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Tell Me Why Lyrics
Sailing heart-ships
thru broken harbors
Out on the waves in the night
Still the searcher
must ride the dark horse
Racing alone in his fright.
Tell me why, tell me why
Is it hard to make
arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
but young enough to sell?
Tell me lies later,
come and see me
I'll be around for a while.
I am lonely but you can free me
All in the way that you smile
Tell me why, tell me why
Is it hard to make
arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
but young enough to sell?
Tell me why, tell me why
Tell me why, tell me why
thru broken harbors
Out on the waves in the night
Still the searcher
must ride the dark horse
Racing alone in his fright.
Tell me why, tell me why
arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
but young enough to sell?
come and see me
I'll be around for a while.
I am lonely but you can free me
All in the way that you smile
Tell me why, tell me why
arrangements with yourself,
When you're old enough to repay
but young enough to sell?
Tell me why, tell me why
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I'm gonna say: I've loved before, and I've been hurt. I'm still searching, alone. I'm getting older, but I'm still not that old. Even if you don't love me, you can still make me happy.
@zzle exactly interpreted
@zzle exactly interpreted
The song also jumps around from this cheerful major-chord bluegrass to sober minor folk, changes in time signature too. The music itself has this conflict between whimsical youth and grave maturity. Well, that's great songwriting, right?. The music and words intertwine.
E.-
Tell me why...when you're wise enough to know what's right, but young (and impulsive) enough to not follow your own advice. (i.e. The second verse - he's wise enough to be aware of the lies, but young and passionate enough to ignore them temporarily.) "Hard to make arrangements with yourself" - internal conflict of this wisdom vs. youthful passion.
I've never listened to Neil Young before, but I've been hooked on this album for two straight weeks. Love this song.
E.-
The first verse seems to be about beng willing to take the risk of falling in love, but I'm not sure how that fits with the rest of the song. Either way, it is very peacefull and can always calm me down when no matter how I feel.
such a tough song to interpret. To me it seems like a transition from youth to maturity -- he begins by trying to be in love in what's probably a broken relationship "broken harbors". He has to keep fighting through the problems, because in the end, even if she lies or hurts his feelings, even a simple smile on her face brightens his day. It's kind of romantic, in a way.
And as someone said already, the line "I am lonely but you can free me, All in the way that you smile" is one of his best lines.
Love is bitch....why is it so hard to make compromises. I'm old enough to be in a relationship but young enough to move on. Oh what the hell....come on over...this isn't all that complicated. Just smile and I'm back.
@kitconsul that summary is a work of genius!
@kitconsul that summary is a work of genius!
I think you're right, brian...the song is about being able to open up and STAY opened up, despite the pitfalls of finding (and losing) love.
Although I also think it has a lot to do with life in general. The chorus has so many interpretations that Neil himself refuses to play it anymore because it confuses even HIM. I've always interpreted it as meaning that it's hard to reconcile your desires when you grow up. You suddenly have the ability to make your own choices and chart your own course, yet you feel like you owe a debt to those who got you there (like, say, your parents), and you feel responsible for trying to repay that debt.
I think that the line "I am lonely but you can free me All in the way that you smile" Is one of neil's best and just a beautiful line!!
It seems to me to be about being scared and unsure of love, but ultimately wanting it. The verses speak for themselves, but the chorus, "Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself/ When you're old enough to repay/ but young enough to sell", is saying that you're old enough to be in a committed, mature relationship (repaying your partner), but also young enough to start over in a new one (selling your partner). I interpret it as saying that its hard to know what you want when you are in one of your first long term relationships....
It seems to me to be about being scared and unsure of love, but ultimately wanting it. The verses speak for themselves, but the chorus, "Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself/ When you're old enough to repay/ but young enough to sell", is saying that you're old enough to be in a committed, mature relationship (repaying your partner), but also young enough to start over in a new one (selling your partner). I interpret it as saying that its hard to know what you want when you are in one of your first long term relationships. They're scary!
yeah I interpreted it that way too
yeah I interpreted it that way too
asking someone or yourself why is it hard to make arrangements with yourself when you're young enough to repay (old enough to stay in a committed, give-and-take relationship) but also young enough sell (young enough to sell out your relationship by taking the easy way out and breaking it off)
asking someone or yourself why is it hard to make arrangements with yourself when you're young enough to repay (old enough to stay in a committed, give-and-take relationship) but also young enough sell (young enough to sell out your relationship by taking the easy way out and breaking it off)
Tell me lies later, come and see me I'll be around for a while. **** i think it's about waiting for someone to make a decision whether they'll stay or go.
Tell me lies later, come and see me I'll be around for a while. **** i think it's about waiting for someone to make a decision whether they'll stay or go.
I am lonely but you can free me All in the way that you...
I am lonely but you can free me All in the way that you smile **** I think this part is knowing and being sad about the fact that the relationship could possibly end (since she's having a hard time making arrangements to herself) but also knowing that the only person who could make you happy is the person who's about to break your heart.
on a sidenote: I think this song says a lot about people who are having a hard time what to feel or how act when something they thought they wanted is right in front of them... like when everyone says they wanted to be love but when someone tells them they love them, they freak out and leave the people who told them they love them.
But to freak out because someone told you they love you is to be immature, and not ready for relationship. A mature person doesn't react like that, it's really childish
But to freak out because someone told you they love you is to be immature, and not ready for relationship. A mature person doesn't react like that, it's really childish
tell my why... this song only has 7 comments
Lame. But I chuckled anyway.
Lame. But I chuckled anyway.
"Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself" Neil was contemplating his future course. "Old enough to repay, but young enough to sell" I think Neil was saying he had made his mark, but he's too popular to quit.