How many times do I have to try to tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why
Why
I may be mad
I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
And I've heard it said too many times
That you'd be better off
Besides
Why can't you see this boat is sinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid

But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out turning inside out
Tell me
Why
Tell me
Why
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that's seldom spread
These are the tears
The tears we shed
This is the fear
This is the dread
These are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
'Cause I don't think you know how I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
You don't know what I feel


Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery

Why Lyrics as written by Annie Lennox

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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34 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    this song has very special meaning to me it covers a large section of human emotion and thought -----from-- this is the book i never read ---through-- and this is what they represent---is a section of the song wich should be carfuly thought through

    DiAnn

    meta4forasighon May 21, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Here is my intepretation:

    The song is about someone who cheated on someone else ("How many times do I have to try to tell you That I'm sorry for the things I've done "/"I may be viciously unkind").

    They feel really bad and they aren't truly a bad person but they just got screwed up. They feel that the other person may be too good for them ("And I've heard it said too many times That you'd be better off ") so they got scared.

    She/He tries to apologize but the other person doesn't want to forgive right away. Instead they just say thinks to hurt the other person ("But when I start to try to tell you That's when you have to tell me Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun"/"Some things are better left unsaid But they still turn me inside out ").

    The song in the point of view of the adulterer to show that they are human and have feelings even though they hurt the other.

    cactusdaveon August 06, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Annie Lennox said "This song expresses some of the frustrations in certain situations in my life"

    angel2kisson March 04, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song represents to me my relationship with my mother, as fucked up as that seems.

    lilybarton June 18, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Of course when an artist conceives an idea, lyrics, and finally messes with melody..it means something to them, but also can mean whatever we want it to for ourselves...that is the beauty in art! For me it is my intense, ongoing emotional relationship with someone that, for years ,either needs fruition or closure..but we are too afraid to move in either direction.
    .......This is the book I never read These are the words I never said This is the path I'll never tread These are the dreams I'll dream instead This is the joy that's seldom spread These are the tears... The tears we shed This is the fear This is the dread These are the contents of my head And these are the years that we have spent And this is what they represent And this is how I feel Do you know how I feel 'cause i don't think you know how I feel I don't think you know what I feel I don't think you know what I feel You don't know what I feel

    ShannyHon January 03, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Ms. Lennox discusses the meaning of this very beautiful song here,

    youtube.com/watch

    tinto4on April 04, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I have been told that she wrote this song shortly after she gave birth to her stillborn baby. This is a song sung to herself, she blamed herself, she wants to forgive herself and she is trying. WHY is her really asking why she was punished like this.

    Rachy71on October 26, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I totally agree with "Rachy71" the song is about her stillborn baby she had to endure but for me it is much more and it has taken nearly 5 decades for this story to come to light. I wanted to talk to the other person concerned as it is very personal and I have tried to contact her via personal messages, texts and phone calls but as of yet no response and I do know she wants to talk so I am telling the story right here. First of all I must say that I am truly sorry for not understanding her situation at that time (I was an angry young man) and of course I do accept her apologies I am so thankful she has been able to come through all the problems she has endured and seemingly been able to create a great career for herself and in some way my (no knowledge) connection during her life has helped in some way? Its very important for her to know that I dont hold any anger anymore or any judgement for what she has done and I do really hope that we will be able to talk one day and put aside all the misunderstandings that has happened (especially on my part) and I would truly love to know the thoughts she had during the time up to her first marriage and then up to the nineties and then up to date using cryptic lyrics in songs, other people to help her etc. Unfortunately I was never going to understand as I wanted my life to be with someone as in the song "Just the way you are" by Billy Joel and the 3 lines that perfectly sum up that reason is "I dont want clever conversation I never want to work that hard I just want someone that I can talk to" so the only way I was going to understand the truth was obviously when my mother died and some information she left me which started the ball rolling and on this occasion I was determined to find out what really did happen and it has taken time to dissect all the secrecy and how did I miss "Rachy71" from last year which was so key to what followed. I am going to write your/our story very soon with another comment unless you let me know beforehand that I can just share it with you and not openly on this site. Jx

    john1954on December 17, 2018   Link
  • +2
    Memory

    God love and bless you, MY BROTHER! I love you so much!!

    I can't wait for you to take him down to the water's edge.

    ❤👫🏼

    ImYourTerroron May 29, 2023   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Despite this song clearly being about relationship breakdown, annies performing of this song at Live 8 revealed a much more simple and yet poignant meaning. She is asking why is there so much conflict in the world and describes the pain conflict brings. This is undoubtedly the most empathic song ever written "Do you know how I feel? 'Cause I don't think you know how I feel I don't think you know what I feel I don't think you know what I feel You don't know what I feel " says it all.

    deankavanagh1234on May 29, 2006   Link

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