Tell Her About It

Album: An Innocent Man (1983)
Charted: 4 1
Play Video
  • Ooh-ooh-ooh
    Ooh-ooh-ooh

    Listen boy, I don't wanna see you let a good thing slip away (slip away)
    You know I don't like watching anybody make the same mistakes I made
    She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you
    But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do

    Oh, listen boy, I'm sure that you think you got it all under control
    You don't want somebody tellin' you the way to stay in someone's soul
    You're a big boy now and you'll never let her go (you know you'll never let her go)
    But that's just the kind of thing she ought to know

    Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
    Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
    Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
    Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means

    Ooh-ooh
    Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

    Listen boy, it's not automatically a certain guarantee (certain guarantee)
    To ensure yourself, you've got to provide communication constantly
    When you love someone, you're always insecure
    And there's only one good way to reassure

    Tell her about it, let her know how much you care
    When she can't be with you, tell her you wish you were there
    Tell her about it, every day before you leave
    Pay her some attention, give her something to believe

    'Cause now and then she'll get to worrying
    Just because you haven't spoken for so long
    And though you may not have done anything
    Will that be a consolation when she's gone?

    Listen boy, it's good information from a man who's made mistakes
    Just a word or two that she gets from you could be the difference that it makes
    She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you (you know she put her trust in you)
    But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do

    Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
    Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
    Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
    Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means

    Tell her about it
    Tell her how you feel right now
    Just tell her about it
    The girl don't want to wait too long
    You got to tell her about it
    Tell her now and you won't go wrong
    You got to tell her about it
    Before it gets too late
    You've got to tell her about it
    You know the girl don't want to wait
    You got to tell her about it
    You got to tell, tell, tell her about it
    Now, tell her about it
    Woo, woo Writer/s: Billy Joel
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Peyuko from MexicoI always thought the song was also influenced by the Cold War era. “Tell her about it” before something happens and we all die. I am not sure if this is correct, but it feels right.
  • George from Vancouver, CanadaFrom above:
    "It's simply about an a-ha moment for Joel when he realized that you could actually have a soul mate. Joel and Brinkley met in 1982, married in 1985 and divorced in 1994."
    LOL at how skillfully Songfacts made a personal comment without actually saying it.
  • Neil from Detroit, MiThis song has more of a 50's than a 60's influence. It paid homage to Motown groups from said era, and I've always found this song uplifting and full of advice for timid young men.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 29th 1983, Billy Joel's video of "Tell Her About It" was aired on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time it was at #21 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and five weeks earlier on September 18th, 1983 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week}...
    And on the same day it peaked at #1 on the Top 100 it also reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Between 1973 and 1997 he had forty-two Top 100 records; thirteen made the Top 10 with three reaching #1; his other two #1 records were "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me" in 1980 and "We Didn't Start the Fire" in 1989...
    He never had a record peak at #2 but did have four reach #3; "Just the Way You Are" {1977}, "My Life" {1978}, "Uptown Girl" {1983}, and "The River of Dreams" {1993}...
    Five months ago William Martin Joel became eligible for Medicare; for on May 9th {2014} he celebrated his 65th birthday.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.