Story Behind The Song
This song came to me after watching the morning news. I went into the studio, work out chords and melody, and wrote this one first-take, off-the-top-of-my-head. This particular day of events troubled me. A man walked into a school in the Amish region o
Song Description
A story of unlawful death and gun violence: A violation of basic human rights; losing personal security in a world gone mad.
| Song Length |
3:20 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Folk - Country |
| Tempo |
Very Slow (Under 70) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Moving, Poignant |
Subject |
General, Justice |
| Similar Artists |
Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
TELL ME WHY
I saw a man today on the news.
He was ware'n new capitalistic shoes.
Carry'n a gun for fun,
he went into the school, and he shot the girls down.
CHORUS: Tell me, tell me why.
Tell me why, they had to die.
Ah, tell me why.
Oh, there's a world out there that's look'n kind'a square
But, the people run'n around are kill'n themselves.
And, everybody's happy, and they tell you that they're sappy,
And you don't want'a nappy anymore.
Wake up from the dead. Come out of your head.
Find a way to stop telln' lies. Oh, baby.
I don't want to see it, I don?t want to go there,
I know it's lost in a world gone mad.
CHORUS: Tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Baby, tell me why.
I want'a know.
I want'a know.
Baby, tell me why.
Baby, don't ya wanta' go, down to the local radio and tell me, tell me why.
Ah, tell me why, I see them come and go,
out of every office, don't you know,
The governments' got a way of makin' us say, we are so happy with our selves.
CHORUS: Tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Ah, tell me why.
Baby, tell me why.
I want'a know.
I want'a know.
Baby, tell me why.
Audio Recording: Ocober 3, 2006 at 5:29 PM, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Words and Music by Stephen Laycock
Copyright © 2006 - 2007 Stephen Laycock - All Rights Reserved