
His palms to God, seeds of qualms with God
He just, kept on pressin' me, wanna know why
Then one week later our bombs were dropped
We seein' them, on CNN, they just won't stop
The infrared, images of brutal attack
He said "Daddy now we killin' 'em back," right right
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
Souls are captured (souls are captured)
Dreams are stolen (dreams are stolen)
Hearts are broken (hearts are broken)
Evil plaguin' he rewardin'
Hate surrender (hate surrender)
Love exalted! (Love exalted!)
Hope elated! (hope elated!)
Negativity destroyed and..
[Will Smith]
Honest to God, why is the bomb always gettin' the last word
and why, did her uncles have to molest her
and why, did all them cops have to be shootin' to kill?
And why, did all them priests have to act so ill?
Tell me why did James Byrd Jr. have to be touched?
Tell my why did Malcolm and Martin depart from us
Tell me why did the sniper make that little boy shoot
And why, is human life always denied for loot?
Tell me WHY did MANDELA have to live in a cage
Why did my brother Sterling have to die at that age
Tell me why did Reginald Denny deserve his fate
And why the fuck can't love, seem to defeat hate?
Tell me why is it so hard for all the children to eat?
Why did 'Pac and Biggie Smalls have to fall in the street?
Tell me why did Jam Master Jay have to go that way?
Please, what am I supposed to say my kids when they say
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Will Smith]
Can't explain it baby life is just really crazy
I mean if it's world wars or the life of a little baby
We got more stores than they got rice under buddha lazy
You live four scores and still it be drivin' you crazy
But for me I try to see the button side
Sometimes it be like the goodness be tryin' to hide
or tryin' to flee, but it can't, it's deep inside
Sweetie you be the light for others, make 'em believe in God
“Tell Me Why” is a song by Will Smith and Mary J. Blige that discusses the state of the world after the September 11th attacks. The song begins with Mary J. Blige asking why the world has to be so crazy and if there is a way to explain it. Will Smith then goes on to describe the events of the morning of the attacks and how he had to explain them to his son. He also touches on other issues in the world, such as police brutality, priests acting inappropriately, and hate crimes. Throughout the song, they question why things have to be this way and try to make sense of everything that happens in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Whyyyyyy, whyyyyyy
Expressing confusion and frustration towards the events happening in the world
I really wish I could explain it baby
Expressing the desire to make sense of the chaos in the world
It's just the world is kinda crazy baby
Acknowledging the chaotic nature of the world
Ain't no pretty way to paint it baby
Recognizing the harsh reality of the world and its events
Don't cry, dry your eyes
Encouraging others to be strong and not let the chaos of the world bring them down
September 11th I woke up about 7 AM
Recalling the personal experience of the 9/11 attack
West coast time, french toast and my turkey bacon
Providing context to the time of day and the author's breakfast
Takin' my time awakin, turnin' my TV on
Describing the author's morning routine
To my surprise, saw what everybody in the world saw
Describing the moment of realization about the 9/11 attack
Me and my children, images were chillin'
Describing the impact of watching the news about 9/11 with his children
My son said - daddy were there people in that building?
Recalling his son's question about the attack and death toll
A cold sweat, frozen with a lump in my chest
Describing the author's emotional reaction to his son's question
I heard his question, couldn't bring my lips to say yes to him
Explaining the author's inability to answer his son's question
That night at my son's side, he cried
Describing the author's son's emotional reaction to the attack
And prayed for the ones who died in the World Trade
Describing the author's son's prayer for the victims
His palms to God, seeds of qualms with God
Describing the author's son's questioning of God's role in the attack
He just, kept on pressin' me, wanna know why
Explaining how the son continued to ask why the attack happened
Then one week later our bombs were dropped
Recalling the U.S decision to bomb in response to the 9/11 attack
We seein' them, on CNN, they just won't stop
Describing how the attack and aftermath were portrayed on the news
The infrared, images of brutal attack
Describing the graphic images of war being shown on TV
He said "Daddy now we killin' 'em back," right right
Describing his son's reaction to the news of bombing in response to the 9/11 attack
Souls are captured (souls are captured)
Expressing the idea that people are becoming trapped and lost in the chaos of the world
Dreams are stolen (dreams are stolen)
Acknowledging how the traumatic events of the world can steal people's hopes and dreams
Hearts are broken (hearts are broken)
Describing the emotional toll of the chaotic events happening in the world
Evil plaguin' he rewardin'
Commenting on how evil seems to reap rewards in the world
Hate surrender (hate surrender)
Encouraging people to let go of hate
Love exalted! (Love exalted!)
Emphasizing the love and positivity that should be promoted
Hope elated! (hope elated!)
Encouraging people to have hope and stay positive
Negativity destroyed and..
Promoting the idea of eliminating negative emotions and energy
Honest to God, why is the bomb always gettin' the last word
Questioning why violent acts like bombing always seem to have the final say
and why, did her uncles have to molest her
Questioning the cruel and immoral actions of people, such as sexual abuse
and why, did all them cops have to be shootin' to kill?
Questioning the violent tendencies of law enforcement
And why, did all them priests have to act so ill?
Questioning the controversial actions of religious leaders
Tell me why did James Byrd Jr. have to be touched?
Questioning the hate crimes and violence that occur in the world
Tell my why did Malcolm and Martin depart from us
Questioning why influential leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated
Tell me why did the sniper make that little boy shoot
Questioning the senseless violence that takes innocent lives
And why, is human life always denied for loot?
