This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I love you girl
You called me up and I came to see you
You say you been awake all night
It hurts me deep inside when I see you cryin'
Whatever's wrong, I'll make it right
If you understand how I feel
You should know that my love is real
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
Tell me girl
There were times when I didn't show it
Just how much I care for you
I'm so sorry
Now don't keep sayin' it's too late...to think
It over baby
After all that we've been through
Girl, I'm beggin' you
I'm down on my knees
Don't walk away baby please don't leave (me)
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
Tell me girl
Girl I know that we can work it out somehow
Isn't that what love is all about
I'm gonna see it through this time
I won't let you slip away
Say you'll stay with me
Stay with me girl
'Cause you're the finest girl that I've ever seen
Tell me, tell me what you want me to do baby
My love is only here for you and only you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
So tell me what you want me to do
You called me up and I came to see you
You say you been awake all night
It hurts me deep inside when I see you cryin'
Whatever's wrong, I'll make it right
If you understand how I feel
You should know that my love is real
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
Tell me girl
There were times when I didn't show it
Just how much I care for you
I'm so sorry
Now don't keep sayin' it's too late...to think
It over baby
After all that we've been through
Girl, I'm beggin' you
I'm down on my knees
Don't walk away baby please don't leave (me)
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
Tell me girl
Girl I know that we can work it out somehow
Isn't that what love is all about
I'm gonna see it through this time
I won't let you slip away
Say you'll stay with me
Stay with me girl
'Cause you're the finest girl that I've ever seen
Tell me, tell me what you want me to do baby
My love is only here for you and only you
Tell me what you want me to do
My love is always here for you
So tell me what you want me to do
So tell me what you want me to do
Lyrics submitted by inomusic88
Tell Me What You Want Me to Do Lyrics as written by Sally Jo Dakota Narada Michael Walden
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song makes me think of my baby Wynnette I love you babe... I know you've been hurt before but I want you to know that I really do care for you