Tell It Like It Is – English Lyrics

• By: Aaron Neville
• Album: Tell It Like It Is - The Par Lo Years

Lyrics & Translation

“Tell It Like It Is” by Aaron Neville is a quintessential soul classic from 1966, celebrated for its raw emotional delivery and timeless message of honesty in relationships. Learning this song offers a fantastic gateway into understanding the nuances of English R&B and soul lyrics, showcasing how powerful simple, heartfelt words can be when paired with a truly unique vocal performance like Neville's soaring falsetto. It's a masterclass in conveying deep feeling directly and sincerely.

[English]

If you want something to play with

Go and find yourself a toy

Baby, my time is too expensive

And I'm not a little boy

...

If you are serious

Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious

But if you want me to love you

Then baby I will, girl, you know that I will

Tell it like it is

Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide

But I know deep down inside of me

I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride

...

Life is too short to have sorrow

You may be here today and gone tomorrow

You might as well get what you want

So go on and leave, baby, go on and leave

Tell it like it is

I'm nothing to play with

Go and find yourself a toy

But I tell it like it is

My time is too expensive and I'm not your little boy

Hmmm... Tell it like it is

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose noun - activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.
toy /tɔɪ/ A1	noun - an object for a child to play with
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ B1	adjective - feeling shame or embarrassment about something
conscience /ˈkɒnʃəns/ B2	noun - a person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behavior.
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	noun - a person who shows the way to others verb - show or direct (someone) along a way
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of one's close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
short /ʃɔːrt/ A1	adjective - measuring a small distance from end to end.
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.
expensive /ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/ B1	adjective - costing a lot of money
serious /ˈsɪəriəs/ B1	adjective - (of a subject, matter, or event) demanding careful consideration or thought
furious /ˈfjʊəriəs/ B2	adjective - extremely angry

Key Grammar Structures

• If you want something to play with

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1)

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional, expressing a real and possible situation. "If" + present simple, then future simple (implied in the next line). It implies that **if** the listener wants entertainment, they should look elsewhere.

• Baby, my time is too expensive

  ➔ Adjective of Degree (too + adjective)

  ➔ The word "too" indicates that something exceeds a reasonable limit. "Too expensive" means the speaker's time has a high value, making it unsuitable for trivial pursuits.

• If you are serious, Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious

  ➔ Imperative Mood (Don't play...)

  ➔ "Don't play with my heart" is a direct command, expressing a strong desire to avoid emotional manipulation. It emphasizes the speaker's vulnerability and sets a boundary.

• But if you want me to love you, Then baby I will, girl, you know that I will

  ➔ Ellipsis and emphatic repetition (I will)

  ➔ The "love you" part of "I will love you" is omitted after "I will" to avoid redundancy (ellipsis). Repeating "I will" emphasizes the speaker's willingness to reciprocate love **if** the condition (you want me to) is met.

• Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose (to let...)

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to let your conscience be your guide" explains the *purpose* of not being ashamed. It suggests that acting according to one's moral principles is a worthwhile goal.

• You might as well get what you want

  ➔ Modal Verb (might as well)

  ➔ "Might as well" indicates that there is no good reason *not* to do something. In this context, it suggests a fatalistic acceptance: since life is short, the listener should pursue their desires.