Tracy Chapman
Tell It Like It Is
[Verse 1]
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
What makes you want to breakdown and cry

[Pre-Chorus]
But say you'll never turn your back
Say you'll never harden to the world
Say you'll never try to still the rhythms in your breast
Say you'll never look at the evil among us and try to forget
Say you'll tell it like it is

[Verse 2]
Say it, say it, say it
So everyone can hear
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
How your anger and grief
Make you want to cry out
And tell it like it is
[Pre-Chorus]
But say you'll never close your eyes
Or pretend that it's a rosy world
Say you'll never try to paint
What is rotten with a sugarcoat
Say you'll talk about the horrors you've seen
And the torment you know
And tell it like it is

[Verse 3]
Say it, say it, say it
So no one can forget
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
What makes you want to break the ties that silence and bind
And tell it like it is

[Pre-Chorus]
Say you'll never cover your ears and close your mouth
And live in a silent world
Say you'll only run as far or as fast as you need to be secure
Say that then you'll tell the truth
When a lie could cross your lips
And tell it like it is
[Outro]
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it