Questioning the underlying motivators behind violent actions
Tell me WHY did MANDELA have to live in a cage
Questioning the unjust treatment of influential figures such as Nelson Mandela
Why did my brother Sterling have to die at that age
Expressing the personal impact of losing someone to violence at a young age
Tell me why did Reginald Denny deserve his fate
Questioning the justification behind violent acts such as the beating of Reginald Denny during the LA riots
And why the fuck can't love, seem to defeat hate?
Expressing frustration with how difficult it seems to be to eliminate hate and promote love
Tell me why is it so hard for all the children to eat?
Questioning the root cause of poverty and hunger in the world
Why did 'Pac and Biggie Smalls have to fall in the street?
Questioning the senseless violence that takes the lives of musicians like Tupac and Notorious BIG
Tell me why did Jam Master Jay have to go that way?
Questioning the reasons behind the death of Jam Master Jay, a famous DJ
Please, what am I supposed to say my kids when they say
Expressing the challenge of explaining the chaos of the world to his children
Can't explain it baby life is just really crazy
Acknowledging the unpredictability and chaos of life
I mean if it's world wars or the life of a little baby
Highlighting the contrast between global conflict and the innocence of children
We got more stores than they got rice under buddha lazy
Critiquing the excess and consumerism of the western world
You live four scores and still it be drivin' you crazy
Commenting on how even with long lives, people can still be overwhelmed by the chaos of the world
But for me I try to see the button side
Expressing the author's tendency to look at the brighter side of things
Sometimes it be like the goodness be tryin' to hide
Acknowledging that it can be difficult to find positivity in the midst of chaos
or tryin' to flee, but it can't, it's deep inside
Suggesting that goodness is an intrinsic part of humanity and cannot be completely eradicated
Sweetie you be the light for others, make 'em believe in God
Encouraging others to embrace a positive outlook and spread positivity to others
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON, PETER KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@renerodasnospes7178
I really wish I could explain it baby (why),
It's just the world is kinda crazy baby (why),
Ain't no pretty way to paint it baby (why),
Don't cry, dry your eyes
September 11th, I woke up about 7am, west coast time, French toast and my
Turkey bacon, taking my time, awakin', turning my TV on
To my surprise, saw what everybody in the world saw
Me & my children, images were chillin'
My son said, "Daddy were there people in that building?"
A cold sweat, frozen with a lump in my chest
I heard his question, couldn't bring my lips to say "Yes" to him
That night at my son's side, he cried & prayed
For the one's who died in the World Trade
His palms to God, seeds and qualms with God
He just kept on pressin' me, wanna know why
Then one week later our bombs were dropped
We seein' them on CNN, they just won't stop
The infrared images of brutal attack
He said, "Daddy now we killin' em back"; (right, right)
[CHORUS - (2x)]
[BRIDGE - Mary J. Blige:]
Mmmmm, souls are captured
Dreams are stolen, hearts are broken
Evil blatantly rewarded
Hate surrenders, Love exalted
Hope elated, negativity is shorted
Why is the bomb always getting the last word
& why did her uncle have to molest her
& why did all them cops have to be shootin' to kill
& why did all them priests have to act so ill
Tell me why did James Byrd Jr. have to be touched
Tell me why did Malcolm & Martin depart from us
Tell me why did that sniper make the little boy shoot
& why does human life always denied for loot
Tell me why did Mandela have to live in a cage
Why did my brother Sterling have to die at that age
Tell me why did Reginald Denny deserve his fate
& why the f*@k can't love seem to defeat hate
Tell me why is it so hard for all the children to eat
Why did Pac & Biggie Smalls have to fall in the street
Tell me why did Jam Master Jay have to go that way
Please what am I supposed to say to my kids when they say 'Why?'
[CHORUS - (2x)]
[VERSE 3]
Can't explain it baby, life is just really crazy
I mean if it's world wars or the life of a little baby
We got more stores than they got rice under Buddha lazy
You live four scores & still it be driving you crazy
But for me I try to see the bright side
Sometimes it'd be like the goodness be tryin' to hide
Then try to flee, but it can't it's deep inside
Sweetie, you be the light for the others, make 'em believe in God
@Sakuraqueen
This song always brings me to tears! They both sing with so much passion!!
@chrispleasantable
Anne Etuk My brother plays this song every year on September 11
@KZBluCaesar3
I’m here right now listening; remembering when I first had this cd and heard this track. I was balling then and I’m still crying now hearing it again!!! They slept on this man for 30 years!!!
@suicidesquad5938
Mary killed this song 2019
@REALandRAWW
Mary fucking SANG her ass off! Full vibrato. Love her!
@BronchoKyle
Christ that 2nd verse. Even more relevant today.
@riccardo9383
This is what's missing from today's songs. Sincere and genuine concerns of society and a decent character of the singer, instead of meaningless, cheap "songs". If any singer would sing this or other songs with similar value my respect for him/her would significantly increase.
@aaronjoce702
I most definitely agree with you and you can tell by the way he delivers this song that he has genuinity about issues in the world. However, if someone else were to do a meaningful song like this I feel that they have to be genuine about it and not just do it for sales and ratings
@icynishia1723
True
@atolmasoff
People are listening to the wrong Hip-hop. Hands down, the most I've ever cried, thought, got upset, you name it came from good Hip-hop. Can't even begin to describe the things that flew through my mind the first time listening to some people like Immoral Technique... Good hip hop will take you to some incredible places and some very dark if you can find some artists you can really relate with or even let them take you three.